There are different keg sizes to choose from, with the ideal keg type for you depending on your volume and available space.
The Cornelius keg is a favorite among homebrewers for its simple maintenance and as a convenient alternative to bottling. It's also worth noting that while the slim quarter barrel has the same capacity as the quarter barrel, the tall, slim design of these barrels makes them a fantastic choice for dual tap kegerators.
Another important factor to consider, especially if you'll be offering a diverse selection, is the keg valve. All major American breweries use a "D" system keg valve, but when you start dealing with imports, things can get a bit tricky.
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D System |
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S System |
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A System |
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G System |
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U System |
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M System |
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Why do you need to know what kind of valve your keg has? Because it will directly affect the keg tap types you'll need to invest in!
A coupler (AKA keg tap) attaches to your keg valve, so it's important that you choose one that matches your given keg. The valve holds beer inside the keg while the coupler allows it to flow, so keg valves and couplers are often referred to as having a lock and key relationship. The coupler gets the beer flowing by attaching to a CO2 regulator through a gas hose, allowing compressed air to enter the keg and push the beer out for your thirsty customers.
While all regulators allow you to control the flow of CO2, different types have different purposes.
A primary pressure regulator acts as the bridge between your keg and CO2 tank by connecting to the tank and the gas hose that's attached to the keg's coupler. It controls the flow of CO2 through the line and is easily adjusted so you can find the ideal pressure for any brew.
Like primary regulators, secondary regulators allow you to control the flow of CO2 through the line. But instead of connecting directly to a CO2 tank, they attach to the primary regulator via a gas hose for two primary benefits.
Type of Gauge |
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Single Gauge |
The single gauge on these regulators is known as the output pressure gauge because it clearly shows how much pressure is being dispensed. This is critical because having too much or too little pressure could cause excessively foamy beer, flat beer, and a variety of other problems. |
Double Gauge |
Dual gauge regulators feature the same output pressure gauge from the single gauge models so you can see how much pressure is being dispensed. However, they also come with a tank pressure gauge that shows how much CO2 is left in your tank so you can be confident that you'll never run out. |
Also known as draft beer towers or draft arms, beer tap towers are mounted on top of a counter or kegerator and are responsible for not only containing the beer lines, but also holding the beer faucets in place. There are two primary questions you need to ask yourself when choosing a beer tap tower.
Some specialty configurations are also available which directly impact performance, like shotgun draft towers that keep the faucets close together so you can rapidly fill pitchers of your best-selling brews on busy nights. But once you've narrowed down your options by answering the questions above, choosing a tower generally comes down to a matter of aesthetic preference. The components covered so far will, in most cases, not be visible to guests, but your tap tower provides you with an opportunity to boost your presentation and complement your decor. You can choose different finishes like stainless steel, chrome, and brass, and even different designs like standard and T-style.
To accommodate different beers and a variety of filling methods, it's important to familiarize yourself with the various draft system faucet types.
Also known as beer taps or beer spigots, there are a couple different styles of beer faucets available that each have their own unique application.
Type of Faucet |
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By far the most common beer faucet style, this type is an excellent choice for dispensing all types of lagers and ales. Simply pull the handle forward, and out flows the beer. |
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Similar in appearance to standard faucets, creamer faucets differ in that they allow the operator to dispense beer by pulling the handle forward for a normal pour and then push back to finish with a dense, long-lasting, foamy head that's desirable on certain ales and stouts. |
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An evolution of the creamer faucet, this style is an excellent choice for Irish-style dry stouts. It has the same back and forth handle motion of the creamer, but features two key differences. The first is the narrow spout which has a small opening to encourage the slow pour needed to prevent excess foam. The second is a restrictor plate concealed within the faucet that releases dissolved gas as the beer pours, giving brews like Guinness the creamy texture and cascaded foam appearance they're known for. |
As with tap towers, faucets are available in different materials and finishes but, unlike the tap towers, your beer will come in contact with the faucet which means you need to consider more than just appearances.
It may surprise some to know that many faucets come without handles. That's an obviously integral part of the operation, so what gives?
Whether you operate a bar or have a draft beer setup at home in your man cave, tap handles are a highly-personalized component of any system. Many who purchase faucets will be receiving branded tap handles from their distributor, while others will want to take advantage of the many creative or customizable handles out there, and others will just want something simple and straightforward. That being the case, even the most affordable generic handle would be a slight added cost for what would be a throwaway to many customers, so handles are sold separately.
There are also a handful of great accessories available to help maintain and enhance your draft beer system for long-lasting, reliable service. Keg transportation is made simple with the use of keg dollies and trucks, and keg racks provide a convenient storage solution. Beer tap brushes help you keep your lines clean while beer tap plugs keep fruit flies, dust, and other contaminants out of beer taps overnight. If theft during cleanup or shrinkage after last call is a concern, you can also consider investing in faucet locks for each of your taps.
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