Best Places To Buy Beer Kegs For Home

Beer kegs are a great way to enjoy beer at home, and they are perfect for parties and events. Kegs preserve the quality and flavour of beer, keeping it fresh and carbonated for longer than bottled or canned beer. They are also more cost-effective than buying individual cans or bottles. You can buy beer kegs online or in-store from various retailers, such as Total Wine & More and Northern Brewer, which offer a range of keg sizes, from mini kegs to large 50-gallon kegs. Some retailers, like NYC Beer & Kegs, even offer rapid delivery services, bringing the kegs directly to your doorstep within an hour. So, if you're looking to elevate your at-home beer experience or take your party to the next level, consider purchasing a beer keg!

Online beer keg delivery services

If you're looking to buy beer kegs for home, there are several online delivery services that can help. These services offer a variety of keg options, ranging from different beer types to various keg sizes, including mini kegs. Some popular online beer keg delivery services include:

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a selection of kegs for various occasions, such as tailgates, bachelor parties, and holiday parties. They sell wine, beer, and kegs in their stores and online. They also provide guidance on the appropriate coupler for your keg and can rent it out to you along with your keg order.

The Keg Guys

The Keg Guys is a dedicated team providing keg delivery services across San Diego County. They offer an expansive selection, including beer, hard kombucha, and hard cider kegs from U.S. breweries, as well as imported beer kegs from countries like Mexico, Germany, Belgium, and Japan. They cater to different party needs with various keg sizes and additional party rentals like Kegerator Rentals and party pumps.

NYC Beer Kegs

NYC Beer Kegs provides 1-hour alcohol and beer delivery in New York. They offer a range of beer kegs, including the Allagash White Curieux 15.5 Gal (1/2 bbl) Keg and the Maine Lunch 15.5 gal (1/2 bbl) keg. They also have a variety of White Claw hard seltzer packs and beer options like Bud Light.

Northern Brewer

Northern Brewer specializes in homebrew beer kegs, providing Cornelius or "Corny" kegs to eliminate the need for bottling your homebrew. They offer various keg sizes, including 1.75-gallon, 2.5-gallon, 3-gallon, and 5-gallon options, all made of stainless steel and featuring ball-lock fittings and pressure relief valves. Northern Brewer also has mini kegs, perfect for portable draft beer solutions.

Half Time

Half Time offers mini kegs that contain enough beer for 14 standard pours, making them ideal for small gatherings or personal use. They ship their mini kegs directly to your door, providing convenience and a unique drinking experience.

Retailers that sell beer kegs

If you're looking to buy beer kegs for home use, there are several retailers that can help you out. Many retailers offer a range of keg sizes, from mini kegs to larger 50-gallon options, to suit your needs.

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a selection of kegs for various occasions, including tailgates, bachelor parties, and holiday parties. They sell wine, beer, and kegs in their stores and online. They also provide advice on the proper coupler for your keg and rent out couplers with your keg order.

Northern Brewer

Northern Brewer specializes in homebrew beer kegs and offers a full variety of keg sizes, including 1.75-gallon, 2.5-gallon, 3-gallon, and 5-gallon options. They also provide reconditioned 5-gallon ball lock and pin lock kegs for those looking for a more sustainable option. Northern Brewer carries other supplies for homebrew enthusiasts, such as o-rings and poppet valves, to ensure your setup is leak-free.

NYC Beer & Kegs

If you're in New York, NYC Beer & Kegs offers a wide range of beer options, including craft beer, standard lagers, and more, delivered directly to your doorstep within an hour. They cater to various event sizes, offering kegs ranging from small 5-gallon sizes to large 50-gallon kegs.

Half Time

For those looking for mini kegs, Half Time offers a selection of compact and portable options, perfect for bringing beer to parties or gatherings.

In addition to these specialized retailers, some local distributors may also carry beer kegs, allowing you to pick up a keg for your next event or at-home tap experience.

Different types of kegs

There are several types of kegs available for home use, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here is an overview of some of the most common types of kegs:

Sankey Kegs

Sankey kegs, also known as "Sanke" kegs, are one of the most common types of kegs in the beer market. They are popular among commercial brewers but have also gained popularity among homebrewers. Sankey kegs have a universal design compatible with most couplers, and their "S" shank makes them easy to tap. They come in a variety of sizes, including half-barrels, quarter-barrels, and sixth-barrels. Sankey kegs typically have one port at the top for dispensing beer and allowing gas into the keg, and they require a coupler to function.

Ball Lock Kegs

Ball lock kegs are a type of "Corny" or "Cornelius" keg, which is taller and skinner than pin lock kegs. They require ball lock-specific liquid and gas disconnects, and O-rings should be replaced periodically to prevent leaks. Cornelius kegs are known for their durability and resistance to corrosion, and they are available in two main sizes: 2.5 gallons and 5 gallons.

Pin Lock Kegs

Pin lock kegs are another type of "Corny" or "Cornelius" keg. They are slightly shorter and fatter than ball lock kegs and require pin lock-specific disconnects. Pin lock kegs are perfect for kegging your homebrew, cider, or soda. While older models may not have a manual pressure relief valve, new lids with this feature can be purchased separately.

Mini Kegs

Mini kegs, also known as "Bubba" kegs, are perfect for those who want a compact and portable system for their beer. They typically hold around 1.32 gallons, or the equivalent of 14 12-ounce beers. Mini kegs are a great option for bringing beer to parties or gatherings.

European Kegs

European kegs are commonly used in European breweries and are designed to cater to diverse brewing needs. They share similarities with Sankey kegs but differ in their couplers, which are called "A" and "G". A-type kegs have a horizontal lever, while G-type kegs have a triangular-shaped handle for easy operation.

Keg couplers

A key element of any draft beer system is the keg coupler. This small but vital piece of equipment connects the gas and beer lines to your keg. Pressurised gas (either CO2 or nitrogen, depending on the type of beer) flows into the side of the keg coupler through an airline, and the beer flows out through a beer line attached to the top.

There are several different kinds of keg couplers with letter names: A, D, G, M, S, and U. They look similar, but keg couplers are not interchangeable, so be sure to check with your sales associate to make sure you have the correct coupler. The D-System Sankey Coupler, for example, will tap most American or Canadian domestic kegs, including Miller and Budweiser. For European brands, the S-System European Sankey Coupler works with the majority of beers like Heineken and Stella Artois. If you want to dispense frothy pints of Guinness, you will need the U-System Guinness Coupler, which will also work for Harp Lager and Kilkenny. The A-System Coupler, known for notable German beers, will tap Hoegaarden, Isenbeck, and Aigner, along with many others. The M-System and G-System Couplers are less commonly used but are required for tapping some beers.

You can purchase keg couplers from several online retailers, including Kegco and Kegworks. Northern Brewer also offers a 5-gallon cleaning keg with dual Sankey D couplers, perfect for beer line cleaning.

Keg maintenance

Cleaning

Before using a new keg, it is always a good idea to clean it. The fastest and easiest way to do this is to fill the keg with a warm solution of a cleaning agent, such as StellarClean PBW, mixed to the correct dilution. For stainless steel kegs, you can also use a 5-gallon cleaning keg with dual Sankey D couplers, which is designed specifically for beer line cleaning.

Sanitising

After cleaning, the keg needs to be sanitised. The best way to do this is with a no-rinse sanitiser like StellarSan. Fill the keg with 19L of StellarSan at the recommended dilution and ensure it is in contact with all surfaces for at least 120 seconds. StellarSan will keep your keg sanitised as long as the PH remains below 2.2.

Sealing

Once sanitised, add a small amount of pressure to the keg (around 10 psi) to ensure it stays sealed until needed. This will help maintain the quality of your beer and prevent any leaks.

Lubrication

As a final step, apply a small dab of food-grade lubricant to the post O-rings. This will help create a tight seal and ensure your keg stays properly pressurised. It is also recommended to keep extra O-rings on hand as part of your keg maintenance kit, in case you need to replace any leaky valves.

Pressure Adjustment

When pouring beer from the keg, pay attention to the pressure. Beer that is too foamy or soapy-looking can indicate low or high pressure, which can ruin the beer. Adjust the pressure as needed to maintain the ideal pressure of 12 PSI.

Frequently asked questions