How Many Beers Come in a Keg?

When you're planning a get-together, buying a keg of beer is much more economical than buying beers in bottles or cans. We know a keg holds a lot of beer, but exactly how much? The answer varies, depending on where you live.

What Is a Keg?

A keg is a cylindrical container similar to a barrel and usually made of aluminum. Keg sizes are not standardized and can vary between countries and breweries.

U.S. Full Kegs

In the United States a full keg is also referred to as a half-barrel. A full keg contains 15.5 U.S. gallons of beer, the equivalent of 165 12-oz. beers or 124 U.S. pints.

Other U.S. Keg Sizes

In addition to the full keg, you can find smaller variations, such as pony kegs and mini kegs. A pony keg contains 7.75 U.S. gallons or 82 12-oz. beers. A mini keg, which is much smaller, contains 1.32 U.S. gallons or 14 12-oz. beers.

European Keg Sizes

A European keg is typically 50 liters or 13.21 U.S. gallons, which is the equivalent of 100 half-liter servings. In Germany there are also 30-liter and 20-liter kegs.

Fun Fact

A U.S. full keg weighs about 160 pounds, so be careful if you try to lift it by yourself.