You’re probably wary of having to go out to a pub for a couple of cool beers every time you simply want to kick back and relax for a little. Have you ever considered how much money you spend on alcoholic beverages while you are out in public? Anyone who has been forced to put off their vehicle payment for another week due to last Saturday night’s festivities has an easy solution: beer taps right in their own house! This is an alternative to visits to rooftop bars in Cincinnati or elsewhere and allows you the pleasure of draft beers at your convenience.
Purchasing draft beer by the keg not only saves money but also improves the overall quality and pleasure of drinking. Draft beer systems are a relatively easy method to drink amazing beer without having to leave the house. A draft system makes use of gas (often CO2 or a combination of CO2 and nitrogen) to force beer from the keg directly out of the beer tap handles and into the glass of the customer. For two reasons: to ensure accurate pouring and to protect the freshness of the beer, which is not pasteurized, the beer must be kept between 38 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. With many beer taps, things can get a little more difficult, but the fundamentals stay the same: stable temperature and the right degree of gas pressure.
The design of at-home beer taps is quite straightforward. A tiny tank of CO2 is attached to a regulator, which lowers the pressure to 10-12 psi as the tank fills. From the beer tap handles to the keg, a hose is connected. Beer tap handles come in a range of shapes and sizes to match the many types of beers available. In addition to a screwing or keyed fitting that connects to the keg, all beer tap handles contain an additional flexible hose that leads to the faucet, where the beer is dispensed. A set of tap handles can cost anywhere from $15 to $150, depending on the design and brand that you choose to purchase.
The majority of domestic keg coolers are designed to hold a pony keg, which is approximately one-fourth of a standard-sized keg. Some bigger coolers for restaurants are available that can store a quarter of a keg. There are also conversion kits available that allow you to convert your old refrigerator into a keg cooler. Test the size of the keg you ‘ll be using with the fridge before you put it together from the ground up.” For a nominal deposit, local beer dealers will more than likely lend you one if you ask nicely. After that, it’s just a matter of measuring a frame around the keg to ensure that your cooler is large enough to accommodate the size keg you’ve decided upon.
A five-pound tank of gas is generally sufficient for around 5-7 half kegs and can be refilled at a reasonably low cost (between $7 and $12). Cleaning should be done regularly to ensure that the beer flows properly through the system and that the flavor of the beer remains excellent. This may be accomplished by running clean and hot water through the pipes regularly, such as every couple of weeks or so. However, you choose to go about it, there are several advantages to being able to remain in your own house while still being able to drink your favorite draft beer just as you would at a bar or restaurant.