If you know anyone who works in alcohol logistics, then they’ll be the first one to tell you that full kegs of beer aren’t light.
When you are drinking a nice cold beer, it is easy to forget about all the hard work and effort behind the scenes that goes into getting that beer into your glass.
An integral part of that supply chain is the keg in which your beer is stored.
A full keg of beer is by no means light. The metal keg that the alcohol is stored in itself will weigh a considerable amount and with each drop of alcohol that is added, the keg itself will grow heavier.
But how much does a full keg weigh?
Ultimately, the exact weight of a full keg will depend on the size of the keg in question. Beer is stored in kegs of various different sizes, so as you would expect, the larger the keg, the heavier it will weigh.
If you want to find out more, keep on reading!
How Much Does A Full Keg Of Beer Weigh?
If you are interested in finding out how much a full keg of beer weighs, the most important thing to know is that this is something that varies.
Beer kegs come in a variety of different sizes, so the bigger the keg, the heavier it will be when it is full.
Generally, the most common size of beer keg is the 50-liter keg. 50-liter kegs are used in commercial settings, and this is the size of keg that will be delivered to bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in order to be connected to their lines.
If you have a home bar, then you might utilize a smaller size keg, simply because 50 liters of beer is a large amount, and you might not drink enough to consume the full keg before it goes out of date.
As you would expect, a 50-liter keg is pretty large, and because of this, it will weigh quite a lot. Especially when it is filled to the brim with beer.
A sealed 50-liter keg of beer will generally weigh around 130 pounds when full, including the weight of the keg itself.
This equates to just less than 60 kg and 9.2 stone. So, simply put, a full keg of beer will weigh around the same as the average weight of a 16-year-old boy.
So, full kegs of beer are generally quite heavy. But what about empty kegs? Let’s find out!
How Much Does An Empty Keg Weigh?
As we have just found out, the full weight of a 50-liter keg that is filled with beer is pretty high. The average weight of a full keg of beer is equivalent to the same weight as the average 16-year-old boy.
So, it is easy to see why one person is not allowed to lift a keg of beer on their own. But how much do empty kegs weigh?
Well, in comparison to full kegs, empty kegs are considerably lighter. Empty kegs of beer weigh a fraction of the weight of a full keg and generally measure in at around 27 pounds.
In comparison to a full keg, this is really light. But it is important to recognize that 27 pounds aren’t actually that light.
Kegs are typically made out of metal, and metal is pretty heavy. So even when they are totally empty, kegs will be fairly weighty.
While you will be able to lift them, it is important to note that they aren’t as light as a feather. Even an empty keg is a fair weight to pick up, so bear this in mind if you plan on lifting one.
How Much Beer Is In A Full keg?
If you are trying to calculate how much the beer itself in the keg weighs, then this is a very easy calculation.
With the average keg weighing around 27 pounds when empty, you can simply subtract this from the total average weight of 130 pounds to calculate how much the beer itself weighs.
This means that generally, the beer inside a keg weighs just over 100 pounds.
In one 50-liter keg of beer, you will get around 105 pints. When you put it into this perspective, it is easy to see why full kegs are so heavy. Large amounts of liquid weigh a lot, and that is also true for beer.
Summary
In short, the weight of a full keg of beer will ultimately depend on the size of the keg. Kegs come in a variety of sizes, but the most common size is a 50-liter keg.
50-liter kegs are used to transport alcohol from distilleries to hospitality environments where alcohol is served.
So, if you are purchasing alcohol for a bar, nightclub, or restaurant, then the beer will generally be delivered in a 50-liter keg. 50-liter kegs will generally weigh around 130 pounds when full, and 27 pounds when empty.
We hope you have found this information helpful. Thank you for reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the regulations that protect those working in alcohol logistics, a full keg of beer is too much for one person to lift safely.
That is why precautions are taken to protect those working in this industry. Tools such as carts (also known as hand trucks), safety bags, and pulleys will be utilized to ensure that one person never has to lift a full keg of beer on their own.
Most of the time, full kegs of beer will be transported from A to B using hand trucks. This is the safest way to transport beer and the best way to protect the beer inside the keg.
\But if there isn’t a hand truck available, you can tilt the keg slightly on one side and then roll it from there. Just make sure not to tilt the keg too far as this could damage the beer inside the keg.
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