Chill a Keg of Beer
A keg is an excellent option for storing and dispensing large amounts of beer for any gathering. Kegs make serving large numbers of party guests easy, and they also provide a hassle-free alternative for home brewers looking to escape the tedious process of cleaning and filling beer bottles individually. Kegs can be more difficult to keep cold than small bottles or cans, however, because they don't easily fit into most refrigerators. Learning how to chill a keg of beer requires a large container and lots of ice water.
Steps
- Prepare a tub for the keg. To chill a keg, you will need a large, durable container into which the keg will fit with a little room surrounding it. The best option is buying a specialized keg tub, which can be found at many liquor stores and home brewing supply stores.
- Another ideal container is a large trash can. Most high-capacity outdoor trash cans can easily fit a keg of beer inside with room to spare.
- A third option is placing the keg of beer directly into a bathtub in your home. This will prevent you from having to procure a separate container, but will of course require your guests to fill their beer glasses from your bathroom.
- Place a layer of ice into the container. After you have prepared a keg tub, pour a layer of ice into the bottom of the tub about 12 inches (30 cm) thick. This ice will rest underneath the keg and help keep it chilled.
- Lower the keg of beer into the keg tub. Partner with 1 or 2 other people to lift the keg into the tub. Lift the keg carefully and slowly, keeping it upright throughout. Lower it as gently as possible onto the layer of ice in the keg tub. Moving the keg around too much can cause the beer to be too foamy when dispensed.
- Fill the remainder of the keg tub with ice. After the keg is lowered into the keg tub, pour ice into the tub until the keg is being contacted by ice over as much of its surface area as possible.
- Add cold water to the keg tub. Ice alone will help chill the keg, but for the most effective chilling an ice water bath is preferable. Pour cold water over the ice in the keg tub until the water reaches the level of the ice.
- Add more ice to the keg tub as it melts. To keep the keg chilled throughout your party or gathering, add fresh ice to the keg tub if too much has melted away. Excess water can be removed either by scooping it out with a pitcher or by punching a drain hole near the bottom of your keg tub.
Tips
- Pick up your keg as late as possible before your gathering. Filled kegs are kept cold at the store, and so will not need to be chilled as long if picked up shortly before your event.
- Note that beer is drawn from the bottom of a keg when poured, so keeping the bottom chilled is more important than the top. It is okay to leave the top third or so of your keg exposed to the air.
Things You'll Need
- Keg tub
- Keg
- Ice
- Water
- Pitcher
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