About Beer Kegs

When kegs were first invented they were made of copper and used to carry materials such as nails. Today, the keg is often used to hold beer under pressure and is a staple at social events. Kegs come in various sizes, and some beer companies are even recreating the keg look in their cans, or selling individual mini kegs to consumers. Kegs are usually purchased and returned after use, though owning one has its perks. When you do own one, proper care and cleaning of the keg is a necessity.

Type

While there are many different sizes of kegs in circulation, there are three main types. The first is the standard keg, which holds 15.5 gallons of liquid. This is the most common type of keg and the one that is most widely used, especially by bars, restaurants and other places that require a large quantity of beer. Pony kegs are smaller and hold 7.75 gallons. They are excellent for parties, as they provide enough beer to fill about 82 standard cups. Finally, there are mini kegs, which hold about 5 L and are sold commercially.

Size

Kegs come in a variety of sizes. Depending on what they are going to be used for, certain sizes offer more benefits than others. A full keg, known as a half barrel, contains 15.5 gallons, while a European full barrel holds 13.2 gallons. Quarter barrels, or pony kegs, hold 7.75 gallons and a European half barrel holds 6.6 gallons. There is also a sixth barrel that holds 5.23 gallons and a slightly smaller corny keg that holds just 5 gallons. Finally, there are mini kegs that hold 1.32 gallons.

Benefits

The benefits of kegs come in their size and design. Keg beer is much like draught beer in that it is pressurized, so a keg will take up less space than the number of bottles or cans that would hold the same amount of liquid. Kegs are perfect for restaurants and bars because they provide a constant source of beer that can easily be stored and used to deliver beer quickly. Smaller kegs are great for parties, especially those that are thrown in small apartments, as they don't take up much space and have been designed to move around and store easier.

Function

Keg beer is filtered and pasteurized before being loaded into the keg itself, which helps to promote a longer shelf life for the product. While in the keg, it is kept under pressure to maximize the capacity of the keg. A keg works when it is tapped, meaning when a pump is attached to the top of the keg. Pumps either use outside air or carbon dioxide in order to pressurize the keg further, which allows it to flow out through a hose or some other serving instrument. Before each use, air or gas needs to be introduced into the keg in order for it to operate.

Time Frame

Once kegs are tapped, there is a limited amount of time before the beer inside will go stale, and this time depends on the type of tap that is being used. A party pump, which uses outside air, has the tendency to let in bacteria that forces the beer to go stale or flat faster. This happens generally between 18 and 24 hours after the keg is tapped. Kegs that use gas pumps do not let outside influences into the keg, so the beer inside will not lose carbonation until after 120 days, as long as it is properly stored and refrigerated.