Penguin Chillers alternative: MCED glycol chillers compared

Penguin Chillers, made in Knoxville, Tennessee, sells a wide range of glycol chillers at good prices, with pumps and per-tank controllers sold as separate packages. MCED glycol chillers, made in Montreal and sold by Bräu Supply, come with a built-in pump, a 17 gallon glycol bath from the BEF-04 up, and Chiller Watch remote monitoring, and ship from Canada with US tariffs paid.

MCED vs Penguin Chillers

Penguin prices and specs as listed on penguinchillers.com on October 15, 2026, in US dollars. Bräu Supply prices show in your currency. BTU ratings measured under different conditions aren’t directly comparable.

What Penguin does well

Penguin builds its chillers in Tennessee and offers more sizes than we do, from a 2,000 BTU/hr homebrew unit to outdoor commercial chillers. For several homebrew fermenters on a budget it costs less: a 1/2 HP chiller runs up to four fermenters, and each pump package includes a Wi-Fi controller for that tank. Lead times on the smaller units are short.

Where an MCED chiller comes out ahead

• A bigger glycol bath. Every MCED chiller from the BEF-04 up holds 17 gallons of glycol, against 2 to 3 gallons on Penguin’s standard units. More stored cold means fewer compressor starts and steadier temperatures when two tanks call for cooling at once.
• Pumps built in. The BEF-02 has its own pump, and the BEF-04 and up include a 50 GPH pump in the bath with room for four. With Penguin, every fermenter needs a separately bought pump.
• Monitoring of the chiller itself. Chiller Watch, standard on the BEF-04, -05 and -075, shows system temperature and glycol pressure on your phone and sends an alert if the loop goes out of range.
• Stated ratings. MCED publishes the conditions behind each BTU rating: a 25°F evaporator in a 90°F room. Penguin rates at 28°F glycol without stating the ambient.
• Canada. Canadian brewers buy in Canadian dollars and get chillers from Vancouver or Montreal with no border. In the US, the price you see is delivered, with tariffs and duties paid.

Which should you buy?

Choose Penguin if you want a US-built chiller, the lowest price for several homebrew fermenters, or an outdoor commercial unit.

Choose MCED if you want a large glycol bath, built-in pumps, remote monitoring of the chiller, and Canadian-dollar pricing or US delivery with tariffs paid. Not sure of the size? The sizing calculator picks one from your tank list.

FAQ

Do Penguin glycol chillers include a pump?

No. Penguin’s FAQ says none of its glycol chillers has a built-in pump. Its accessory package (pump, Wi-Fi controller and tubing) is sold per fermenter. Every MCED chiller has a pump in the bath.

What size glycol chiller do I need?

Add up the load of each tank on your busiest day: fermenting, cold crashing or holding cold. Our sizing calculator uses MCED’s own method and picks the smallest chiller that covers it.

Can I buy Penguin chillers in Canada?

Penguin sells in US dollars and asks buyers outside the US to use a freight forwarder. A Toronto retailer lists them in Canadian dollars with freight by quote. MCED chillers are made in Montreal and sold in Canadian dollars at brausupply.ca.

Do both work with any jacketed fermenter?

Yes. Both use standard 3/8" glycol lines (Penguin’s XL units also take 1/2"). For our Unitanks, the temperature control kit adds the controller, thermowell, valves and tri-clamp line set.

Sources, checked October 15, 2026: Penguin glycol chillers; 1/2 HP; 2/3 HP XL; accessory package; glycol pumps; FAQ; warranty; shipping; Toronto Brewing. Penguin Chillers is a trademark of its owner. Bräu Supply is not affiliated with Penguin Chillers.