Keg Costs: Buying Beer In The Uk

Beer kegs are available to buy online in the UK from various retailers, including Amazon, Drinks Aisle, Spirit Store, and J & A Drinks. Kegs are also available from wholesale retailers such as Drinks-Wholesale and Love Beer. The price of a keg of beer in the UK varies depending on the brand, type of beer, and retailer. For example, a keg of Fosters lager costs £1.83 per pint, while a keg of Peroni lager costs £2.54 per pint. It's important to note that some retailers may charge additional shipping fees for keg delivery, and customers may need to provide their own dispense equipment, such as coolers, lines, gas, and keg connectors.

Keg prices and delivery costs

Keg prices vary depending on the brand, type of beer, and volume. For example, a 6-litre keg of PerfectDraft Corona Extra Lager Beer for the Philips Machine costs £29.99 on Amazon, while a 5-litre keg of Adnams Southwold Ghost Ship Pale Ale costs £31.95. A larger 50-litre keg of Birra Moretti Lager is priced at £139.99 on the Spirit Store website.

Some online retailers, such as Drinks Aisle, charge additional shipping costs for kegs if they are outside their normal delivery routes. It is always recommended to contact the retailer before placing an order to confirm any potential delivery charges.

Other websites, like Love Beer, offer free delivery on kegs to certain postcodes, while Spirit Store provides free standard delivery for orders over £78. It is worth noting that some companies may charge a deposit for the keg, which is usually refundable upon return.

When ordering kegs, it is important to ensure you have the necessary equipment for dispensing, such as coolers, lines, gas, and keg connectors, as these are typically not provided by the retailer.

Keg deposit and return policies

When buying a keg of beer in the UK, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding deposits and return policies. While specific policies may vary depending on the retailer or supplier, here is some general information to consider:

Deposit Requirements:

Many suppliers will require a deposit to be paid when you purchase a keg. This deposit serves as a guarantee that you will return the keg in good condition. The amount of the deposit can vary, but it is typically around £60 per keg, as seen from a supplier listing. In some cases, the deposit amount may be higher or lower, depending on the size and type of keg.

Return Policies:

Returning your keg on time and in the same condition you received it is crucial to ensure you get your deposit back. Here are some standard policies regarding keg returns:

• Return Timeframe: Most suppliers will specify a timeframe within which the keg must be returned to receive your deposit refund. This timeframe can vary but is typically around 4 weeks from the date of purchase or pickup.
• Condition of the Keg: To get your deposit back, the keg must be returned in the same condition it was given. This includes ensuring that it is not damaged, tampered with, or empty.
• Tap Returns: If you have rented or borrowed a tap along with the keg, make sure to return it within the specified timeframe. The tap should also be in good working condition to avoid any additional charges.
• Notification and Approval: If you need more time with the keg, some suppliers may allow you to request a new return date with management approval. It is best to contact them in advance and notify them of any potential delays.
• Refund Process: To receive your deposit refund, follow the supplier's specified process. This may include bringing the same credit card used for the deposit, filling out a return form, and ensuring an in-person return during business hours.
• Late Returns and Penalties: Be mindful of the consequences of returning the keg late. Suppliers may charge additional fees or forfeit your deposit entirely if the keg is not returned within the agreed-upon timeframe.

Examples of Supplier Policies:

Dock Street Brewery:

• Requires a $100 deposit per keg and a $50 deposit per tap.
• Forfeits deposits and charges an additional $90 per keg for late returns after 4 weeks.
• Allows requests for a new return date with management approval.

Amazon.co.uk:

• Offers a range of kegs with varying prices, including deposits.
• Provides free delivery options and additional buying choices from different sellers.

Beer types and flavours

Beer is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world, with a plethora of craft breweries each offering their own unique flavour profiles. The two main categories of beer are ales and lagers. Ales are brewed at warmer temperatures than lagers, resulting in a faster fermentation process and a more complex flavour profile. This can range from fruity and spicy to bitter and hoppy. Lagers, on the other hand, are known for their crisp, clean taste and are typically brewed at cooler temperatures, resulting in a smooth and refreshing quality.

Within these two main categories, there are numerous beer styles, each with its own distinct characteristics. Here are some of the most popular types of beer and their unique flavours:

India Pale Ale (IPA)

IPAs are known for their bold hop flavours and aromas. This style originated in England in the 19th century and has since evolved into various subcategories, including American IPA, Double IPA, and New England IPA. IPAs are characterised by their high hop bitterness, which provides a distinct and often intense floral, citrus, or piney flavour profile. This bitterness is balanced by a strong malt backbone, creating a harmonious blend of flavours.

Stout

Stout is a dark and rich beer with a robust flavour and creamy mouthfeel. It originated in the United Kingdom and has gained worldwide popularity for its distinctive colour and smooth finish. Stouts feature mid-to-high alcohol levels and pair well with hearty dishes like roasted meats, stews, and rich desserts. Irish dry stout, made popular by Guinness, is characterised by its dry, roasted malt flavours with hints of coffee and chocolate. Oatmeal stout, on the other hand, is brewed with oats, resulting in a smooth and silky mouthfeel. Imperial stout is a bold and intense variation, with high alcohol content, rich malt flavours, and complex aromas of dark fruits, coffee, and bittersweet chocolate.

Porter

Porter is a dark and robust style of beer that originated in 18th-century England. Similar to stout, porter is characterised by its deep brown-to-black colour. However, it uses malted unroasted barley instead of unmalted roasted barley, resulting in a complex flavour profile that includes notes of caramel, toffee, and dark fruit. American imperial porter is a bold variation with higher alcohol content and intense flavours of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee. English brown porter offers a more moderate and smooth drinking experience.

Pilsner

Pilsners are light, crisp lagers with a clean, refreshing taste. They are known for their golden colour and balanced bitterness. This style of beer became popular in what is now the Czech Republic and Germany, and it is perfect for hot summer days. German Pilsner, also known as Pils or Pilsener, has a pale golden colour and a floral hop aroma. Czech or Bohemian Pilsner, on the other hand, is known for its rich malt character, spicy hop aroma, and crisp finish.

Wheat Beer

Wheat beer is made using wheat as the malt, giving it a refreshing and crisp taste. American pale wheat beer is a light and easy-drinking variation, brewed with a significant proportion of wheat in addition to barley. It has a pale colour, mild hop bitterness, and subtle wheat flavour. Berliner Weisse is a traditional German wheat beer that is low in alcohol content and often served with a flavoured syrup to balance out its sourness. Hefeweizen is another classic German wheat beer, brewed with a large proportion of wheat and a distinctive yeast strain that produces flavours of banana and clove.

Pale Ale

Pale ale is a popular style known for its balanced flavours, offering a mix of hoppy bitterness and malt sweetness. American pale ale is hop-forward, with a moderate malt backbone and citrus, pine, and floral notes. Blonde ale is a lighter and more delicate version of pale ale, with a focus on crisp, clean flavours and a subtle malt sweetness. English pale ale, on the other hand, has a rich malt profile and an earthy hop character, showcasing traditional English hop varieties.

Bock Beer

Bock beer is a traditional German style that has gained worldwide popularity for its rich malt character and robust flavours. It has a higher alcohol content and can range from pale to dark in colour, with notes of caramel and toast. Traditional bock is a strong lager known for its malty sweetness and deep amber-to-dark brown colour. Weizenbock is a wheat bock beer with a complex flavour profile that includes banana, clove, and bubblegum notes. Maibock, or Helles bock, is a pale bock beer that is lighter in colour and body, with a clean and crisp profile and noticeable malt sweetness.

Brown Ale

Brown ale is a malt-forward beer with a deep amber-to-dark brown colour and flavours of caramel, nuts, and toffee. English brown ale, also known as Northern English brown ale, emphasises malt-forward profiles with toasty, biscuity, and caramel flavours, while American brown ale offers a balanced flavour profile that combines malty sweetness with moderate hop bitterness and notes of caramel, chocolate, and nutty flavours.

Belgian Ale

Belgian beers are known for their spiced fruity flavours and high alcohol content. Belgian-style ale encompasses a wide range of styles, from fruity and spicy to complex and yeasty ales. Belgian pale ale features fruity esters and spicy notes, with moderate alcohol content. Belgian tripel is a strong ale with a higher alcohol content and a pale colour. Belgian saison, or farmhouse ale, is a rustic style originating from the French-speaking region of Belgium. It is known for its fruity and peppery yeast character and dry finish.

Required equipment

The equipment you will need depends on the type of home bar system you choose. The two main types are Kegerator or Flash Cooler. Both systems can easily be set up to dispense 1–4 kegs.

If you opt for a Kegerator, you will need to purchase a unit that fits your keg size. These can be purchased from companies such as Love Beer and Mangrove Jack. You will also need to purchase a gas bottle from a local supplier, a regulator, and connectors.

If you opt for a Flash Cooler, you will need coolers, lines, gas, and keg connectors.

For both systems, you will need to source your kegs. These can be purchased from companies such as The Malt Miller and Drinks Aisle.

Alcohol content

The alcohol content of a keg of beer depends on the type of beer and the keg size. The most common keg size in the UK is 50 litres, which is also the most common size in Europe. This size of keg typically contains 105 pints of beer, or 140 12-ounce beers.

The alcohol content of beer varies depending on the brand and type of beer. For example, the alcohol content of a keg of Heineken is 5% ABV, while the alcohol content of a keg of Spaten German Lager is 5.2% ABV. Some beers, like the Budweiser Budvar Original Czech Lager Beer, have an ABV of 4.4%, while others, like the Beavertown Gamma Ray, have a higher ABV of 5.4%.

It's important to note that the ABV of a beer can vary depending on the brewing process and ingredients used. Additionally, different countries may have different standards for measuring ABV, so the ABV listed on a keg may not always be accurate.

When purchasing a keg of beer, it's essential to consider the alcohol content and the number of servings the keg will provide. A standard keg in the UK will typically serve around 105 pints, but this can vary depending on the size and type of keg. It's also important to have the proper equipment for dispensing the beer, including a coupler that fits the keg and a way to keep the keg pressurised and refrigerated.

Frequently asked questions