diff --git a/beaker_extensions/redis_.py b/beaker_extensions/redis_.py
index 1e61897..1a1b2a0 100644
--- a/beaker_extensions/redis_.py
+++ b/beaker_extensions/redis_.py
@@ -6,19 +6,36 @@
 from beaker_extensions.nosql import pickle
 
 try:
-    from redis import StrictRedis
+    from redis import StrictRedis, ConnectionPool
 except ImportError:
     raise InvalidCacheBackendError("Redis cache backend requires the 'redis' library")
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 class RedisManager(NoSqlManager):
-    def __init__(self, namespace, url=None, data_dir=None, lock_dir=None, **params):
+    def __init__(self,
+                 namespace,
+                 url=None,
+                 data_dir=None,
+                 lock_dir=None,
+                 **params):
         self.db = params.pop('db', None)
-        NoSqlManager.__init__(self, namespace, url=url, data_dir=data_dir, lock_dir=lock_dir, **params)
+        self.connection_pools = {}
+        NoSqlManager.__init__(self,
+                              namespace,
+                              url=url,
+                              data_dir=data_dir,
+                              lock_dir=lock_dir,
+                              **params)
 
     def open_connection(self, host, port, **params):
-        self.db_conn = StrictRedis(host=host, port=int(port), db=self.db, **params)
+        pool_key = self._format_pool_key(host, port, self.db)
+        if pool_key not in self.connection_pools:
+            self.connection_pools[pool_key] = ConnectionPool(host=host,
+                                                             port=port,
+                                                             db=self.db)
+        self.db_conn = StrictRedis(connection_pool=self.connection_pools[pool_key],
+                                   **params)
 
     def __contains__(self, key):
         return self.db_conn.exists(self._format_key(key))
@@ -47,6 +64,9 @@ def __delitem__(self, key):
     def _format_key(self, key):
         return 'beaker:%s:%s' % (self.namespace, key.replace(' ', '\302\267'))
 
+    def _format_pool_key(self, host, port, db):
+        return '{0}:{1}:{2}'.format(host, port, self.db)
+
     def do_remove(self):
         self.db_conn.flush()