How To Buy A Keg
If you are throwing a party, and don't have the time or inclination to make a batch of beer for your guests, you must find a place where you can purchase one. The local microbrewery is the first place I would call. If they don't sell kegs right at the brewery, they will be able to tell you where kegs of their brew are available or you can use the Kegerators.com keg beer directory to locate a keg beer retailer in your area. If you live in a remote area without access to any local brewing establishment, your local neighborhood liquor store is a good place to go, even if it doesn't advertise that they have kegs. You might still want to inquire there about where you might be able to get one. You will have to do some web search, phone or footwork, most likely, in order to find the best place for the purchase of kegs.
how to buy a keg
Large liquor retailers like "Liquor Barn" are going to be the most inexpensive places to buy kegs, aside from the actual brewery (if they even sell on-site). If you can get a keg at a smaller retailer closer to you, you should consider it, though, because it will save you gas money.
The only place you are likely to encounter any real problems finding a keg of beer are Utah and some of the "Dry" counties in the south. The state of Utah has actually banned kegs altogether. Don't cringe too much, though, the only beer even allowed in that state is pathetically weak anyways. If you are lucky, you will be able to get the keg delivered to your doorstep. States where beer can legally be delivered are AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, MI, MO, NJ, NY, OH, VA, WA, WI. If you live in one of these states, inquire about delivery options. It might prove to be expedient to have a keg delivered rather than take up your valuable time fetching it yourself.
Most places where kegs are sold will also sell or rent keg taps, plastic tubs and ice to keep your keg cold and the beer flowing smoothly. Without proper planning, though, you are likely to lose up to 25% of the volume of the keg beer from over foaminess. The best way top avoid this trouble is by having a kegerator on hand to dispense your beer from. When beer is maintained at the optimal temperature of 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit, you can be sure that foam will be less of a problem and that the beer will flow smoothly and evenly.
Another handy tip for making sure the your keg plans fall all in a row is pre-ordering. You don't want to rush around looking from place to place to find that all the kegs are sold out. Reserve yours so that you know it will be there. Make sure, if you do not have a kegerator, that the keg is placed well before the party, surrounded by as much ice as possible, and wrapped around with an insulating blanket to protect it from the heat of the day. By doing this, you will ensure that the keg is sitting still and not jostled around just before being tapped, thereby lessening the amount of foam that will come out of the keg initially. You will want to be able to re-stock the ice as well, to ensure that you are keeping the keg as cool as possible. The keg should also be placed in the shade for this reason.
In turn, breweries and distributors are increasingly offering kegs for at-home consumption, providing fresh beer at a fabulous value. Ever bought paper towels in bulk from Costco? Keg beer is similar. A log-shaped sixtel (one-sixth of a barrel of beer) contains approximately 5.2 gallons of beer, the equivalent of 41 pints of proper 16-ounce pours.
To purchase a keg, you will need to come to our retail store to purchase and take home. We do not take advance orders over the phone and we do not deliver to the general public. You can call to check availability in advance as our keg list is constantly changing. Please see below for current hours.
Metal Hand Pump $55.00 plus tax. For health and safety reasons we only sell taps (we do not rent) to the general public. For more information on the specific tap needed for your keg, please visit the Micro Matic website.
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Cornelius CansAt select breweries we can also fill Cornelius canisters. Call the brewery to make arrangements. You will need to bring your clean canister and leave it with the brewer for filling. You cannot drop in and get a canister filled unannounced.
Yes! McMenamins Ales are available for purchase at our Oregon and Washington Breweries. Sales depend on availability and the various breweries will have different styles available, so please be sure to call ahead for assistance in tracking down the perfect beer for your backyard BBQ or birthday bash.
Kegs of McMenamins beer start at $150. All kegs require a $100 refundable keg shell deposit. Tapping equipment can be rented for $10 and requires a $40 deposit which is refundable upon the tap's return. McMenamins can only accept cash or credit cards for keg sales and deposits. Keg shells and rental taps must be returned to the brewery of sale to receive a deposit refund. A sales receipt must also accompany the shell and tap to receive the refund. A refund check will be made payable only to the purchaser of the keg. All sales are final. We do not offer refunds.
McMenamins occasionally makes pony kegs available for purchase. Please inquire with the brewery about smaller-sized kegs. Pony kegs will cost you $90, and have the same deposit requirements as the full-sized kegs.
We do not have any pressure fittings or Corny Can parts to supply or rent. Currently, the locations that are verified to fill cans are Kennedy School, Crystal, Fulton, Hillsdale, John Barleycorns, McMenamins On The Columbia, Queen Anne, Thompson and West Linn.
When you call the brewery to find out if a keg is available, you will also make arrangements for picking up the keg. Most keg reservations can be made up to a week in advance. For more long-term reservations (which must be prepaid) please contact the Edgefield Brewery at (503) 667-4352.
It is illegal to sell alcohol without a special permit/license. To purchase a keg and sell it to another party is not only illegal, but the purchaser is responsible and liable for what happens to the keg once McMenamins releases it.
Ahhh, a delicious cold one, by the gallon. Just right for a large group, or one seriously misguided overachiever. Know the basics and you'll be all set for the big event. Keep the keg on ice so it stays cool and it will be your best party buddy, maybe you can even practice some keg stands for old times sake.
We recommend using all Nitrogen components for a Guinness kegerator. However, this setup can be completed using either a CO2 regulator or air tank. If you are not using all Nitrogen components, there are two options to equip your system for Guinness:
If you've ever watched a bartender pour a pint of Guinness, you've probably noticed that a stout faucet is different from other faucets. Sometimes called a European Specialty Faucet, the stout faucet has a different type of handle that pulls forward and down. There's also a tiny restrictor disc inside the faucet head. When Guinness and other stouts are forced through the disc, the beer forms the unique head that people love. To dispense any other type of beer (i.e.: Bud, Miller, Coors etc.) with one of these specialty faucets, all you need to do is remove the restrictor disc.
A keg of Guinness requires a U System Keg Coupler. If using this setup to pour a different stout, be sure to check this keg coupler list to ensure you have the right coupler to match the beer you want to pour.
It can take a keg three or four times as long to chill as it does to warm up. Prior to tapping it, allow the new keg to sit for 24 hours in a refrigerator that is set as close as possible to 42F, the perfect temperature for Guinness draught. This also allows the new keg to settle. The delivery process can lead to the beer becoming over-carbonated and foamy.
As soon as the previous keg appears to be kicked or very close to it, turn off the air flow from the compressed air tank by moving the shut-off valve perpendicular to the air line. This will save you the trouble of dealing with glass after glass of foam, which leads to a longer process of cleaning your beer lines.
Especially when changing beers in your system, regular cleaning is a necessity. Continued cleaning of your system will prevent off-tasting beer in the future. Clean beer lines will avoid the issue of old beer in your draft lines affecting the taste of the Guinness.
With a beer line cleaning kit, add cleaning solution to the plastic jar, attach the jar to the beer faucet with the faucet attachment, and place a basin under the other end of the beer lines for the liquid to empty into. Pump the line cleaning solution through the system to clean the beer lines.
After cleaning the beer lines, fully rinse the plastic jar of all cleaning solution and then refill it with water. Repeat the same cleaning steps, this time pumping water through the beer lines into the basin. Hand-pump the water through the system until the liquid leaving the lines is completely clear.
Guinness draught is poured using a U-system coupler. As with any connection where two pieces of metal come into contact, a rubber washer should be used to attach the beer line to the keg coupler. Attach the washer before connecting the line. Firmly screw the line onto the top of the coupler, and use a hex nut wrench to ensure a tight seal.
Attach the opposite end of the air line to the hose barb, which is the opening on the side of the keg coupler. As with other beer and air line connections, you may have to use some force as you attach the line to the hose barb for a secure seal. Use a screwdriver to attach a screw clamp, ensuring a tight connection. 041b061a72