Kegs

Keg terminology

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

Beerstone – A stubborn type of scale also known as calcium oxalate (C2CaO4).

Bung – A specially made plug used to seal the “Bung Hole” in the side of old-style kegs and casks. (aka – Bung Plug)

Bung hammer – Special tool for seating bung plug in keg or cask.

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Keg safety

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

Download the Keg Safety checklist (.pdf)

Below are some basic safety cautions to keep in mind when handling kegs:

Safety inspection

1. Keg exterior – Sharp edges from cracked drain-holes or split hand-holes or split chimbs can cut and injure an operator when handling the keg. That’s why it is important to make sure that kegs are inspected regularly and in case of such an unsafe condition, they should be either professionally repaired or alternatively scrapped.

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Keg maintenance

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

A brewery’s keg inventory represents a substantial investment, add to that the value of the precious cargo it carries, and the importance of a properly functioning keg system becomes pretty clear. Implementing procedures for receiving, cleaning, and storing your kegs is vital.

Download a Keg Cleaning checklist (.pdf)

Here is a typical check list of tasks followed when the kegs are returned. Note that your cleaning techniques may vary, but the desired result is the same – sanitary kegs.

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Keg management

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

Leasing Programs – Many companies offer leasing options through finance companies or keg rental as an alternative to purchasing kegs outright.

KEG Tracking – Many brewers use manual systems or bar codes to track their beer kegs. With large keg inventories, these methods make it difficult to track which customer has which keg and who is responsible for kegs that are returned damaged, or not at all. RFID (Intelligent radio tagging) allows you to keep track of your valuable inventory.

– Current keg location and status
– Fill-to-fill cycle time for each keg
– Length of time at distributor
– Keg turn rates by distributor

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Selecting kegs

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

Before you even begin shopping for kegs, make sure you are aware of any limitations for draught sales in the area you plan to distribute. Some places restrict the size of kegs allowed, others don’t allow sales of draught beer at all from a pub or brewery, and some areas ban the use of certain types of kegs. Also, distributors sometimes have their own restrictions regarding the sizes and types of kegs they handle. Deciding which is best for you could also depend partly on what is already prevalent in your market. Usually, selling a draught placement means displacing another brand. If switching to your brand involves the additional hurdle of installing a new tapping device, you may lose the sale.

New or used?

As with all used equipment, before being seduced by the low sticker price, make sure the minimum attributes a keg must possess in order to function properly are met. Otherwise you’ve just paid a premium for a load of scrap.

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Keg systems

posted Apr 23rd, 2014 by Stan Hieronymus

Kegs themselves are considered either open system or closed system:

– Kegs with a bunghole on the side that allows the interior to be readily accessed for inspection and cleaning (ie: Hoff-Stevens and Golden Gate kegs) are examples of an open system keg.

– American Sankey-style kegs, which require specialized automated equipment for cleaning and filling, represent the closed system design.

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All About Kegs

posted Feb 27th, 2014 by pbrewadmin

Table of contents

– Keg systems
– Selecting kegs
– Keg management
– Keg maintenance
– Keg Safety
– Keg terminology
– Keg Q&A

Selecting the right kegs for your distribution goals and budget is not to be taken lightly. This resource content will help guide you through the process of buying kegs and follow up with a few tips about how to treat your kegs to ensure a long, trouble-free life once you own them.

A little history

The evolution of beer dispensing from medieval gravity fed taps on wooden casks to today’s modern keg systems started in the late 17th century with John Lofting’s patent for a hand pump. That led to Joseph Bramah’s 1785 beer engine design and finally dispensing draught beer from pressurized containers in 1936 with Watney’s experimental pasteurized beer, Red Barrel in the UK. By the 1970s serving beer from kegs under pressure was the preferred method worldwide.*

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