How to Install a Beer Tap in a Wall

Nothing beats the taste of fresh draft beer in the comfort of your own home.

Nothing is better than freshly poured beer right from the tap. Unfortunately, beer on draft is usually found only in bars or restaurants. However, with the advent of "kegerators" and homemade keg dispensers, having a keg of beer in your own home is now possible. Installing your beer tap in a wall can give your homemade dispensing system a clean, professional look, often utilizing space more efficiently than traditional beer-cooler systems.

Things You'll Need

• Wall beer shank
• Electric hand drill
• Hole saw
• Screwdriver
• Measuring tape
• 3-inch PVC pipe
• 2-by-3-inch PVC Y-joint
• 60-CFM blower

Instructions

Installing the Shank and Tap

1. Choose a suitable location to install your beer tap. The beer will have to be stored on the other side of the wall. Closets and unused storage spaces often make excellent locations for your kegerator or homemade keg dispenser.

2. Choose a beer-shank system and faucet. Beer shanks provide the link from the beer line to the faucet, or tap. Typical beer shanks are fairly short, though there are wall-shank systems that can accommodate very thick walls.

3. Drill a hole in the wall large enough to accommodate the beer shank and, if necessary, the wall-shank assembly. Fasten the shank to the wall with the included hardware.

Insulating and Cooling the Beer Line

1. Run a length of 3-inch PVC pipe from the kegerator or beer cooler to the beer shank and back, creating a circle, connected with Y-joints at both ends.

2. Run the beer line through one side of the PVC pipe, from the beer cooler to the shank.

3. Install the blower in the beer cooler to blow through the empty side of the PVC pipe, taping around the blower to prevent leaks.

Tips & Warnings

• Put your beer cooler or homemade keg dispenser as close to the tap as possible, as longer lines are harder to cool, resulting in foamy, difficult pours. If you don't already have a kegerator, consider making your own homemade beer cooler. Make or buy custom beer-tap handles to give your wall tap a professional appearance.

• Always be careful when drilling holes through walls. Make sure that no electrical wiring or support beams are in the way.

References

• Insulating beer line
• Micromatic Beer Shanks

Resources

• Micromatic
• Custom Beer Tap Handles