- See the "TOP TEN" Q & A page.
- How do I operate a gas regulator? Answer
- How do I service a Seltzer and Soda System? Answer
- What coupler do I use for my brand of beer? Answer
- How do I Cleaning a Draught System? Answer
- Number 5 - Why should I buy my CO2 tank locally? Answer
- Where can I find General Draught Information Answer
- How do I troubleshoot a draft problem? Answer
- What is up with Stainless Steel faucets? Answer
- How do I make a home "DIY" glycol system? Answer
- How much resistance is in my beer line? Answer
- What should I set the CO2 regulator pressure at? Answer
- Do I always have to use Brewery Approved Beer Line? Answer
- How long does the 5 lb. CO2 cylinder last? Answer
- What types of keg couplers are there? Answer
- How do I clean a refrigerator conversion kit? Answer
- How do I install a refrigerator conversion kit? Answer
- How big is an Aluminum CO2 Cylinder or Tank? Answer
- Where do I get a gas cylinder filled? Answer
- Where can I find General Draught Information Answer
- How do I serve Guinness or any other stout with a Stout Faucet? Answer
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types of Beer Keg Connectors
See Coupler by Brand Name page. |
There are many types of beer connectors used in the world.
- The System "D" Standard American Sankey coupler is the most common in The Americas. It comes in lever handle or wing handle styles but we do not sell the cheaper wing version usually provided by department stores catering to the homeowner and not the commercial industry where quality counts.
- The System "S" European keg coupler is a close relative of the The System "D" coupler but has a longer probe.
- The System "G" or Grundy keg coupler used on Bass, Watneys and some Irish brews is totally different than the System "D" and System "S" coupler.
- The System "U" or U/E.C. coupler for Guinness and Harps single valve kegs is also a unique coupler for very specific kegs
- The System "A" or Flat Top German keg coupler is also a unique coupler for very specific kegs such as Spaten & Paulaner.
- The twin-probe (2-probe or dual probe) is used by small breweries, microbreweries, brew pubs and winemakers.
- The Golden Gate used for most antique kegs used by some homebrewers and very small breweries who have not yet converted to single valve kegs. If you have this type of keg it will cost you $200 for the pair of antique taps so buy a new keg.
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| | CO2 Cylinders |
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| How long does the 5 lb. CO2 cylinder last? A 5 pound CO2 cylinder should dispense approximately 5 half barrels of draft beer if you make sure that all line connections are good and tight. | | Back to Top of Page | |
| | CO2 Cylinder Filling Service |
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| Look in your local phone books yellow pages under the heading "Welding Supply", "Gas - Industrial & Medical", & "Fire Extinguisher". There should be several gas distributors in your area. Call a few of them up and ask if they fill small tanks with CO2. To buy a five pound tank it will cost between $60.00 and $75.00. To fill a pound tank usually costs between $5.00 and $10.00 depending upon supplier. |
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| | BEER TAPS |
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| Beer keg connectors, tavern heads, faucets (beer taps) are sometimes thought to be the brewery supplied tap marker which contains the attractive brewery's logo and is attached to the beer faucet as a handle. In the colloquial, they actually are but in the trade the are called TAP MARKERS. KegMan Products makes many types of Keg Markers from magnesium, hard woods, brass, and plastic. We do not sell any brewery logo tap markers and will not reproduce any. All our tap markers are custom made to your specifications and prices depend on material and quantity. | | Back to Top of Page |
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| | Stainless Steel Draft Equipment Information |
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There is a lot of talk about stainless steel for use in draft beer systems. This is now the law for all establishments serving low pH liquids to the public. Beer, wine, soda, seltzer all fall in the low pH category.
How does this affect the home draft system? It does not. Brass, chrome plated brass and nickel plated brass has been used for more years than the lawmakers have been alive. If you are a publican or bar manager you must comply and rid your draft system of all not stainless steel metal parts from the coupler, tailpieces, nipples, splicers, wall brackets, splicers, FOBs, "Y" fittings, shut offs, shanks and faucets.
The FDA will start inspections as soon as the cost effective system analyzers become available. Until then you have a chance to get your systems into compliance. All retail servers of beer, wine soda and seltzer must comply with FDA Regulation 4.101.14 along with state and local regulations which prohibit serving beer, wine, seltzer and soda to the public with any copper or brass component in the storage or delivery system. This will be enforced first in CA, CT NV and WI in late 2005 and later in remaining states as test kits for compliance become available to food inspectors.
Don't let "Big Brother" catch you off guard.
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| Draft Beer Shelf Life |
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| Real draft beer is not pasteurized. It must be kept refrigerated between 35°F. and 40°F. Above 43°F. a beer will become wild, turn sour & cloudy in a day or two. Below 43°F. a keg of draft beer should last 20-30 days before it loses its fresh brewery taste and aroma. Craft beers (micro brews) tend to have a shorter shelf life and you should contact the brewery for their recommendations. | | Back to Top of Page |
| Draft Beer System Cleaning Schedule |
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Look at Cleaning Equipment and Direct Draw Cleaning, Professional Single Line Cleaning or Professional Gang Cleaning Instructions for all the information on cleaning your draft beer tap system regularly. Most states require beer line cleaning once a week. Some states require it twice a week. Dirty lines and faucets are breading grounds for molds, bacteria, and beer stones which make for off-tasting, smelly, foamy draft beer.
The KegMan recommends you clean your system with B*L*C* at least once a month for the home units and every week for the bar and tavern. The KegMan recommends you use B*L*C* instead of the other stronger cleaners. B*L*C* "Green Top" for home and direct draw cleaning, "Black Top" for long and cold line cleaning and Penetrate for ball parks, stadiums and other facilities where lines have been unused for extended periods of time.
When cleaning the faucet it is important to give special attention to the small hole on the underside of the spout. It is a great place for mold to grow in.
Commercial establishments should clean, or have their taps cleaned, every week to insure fresh clean beer for their customers and compliance with local and state regulations. Most states have laws governing the time allowed to go between cleaning. Home users can depend on taste to determine what their cleaning schedule should be but under no circumstances should they neglect their beer tap systems for more than a one month period. Bars pubs, restaurants & Taverns may contact us at (860) 292-6633 for all their tap repair service & beer tap cleaning equipmentrequirements. | | Back to Top of Page |
| Get your CO2Tank locally |
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| The KegMan recommend you buy your carbon dioxide, nitrogen, beer gas & oxygen tanks locally because your local supplier is the one who will be filling it. Your local supplier will have freshly filled tanks ready for pickup and he will keep your tanks certified for you. The KegMan knows he could make more money selling you the tanks but he would rather you spend your money on equipment upgrades than shipping costs and hazardous material costs at UPS. | | Back to Top of Page |
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The most common questions and answers about draft beer: