As summer approaches, it's time to think about your summer get together draft serving plans.
As with any draft setup, you need a faucet and a CO2 source.
Faucet Options
Keg Faucet Adapter - Adventures in Homebrewing, Normally $35 on sale now for $25. This is nice because it provides plenty of resistance for foam control, takes up minimal space and looks great.
Jockey/Draft Box
These are for serving a large quantities of beer that isn't necessarily cold yet. Ice in the cooler quickly gets beer down to serving temperature. I have no personal experience with these, but it's my understanding that they're a bit difficult to get dialed in. I'd only consider this option if you're serving a lot of beer.
Picnic Tap
'nuf said.
CO2/Pressure Options
Ball Lock Hand Pump - Adventures in Homebrewing, $39.99
If you know you're going to go through a whole keg, or multiple kegs, this hand pump is a great option. No tubing or CO2 to bother with. Of course, it's going to cause oxidation, but that doesn't matter if you're drinking the beer quickly.
These things are great. Compact and no oxidation. If you go with this option, I'd recommend running the thing yourself. Guests tend to squeeze this for fun and sport and empty out the cartridge in short order. You just need a couple of taps to keep the pressure at an acceptable level for serving.
Similar to the handheld unit, but with a regulator and larger CO2 cartridges.
This adapter will allow you to use a compact paintball CO2 tank with your existing regulator to serve your beer. Much more portable than your 5, 10 or 20 lb tank. Add a
tank to your order, or pick one up locally.
Cooling
There are some neoprene insulation jackets available that are designed for Cornelius kegs. The following design is nice because it also includes a freezable ice blanket. The combination of the two is supposed to keep beer cold for 24 hours.
KEGlove with Ice Blanket - Adventures in Homebrewing, $49.99
Or, use a bucket or cooler and ice.
Cloudiness
If you don't filter your beer and decide to strap your keg on the back of an ATV and take off, you'll soon figure out why people filter their beer as your guests remark at how Budweiser doesn't have the same chunks of yeast that your beer has.
Options...
1. Get it in place ahead of time and let it settle, 2. Filter it, 3. My preference- transfer clear beer to a new keg and leave any yeast behind.
Need an extra (or first) regulator, keg and tubing setup?
Kegging Setup, Adventures in Homebrewing, $89
Have a great portable draft piece of gear or tip? Leave a comment or send me an
email.
Related-
-------------------------------------------
Don't miss a Find! Visit the Connect page to keep up to date.
- $18.13
- $21.05 Free Shipping with $25 order
- $28.07 Shipped!
- $11.33 Free Shipping with $25 order
