which is best keg

[sidneybigbrew]

hi all been bottling for some time now need to try a keg..
any recomendations..ie
easy cleaning
easy to maintain
better pint ect.......
any advice would be great as there are alot of designs out there..

[MightyMouth]

If you are referring to plastic kegs then any bottom tap keg is suitable, the budget barrels do the job. If you want something durable then a Cornelius keg is the way to go

[Ditch]

In a more perfect world, I'd have eight or more of the wide necked Hambleton Bard bottom tappers. Reason? It anything goes wrong with the tap, or I just need to strip it out for cleaning, I could get at it.

As it is? I simply can't get them here. So I have eight 'Basic Kegs' and am happy 2" neck's never proven a problem ~ nor have their taps.

I've never gone for Cornie's myself, simply due to 1. Capital outlay per unit. 2. I believe they produce a 'fizzier' beer? (Don't quote me on that. But I 'believe' so) 3. Shiny doesn't effect me!

I now avoid Top Tappers because experience has left me with the sour impression that they're simply more damn trouble than they're worth. I know some worship them. I'm sure they'll be along to explain why. Personally? I don't want my keg nannying my damn beer. Then expecting Me to wipe the kegs behind for it.

I just consider the things too much drama for my needs ~ which is a pint. Think I'll go pour me another!

[crafty john]

I agree with ditch, I have budget kegs, king kegs and one rotokeg top tap which uses that much CO2 that I only put beer in it that I don't drink that often, imo the budget kegs dispense a better pint than any of them.

[sidneybigbrew]

so budget keg it is then .. simple but works ..thats me all over
also will i need co2 and cap to fit

[Ditch]

simple but works .

In one, mate

Will I need co2 and cap to fit

Yeppers. It's probably as easy to put aside the solid caps they come with and just buy new caps with the brass work already fitted. (I mean; Ye could buy a decent Hole Cutter of the right size and make ye own holes ..... but ...)

Thing is; Make sure the brass is compatible with the full sized, refillable tanks of CO2. Don't get caught out by the silly little bulbs sold by the box full. They're arse.

Oh, and; Note I use the plural, when speaking of ye kegs? As I said elsewhere on here, earlier today; There's really little point in having just one keg. Three or four are probably a minimum for anyone who actually likes to drink his beer. It's all in the mathematics

[Zatoichi]

I second that! my budget barrel has been the most trusted servant of my barrels, but go for the S30 valve every time.

[sidneybigbrew]

i have 160 bottles dotted about no more space so 2 budget kegs withy s30 fittings should do the job ..
ill never run out off beer again
thanks all

[Lillywhite]

I agree with ditch, I have budget kegs, king kegs and one rotokeg top tap which uses that much CO2 that I only put beer in it that I don't drink that often, imo the budget kegs dispense a better pint than any of them.

+1

[scottmoss]

I have X1 boots keg and X2 king kegs and only have problems with the boots keg seal, going to re-do the seals when it's empty!

[fractureman]

I've got 4 budget kegs & 1 King Keg top tap (which I got off ebay) have just replaced the seals in this as it never held pressure on first use so am giving it 1 more try before it goes in the bin