How long will a keg last? (2024)

How long will a keg last?

The shelf life of a keg of pasteurized draft beer is approximately 90-120 days or 3-4 months. Unpasteurized draft beer lasts about 45-60 days (or 6-8 weeks) if stored at the proper temperature.

How long does keg last once tapped?

Since a picnic pump uses oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, a tapped keg will only last about 12-24 hours, depending on the type of beer and how much oxygen was pumped into it. The oxygen will cause the beer to go flat and spoil quickly if you don't finish the keg within that time frame.

How long does a keg last once tapped with CO2?

For most beers on tap, dispensed with CO2, the rule of thumb is that non-pasteurized beer will retain its freshness for 45-60 days, if proper pressure and temperature are maintained. If you are serving up pasteurized draft beer, the shelf life is around 90-120 days.

How long does a keg last without a kegerator?

Pasteurized beers can stay fresh from three to six months. For non-pasteurized beers, you can expect the keg to stay fresh approximately two months. Each beer is different and storing your beer at the ideal temperature is essential for its preservation.

Does beer last longer in a keg or bottle?

Kegged beer stays fresher longer than kegged beer. While conditioning in the bottle definitely helps to keep beer fresher longer, the effects of oxidation are still much greater in bottles than in kegs.

Can you tap a keg the night before?

Tapping Your Party Keg

Once air is introduced into a keg, you have about 8-12 hours before the beer turns stale or flat. A party pump pumps air from the outside into the keg to pressurize the contents so that you can dispense the beer.

How do you keep a keg cold for a week?

The best course of action is to keep it in a keg blanket, keg barrel cooler or even inside a mini-refrigerator and add ice as often as possible to keep the beer cooler for longer.

How many 12 oz beer in a keg?

Keg Sizing Information

1/2 barrel = 15.5 gallons = 124 pints = 165 12oz bottles - (Full Size Keg) 1/4 barrel = 7.75 gallons = 62 pints = 83 12oz bottles (Pony Keg)

What happens when CO2 runs out on kegerator?

If you run out of co2, the pressure within the keg will force the last pint or so out, but after that your beer is going nowhere! Switch your gas supply, or refill your gas bottle and start serving once again.

Will a keg go bad if it's not refrigerated?

Generally, a well-sealed keg will remain good for up to three months when left at room temperature. After that, it may start to taste flat or stale. Be sure to check the expiration date printed on your keg before using it.

Can you get every drink in a keg?

You can keg practically any beverage of choice with the proper care and attention to detail. However, it is imperative to keep your lines clean regardless of the beverages you serve.

Do you have to pump keg every time?

You will need to pump your keg a few times periodically if the flow of the beer slows doen. Don't over pump otherwise you will make your beer flat. Set any foam aside and let the next few beers pour and settle out. Enjoy!

Why does beer taste better out of a keg?

Freshness has a significant effect on the flavor, which is why beer poured from a keg is expected to be fresher (and tastier) compared to a bottled beer. When the proper temperature and pressure are maintained, draft beer will stay fresh.

Is keg beer cheaper than bottles?

When you purchase beer by the keg, you pay 50% less than if you purchased bottled beer. Each time you make a run to the grocery store for a 12-pack, case, or 30-pack of bottled beer, you could be saving half the money by installing a kegerator unit in your home, and the required storage space is significantly less.

Does keg beer have to be kept cold?

The majority of the time, the beer inside your keg has not been pasteurized, so it's important to keep it cold. From the moment you get it from the distributor until it's empty, it's important to maintain the proper temperature or you will sacrifice the quality of the beer.

Why is my keg tapped but no beer?

If you tap a beer with particles still floating in it, the tap line can get clogged, preventing you from serving your beer. Check if there is pressure in the keg by pulling the pressure relief valve open for a short time. If you hear a hard hissing sound, there is pressure.

Why is the keg so foamy?

When the temperature rises above 40 degrees, the CO2 gas starts to escape from the beer, and this is what causes foam (in most cases). For this reason, temperature issues constitute the great majority of problems with kegerators serving foamy beer.

Should you shake a keg?

This shaking/rolling action helps the liquid absorb the CO2 much quicker by increasing the surface area. As you're shaking the keg you'll hear gas hiss through the regulator and bubble through the beer.

What happens if you keg beer too early?

Re: Kegging too early? The main detractor in kegging too early is the amount of yeast solids your keg will have. That's not a big deal to me. I actually keg all of my lagers early so that the keg will be spunded.

Why do you burp a keg?

This is done to protect the beer from oxidisation. By lifting the pressure release valve the CO2 will flow into the keg and the air will flow out through this valve. This is called burping the keg and is best done in half a dozen short bursts.

Can a keg get warm then cold again?

It is a worldwide myth that somehow temperature cycling “skunks” beer. The truth is that temperature cycling has little to no effect on beer freshness. Think of it this way, if cold beer warming and then cooling again a single time ruined it, then all beer imported from Europe would be destroyed before you bought it.

Can you untap a keg?

Untap the keg by disengaging the handle. Turn the keg coupler counter clockwise. If it's a d-sankey. The coupler should release from the keg.

How many bags of ice do I need for a keg?

If your keg gets warm, you can chill it completely in just 30 minutes. Place the barrel in the tub, surrounded by three bags of ice. Add water to the ice so that the surface of the keg is submerged as much as possible.

How many kegs of beer do I need for 100 people?

100 (guests) x 5 (hours) = 500 drinks. 500 x 0.7 = 350 beers 14.5 cases of beer or two ½ barrel sized kegs and a case of beer.

Are kegerators worth it?

We have been asked countless times, is it worth it? The short answer is yes! We go through a full economical breakdown of a kegerator versus buying bottles and cans in our blog post here. You really do save money in the long run when you get a kegerator and the bonus is the beer tastes so much better!

Do you save money with a kegerator?

When you buy a kegerator for your home, you're not only able to conveniently store large amounts of cold draft beer, but you can also save approximately 40-60% in costs, compared to buying the same volume of beer in cans or bottles.

What PSI should a keg of beer be at?

Most ales and lagers produced in the US should be dispensed at 10 – 12 PSI. Stout and other nitrogen-reliant keg beers are usually dispensed at 25 – 30 PSI. For the specific dispensing pressure for a particular keg, check with your local beer distributor.

What PSI should a kegerator be at?

Typically, it should be within the 10-12 PSI range. If it's too high, you are bound to get your kegerator too foamy. Check the pressure on your CO2 regulator to see if it's right for the beer you're pouring. The same goes for temperature - serving your beer too warm or too cold won't do it any good.

What PSI should a kegerator be set at?

What pressure should my CO2 tank be set to? This will depend on the beer you are serving but most American breweries recommend a pressure between 10-14 PSI.

Do kegs get skunked?

Some things that you can do to help protect you and your beer from skunking are buying in a keg or a can, they're basically bullet proofed from skunking. If you buy your beer in bottles, make sure it's packaged in a dark brown/black bottle.

How do you keep a keg cold without a kegerator?

Optimize your use of Ice, Salt, and Water: This technique is the cheapest way yet also feasible to keep your Keg cold without a kegerator. Fill the large basin or a huge tub with ice, salt, and cold water. Combining these 3 helps keep the Keg cold for a little longer than usual.

Can you tap a warm keg?

It is important to get your keg cold before serving. Chill your keg for 4-5 hours before tapping to avoid warm and foamy beer. Get a bucket large enough in diameter to hold your keg, and fill the bottom with a layer of ice before placing the keg inside of it.

Can you put Coca Cola in a keg?

Seal up the keg, hook up the CO2, purge the oxygen 2-3 times, and THEN shake the keg (like a giant co*cktail mixer) at 30 psi. The ice will melt and super-cool your keg down to 35 degrees (just like a co*cktail). After ten minutes or so, lower the pressure down to 8 or 12 psi and try your cold soda pop.

Are kegs of beer worth it?

A keg for that many people or that long of a party has other benefits (aside from keeping guests happy): You won't have tons of cans and bottles lying around, and don't have to worry about making room in your refrigerator to chill a million cases of beer.

How do you make a keg last longer?

The trick to keeping your keg of beer at its best is to keep oxygen out of the keg and keep it stored at the right temperature. If you can do these two things, you will have fresh draft beer for months.

How many times can you tap a keg?

In the event that you're using a manual or O2 pump, you'll unfortunately only get one tap out of your keg. If you're using a CO2 pump, however, you should be able to tap your keg at will, as you aren't introducing any foreign gases into the keg, which already comes with CO2.

How do you empty a keg without a tap?

Jam your screwdriver in the ball pressure valve on top of the "spear" in the keg and press it in. This allows the gas to escape, along with your warm bubbly cargo. Pro-tip: wear waterproof shoes and don't do this during winter.

Why is keg beer so expensive?

Keg beer involves a bit more processing at the brewery, and needs more expensive equipment at the bar.

Is it OK to roll a keg of beer?

Related to the above, two of the worst things you can do, with regard to preserving beer quality, are to roll the keg from place to place or drop it mid-transport. Many kegs have handles that allow for easier carrying; if yours doesn't, use a dolly, or carefully carry the keg with the help of a partner.

Is draft cheaper than bottle?

On average, you can expect a draft beer's pour cost to be about 20%. A bottled or canned beer's pour cost will be about 25%. This is a result of the fact that draft beer is substantially cheaper per ounce and also tends to fetch a higher price point.

Does keg beer have more alcohol?

Draft beer is not stronger than a bottle, even though it may seem otherwise. They may sometimes seem stronger or have a more rapid effect on your body than canned or bottled beer, but there is no difference in alcohol content between a beer in the bottle and the same beer on draft.

How many beers do you lose in a keg?

There are approximatly 165 cans (12oz) beers in a standard 15.5 gallon keg. This is assuming 100% of the beer gets dispense with zero loss, reality with foam and such is most people estimate 150 Twelve ounce pours when working with a regular full sized keg.

What's better keg or cans?

As long as you keep your keg lines clean, your draft beer is generally going to be better than a bottle or can. However, some beers, like barley wines and Belgian beers, will taste better after they have been aged, so there is a distinct possibility that it might be better in the bottle.

How long do you have to wait to tap a keg?

How long do you have to wait to serve beer from a keg after tapping? Depends on the level of carbonation you hope to reach. If you are doing natural carbonation it is a minimum of two weeks. I copied this info about forced carbonation a while back.

Does a tapped keg need to be refrigerated?

Yes, most beers brewed in the US need to be refrigerated.

To store a keg of beer at room temperature it needs to be pasteurized so it will not spoil and most beer brewed in the US is not pasteurized. A typical keg needs to be kept between 36 and 38 degrees to maintain freshness and flavor.

What to do if you don't finish a keg?

Assuming you are stuck with a pump tap with beer left over from a keg party, keep it refrigerated, and drink it within a couple of weeks. If you regularly buy kegged beer, and have a way to keep it refrigerated, you will need a CO2 bottle and regulator such as this.

Can you tap a keg multiple times?

In the event that you're using a manual or O2 pump, you'll unfortunately only get one tap out of your keg. If you're using a CO2 pump, however, you should be able to tap your keg at will, as you aren't introducing any foreign gases into the keg, which already comes with CO2.

How long does an unrefrigerated untapped keg last?

A keg of untapped pasteurized beer usually has a shelf life of almost 3 to 4 months.

How do you preserve a tapped keg?

On average, a keg of beer will retain its flavor for only a couple weeks before its taste begins to wane. The best way to retain your flavor is to store it at a cooler temperature. And we do mean cool, not cold.

What can I do with extra beer in my keg?

Shine Copper or Gold. Historically, the dregs of beer in kegs were collected to polish the copper vats in breweries, since beer's slight acidity helps enhance shine without staining the metal. The same technique can be used for copper pots and pans, gold jewelry or even your precious Moscow Mule mugs.

Does keg beer go bad if it gets warm?

A keg draft beer can't be stored at room temperature. Beer can become contaminated with bacteria if it is heated above 55°F degrees. Temperatures higher than that can cause a foamy beer to release carbon dioxide too rapidly. This not only causes excessive foam but also results in stale beer.

What happens if you keg too early?

Re: Kegging too early? The main detractor in kegging too early is the amount of yeast solids your keg will have. That's not a big deal to me. I actually keg all of my lagers early so that the keg will be spunded.

Can you over pump a keg?

You will need to pump your keg a few times periodically if the flow of the beer slows doen. Don't over pump otherwise you will make your beer flat. Set any foam aside and let the next few beers pour and settle out.

Is a keg cheaper than cans?

A standard keg contains 15.5 gallons, or 1,984 ounces. A case of Budweiser contains twenty-four 12oz. cans (288 total ounces) and costs about $23. To get the same volume by ounce as a standard keg, you would need to buy seven cases of Budweiser for about $160 – resulting in over $55 in savings per keg.