A beer enthusiast should be in a position to tap a keg in a kegerator smoothly. It makes enjoying fresh beer at home convenient and fun. This guide on how to tap a keg in a kegerator will provide clear steps to help you and your frinds get started easily.
How to Tap a Keg in a Kegerator Step by Step
The first step in tapping a keg is to ensure your kegerator is set correctly and placed on leveled ground. You also want to make sure that the kegerator is clean to avoid introducing bacteria and other micro-organisms in the area.
A kegerator can be purchased in a nearby store or online. Still, you can build your own kegerator if you fancy the project. The building process is easy and won’t consume much time, especially if you have a kegerator kit. Some of the materials you will need include a fridge, faucets, a double gauge regulator, a faucet handle, and a beer tower.
Here is a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
You will need the following materials:
- A kegerator: This will help you chill your keg. It has a regulator to help you set it to the required temperature. A temperature of 34-40 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal.
- A keg of beer: A keg is what will hold your beer. They come in different sizes, such as 1.6 gallons, 3 gallons, and 5 gallons.
- A CO2 tank and a regulator: Pressurized CO2 gas from the tank helps propel beer from keg to the tap. A regulator, on the other hand, ensures you control the amount of pressure needed to propel your beer.
- A keg coupler: A coupler connects beer lines and gas lines, allowing CO2 to flow in the keg. The CO2 then forces your delicious beer to flow out.
- Beer tower (for a DIY project): The work of a beer tower is to provide an area to mount faucets. It is also where faucets connect to beer lines via the faucet shank.
- Beer line (use a color different from gas line): A beer line connects to the faucet and a coupler. It carries beer from the keg faucet for dispensing. An ideal beer line should be 3/16” ID and made from food-grade vinyl.
- A gas line (use a different color from a beer line): This one works the same way as the beer line. The only difference is that this one carries gas from a CO2 tank to the kegarator.
- A wrench and screwdriver: These tools will help you secure faucet taps in place for a firm attachment of the kegerator tap tower. Ensure you have a washer when attaching the tap tower.
- Sanitizer: All the equipment must be sanitized to curb bacteria infection. Make sure you get an odorless sanitizer to avoid introducing unwanted flavors.
Step 2: Prepare and Assemble the Components
Now that the materials are readily available, it is time to choose an ideal place to put your kegerator. You can work in the garage or any other suitable location. No matter the location, ensure your kegerator is on a level ground.
After locating an ideal location, start assembling the components to develop a working system. Assemble the components in this order:
- Sanitize the materials to kill any lingering bacteria around. A non-rinse sanitizer will do the job perfectly.
- Remove the dust cap from the keg and connect a coupler. To connect your coupler, twist it clockwise until it is locked. Next, pull the handle out and push it down to ensure it is appropriately secured.
- Place a CO2 tank near the kegerator and connect a pressure gauge.
- Place your keg inside the kegerator. Remember you already mounted a coupler on it.
- Attach both beer and gas lines. Start by attaching gas line to the CO2 tank regulator, then attach the other end to a coupler. Next, connect one of the ends of beer lines to the coupler and the other end to the faucet.
- Use a wrench or a screwdriver to tighten the faucet. Do not use force, as this could damage the faucets.
- Open the CO2 tank and adjust the regulator to get the desired pressure. An ideal pressure is between 10 to 12 Psi.
- Pull the faucet forward to release pressure and start dispensing beer. Pour a test glass of beer to check for proper carbonation.
That is it. You are now ready to start dispensing fresh, cold beer.
Step 3: Troubleshooting
At times, you may complete the process of tapping a keg in a kegerator, but the system fails to work properly or dispense foamy beer. In this case, you need to troubleshoot so that your keg is tapped as needed. Here are some of the troubleshooting steps:
- Check for leaks: This is a common issue with beer dispensing system. Make sure you inspect the connections and horses for any visible leaks. You can also use a wrench to tighten any loose connections or replace worn-out gaskets or O-rings.
- Check for temperature: The kegerator should be set to the correct temperature for the beer you are dispensing. An ideal temperature should be between 34 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, check that the thermostat is working correctly.
- Check for blockages: At times, beer lines or faucets may be clogged by beer residue, hindering a smooth flow. Therefore, inspect the taps, plus beer lines, and clean them if there is any blockage.
- Check for empty kegs: You may have completed the set up, but the beer is not flowing. Maybe there is no beer in your keg. Check if your keg is empty by lifting it slightly to gauge its weight.
- Check the CO2 tank pressure gauge: The gauge should be within the recommended 10 to 12 Psi range. A higher pressure can make your beer foamy. A lower pressure on the hand can affect the taste and texture of your beer.
- Consult a professional: If you have all the troubleshooting steps but the system is not working properly, you need to consult a professional technician to help you. You can also reach out to the kegerator’s manufacturer to assist.
How to Hook up a Corny Keg to a Kegerator?
A corny keg (also known as Cornelius keg) is a stainless steel cylinder used to store various drinks such as beer. It was originally made by Cornelius Inc. and can be used to dispense both carbonated and nitrogenized drinks.
Unlike the normal kegs with one opening, the corny keg has two posts/openings. The first one allows the CO2 gas into your keg, while the second allows beer to get out. In simple terms, a corny has two posts: in/gas and out/liquid.
So, how do you hook up a corny keg to a kegerator? Here are the steps:
- Have all the materials ready. Here, you will need a CO2 tank, a socket wrench, a regulator, a coupler, and a sanitizer. You already have a kegerator.
- Sanitize your corny keg. Start by removing the posts (both gas and liquid) using a socket wrench. Next, remove the lid and sanitize everything.
- Assemble the equipment. You can start by attaching the CO2 regulator to the cylinder and then attach the other end to a corny (to the post labeled IN). Next, attach the coupler at the other post (labeled OUT) and connect it to the column towers in your kegerator.
- Siphon beer into your corny keg and place it into the kegerator. Everything is now set.
- Turn on the gas supply and set the right pressure on the regulator(10 to 12 Psi is ideal)
- Allow the beer to chill before dispensing.
That is it; you now understand how to hook a corny keg to a kegerator.
Conclusion
Tapping a keg in a kegerator is an easy process and can be done within a short time. With proper equipment, such as a coupler, beer lines, CO2 tank, a keg and a kegerator, you can do the job perfectly. After the completion, you will be able to enjoy a fresh, cold beer.