Kegging FAQ

Q: How long will a keg last?
There are a lot of opinions and facts out there on this topic. This is a general discussion on the topic and does not account for all circumstances and opinions. I'll start with some facts. Beer does not go bad…sort of! It only changes flavor. The 3 main components of spoilage are bacteria, oxygen, and temperature. The rate at which beer will spoil is dependent upon the combination of all three of these factors.

Let's start with Bacteria. It is everywhere. You can't get rid of it. There are good bacteria, ones that won't make you sick, and there are bad bacteria, the kind that will make you sick. Beer does not support bad bacteria. It does support good bacteria. Over time, these bacteria will grow and impart a flavor in the beer. For the most part, these flavors are undesirable. The unique aspect of beer is that it has a natural bacteria inhibitor - Alcohol.

Next is Oxygen. Oxygen has two negative effects on beer. It provides fuel for more bacteria and it oxidizes the beer…changing the flavor. Once Oxygen (air) is introduced into the keg, it has only days before the flavor has changed substantially. It also goes flat. When you use a hand pump or picnic pump on a keg, the keg is pretty much done within 48 hours.

Finally there is Temperature. Temperature will inhibit or accelerate the growth of bacteria. The colder the beer, the slower the growth. The hotter the beer, the faster the growth.

What does it all mean? It means if you keep your beer cold, use Co2, not air to drive the beer, you keep the dispensing system clean, and you buy kegs from breweries that have strict sanitizing and cleaning procedures, you're keg will last 4 months or more with minimal or no noticeable flavor change.

If you keep your kegs warm, and drive them with Co2 through a jockey box or other faucet, they will most likely last a couple of months. Just be sure to clean your lines after every keg.

Q: How many beers are in a 1/2 barrel keg?

1 barrel of beer=31 gallons.
1/2 Barrel=15.5 Gallons or 1984 Fluid Ounces.
1/4 Barrel=7.75 Gallons or 992 Fluid Ounces.
There are 128 oz. in 1 gallon.

124 Pints 16-oz. glasses
165 12-oz. glasses
198 10-oz. glasses

Q: What is the ideal beer temperature?
Temperature is a key factory in storing and dispensing draught beer. Beer can freeze at 28°F, so it is important to select and maintain proper operating temperatures inside the refrigerator cabinet. Optimum temperatures for serving cold beer are 34°-38° F (1°-3° C).

Q: What pressure should I run my CO2 regulator
You should monitor the pressure regulators to ensure applied operating pressures remain constant (10-12psi/lbs).

Q: How important a role does a clean beer glass play?
Keeping your glassware clean is the key to serving good draught beer. To achieve this:

Maintain strict sanitary conditions in the glass washing area
Never wash glassware with utensils or dishes used to serve food. Food particles and/or residue can effect the quality/taste of draught beer
Do no use regular liquid household dish washing detergents for glassware. They are fat-based and will leave a slight oily film on the glass. This causes beer to go flat quickly. Use a detergent designed specifically for beer glass cleaning. It must be low-suds, odor-free and non-fat.
Avoid drying glassware with towels as they tend to leave traces of lint on the surface of the glass
We recommend that you use beer glassware only for beer. Dairy and other food products leave a residue which can effect the quality/taste of the draught.

Q: What are the causes of cloudy beer?
You can tell you have cloudy beer when the beer in the glass appears hazy, not clear. It can be caused by the following:

Frozen or nearly frozen beer
Old beer
Beer that has been unrefrigerated for long periods of time
Dirty glass
Dirty faucet
Unrefrigerated foods placed on top of cold keg
Contaminated air source

Q: What are the causes of flat beer?
You can tell you have flat beer when the foamy head disappears quickly and the beer lacks usual zestful brewery fresh flavor. It can be caused by the following:

Dirty glasses
Sluggish regulator
Applied pressure is set too low
CO2 is turned off at night
Contaminated air source (associated with compressed air)
Moisture in air system
Beer too cold
Loose tap or vent connections

Q: What are the causes of foamy beer?
You can tell you have wild beer when the drawn beer is all foam, or too much foam and not enough liquid beer is present. It can be caused by the following:

Beer drawn improperly
Creeping regulator
Applied pressure is set too high
Hot spots in line
Use of non-insulated beer line
Beer runs are too long for proper cooling
Tapped into a warm keg
Cooler malfunctioning
Kinks, dents, twists or other obstructions in line
Faucets in bad, dirty or worn condition

Q: What are the causes of unpalatable beer?
You can tell you have unpalatable beer when the drawn beer has an off-taste. It can be caused by the following:

Dirty or old beer lines
Dirty faucet
Contanimated air source, or unfiltered
unsanitary bar conditions

Q: What are the causes of a false head?
False head appears as large soap-like bubbles and the head dissolves very quickly. It can be caused by the following:

Applied pressure required does not correspond to beer temperature
Small beer line into a large faucet shank
Beer lines warmer than beer keg
Dry glasses
Improper pour

My Home Brew Shop
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625 Paonia St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
719.528.1651
Email: dlujan@MyHomeBrew.com
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday: Closed to consume beer!