Perhaps recently you’ve been toying with the idea of whipping up your own homemade brew, or you’re just simply curious about how many beers are in a single keg?
Most of us who have seen kegs before typically think of the larger, wooden ones used in bars and restaurants. These are industrial sized, and tend to be very wide and heavy.
But, there are actually a whole range of different keg sizes, and as a result, they’re all able to contain a different amount of beer. Below, we’re going to be taking a closer look at the different keg sizes, and the respective volume of beer each of them can hold.
To find out more, simply keep reading below, as we take a closer look.
1. Full Sized Keg
The first keg that we’re going to be taking a closer look at is the full (see also: How Much Does A Full Keg Weigh?)sized keg, which is also sometimes known as a ‘half keg’. This is the keg that will come into mind for most of us when we think of a traditional keg.
These ones are typically used within pub establishments, such as restaurants, pubs, and bars, and subsequently hold a larger volume of alcohol.
This keg is also the standard size that you’ll find being used in most establishments in the USA. So, just how many beers is this keg able to hold?
Well, if you were to pour the whole of the keg into several pint glasses, you would be left with approximately 124 pints of beer.
On the other hand, if you were planning on pouring the contents of the keg into bottles, then you would be left with approximately 165 bottles of beer in total.
These kegs are very heavy, and weigh approximately 165 pounds.
2. Cornelius Keg
The next keg that we’re going to be taking a closer look at is the cornelius keg, which is also regarded as the smallest keg in existence. This one is commonly referred to as a ‘mini keg’, and can be bought ubiquitously for parties and gatherings.
This one has a total weight of about 50 pounds, making it highly transportable. In terms of how many beers this keg is able to store, you can safely presume that you’ll be able to cater to 40 people, as it creates this number of 16 oz pints.
This keg wasn’t actually originally developed in order to store beer, but instead, soda water. It’s super popular nowadays for those who are giving home brewing a try, so if this is something you’re interested in, we’d recommend picking up a keg that holds this quantity.
3. 50 Liter Keg
The next keg size on our list that we’re going to be taking a closer look at is the 50 liter keg. This means that this keg is one of the largest kegs on our entire list, and can hold a total of 130 pounds.
In terms of how many beers this keg can hold, you would get approximately 105 full sized pints out of this keg type. This keg is actually the standard in most European countries, and it is used in breweries there.
4. Slim Quarter Keg
The next beer that we’re going to be taking a look at is the slim quarter keg. This keg is incredibly similar to the quarter barrel keg which also makes an appearance on our list, but looks a whole lot different.
Unlike the regular quarter keg, this one is much thinner and taller in terms of appearance, despite containing the same volume of beer. Indeed, this keg is approximately 10 inches taller than its counterpart.
In terms of how much beer this keg can hold, you can expect it to contain a total of 62 pints, which makes it a medium sized keg, sitting somewhere between the larger varieties and the mini sized kegs.
5. Stubby Quarter Keg
This brings us onto our next keg, which is called the stubby quarter keg. It’s not actually all that stubby, and just looks like a regular sized keg, but because of its slimmer counterpart, it looks much denser and compact than it is when they’re side by side.
The same rules apply for this keg, with it being a medium sized keg that can hold approximately 62 pints in total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve covered our list of kegs, and their respective beer quantities. We can move on to discuss our frequently asked questions.
If you currently have a keg of beer in storage, you can expect for it to last approximately 60 days. You do need to make sure that the temperature is maintained properly, however, otherwise it will spoil.
If you’re wondering how long you should allow your keg to rest before tapping, we would recommend waiting anywhere between 1 to 2 hours.
Shaking your leg can reduce the waiting period for your beer to carbonate sufficiently, and is a method employed by some brewers.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, there are a variety of different keg sizes out there, all of which are able to contain a different quantity of beer inside.
Inspired by my love for brewing, I started this site with my friend Derek. We travel, discover unique beers, and share our experiences and recommendations. Join us in exploring our favorite beers and breweries. Enjoy our site as we share our passion with you!
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