Want to break into the awesome world of kegging your homebrew? Here is the beginner’s guide to what is arguably the most important piece of equipment you’ll need – kegs. What is a keg, how does it work, and why is it so important to use one? Plus what is the difference between a Sanke and a Corny keg, and which should you use?
In this Q&A style blog post we’ll give you the rundown on everything you need to know about kegs if you’re starting from scratch.
What Is a Keg?
A keg is a type of pressurized barrel or cask used to store and serve beverages, especially carbonated or alcoholic beverages.
You can think of a keg like a can of soda, but bigger and more industrial, and usually with a tap or dispenser attached that is used for serving. Kegs are most commonly used for beer, but are great for several other beverages as well, which we’ll get to later in this post.
What Is a Keg Used For?
A keg is used to keep beverages fresh for an extended period of time. Kegs far surpass bottles and other types of receptacles when it comes to longevity and freshness.
What Is a Keg Made Of?
Most kegs today are made of stainless steel, although some are made of aluminum or other materials. Aluminum is rarely preferable, except in the case of a single-use, portable keg that will be recycled after the event. Nearly 100% of all Corny Kegs are made from 304 Stainless Steel, which is known for its durability, corrosion resistance, and ease of cleaning.
Stainless steel kegs:
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Protect the integrity of your beverage
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Can stand up to the acid in beverages like cold brew coffee
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Are reusable, durable, and long lasting
Stainless steel Corny kegs are the gold standard for homebrewing.
Corny Keg vs Sanke Keg
When you start exploring the world of kegging homebrew, you’ll start to hear a few different types of kegs being talked about - especially the Corny keg and the Sanke keg.
The Sanke keg is an industrial keg used on a commercial scale – think large breweries, bars, and restaurants. Sanke kegs use a single dispense system and have no removable lid. The most common Sanke Keg and Coupler is the Sanke “D” style. This type of keg and coupler are used for over 95% of all beers made commercially in the United States.
The Cornelius “Corny” keg is a simple, portable keg ideal for small batch beer and other beverages. Corny kegs originated in the soda industry, but have been adopted by enthusiastic homebrewers for a variety of reasons. Corny kegs use a ball-lock or a pin-lock connection, and they do have a latched, removable lid.
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Fun fact: Coca-Cola exclusively used pin lock Corny kegs, while Pepsi Co. exclusively used Corny kegs with a ball lock connection system.
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Here are the top reasons why the Corny keg is (much!) better for homebrewing than a Sanke keg:
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The Corny keg is a lot easier and simpler to clean. (The Sanke requires specialized cleaning equipment and a more complex process.)
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Corny kegs are easier to assemble.
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You can make small-batch homebrew (and other beverages) in a Corny keg, whereas this would be quite difficult in a Sanke.
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Corny kegs allow for more versatility in beverages and brewing, such as the addition of dry hops and the customization of flavors.
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Corny kegs are very portable, with sizes ranging from 1.5-3 to 5-12 gallons, while Sanke kegs range from 8 to 15 gallons and can be more difficult to move.
Shop our selection of Corny kegs, such as the Corny Keg Ball Lock Pepsi Style Keg 5 Gallon.
How Does A Corny Keg Work?
Now that we’ve established Corny kegs as the go-to for aspiring homebrewers, here’s how it works:
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After cleaning and sanitizing a Corny keg is filled with liquid (such as beer or coffee).
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Carbon Dioxide or Nitrogen is used to pressurize the liquid in the keg.
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When it’s time to pour, the CO2 or Nitrogen presses the liquid out of the keg.
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At the same time, more gas flows into the keg to replace the liquid flowing out, so air never enters the keg.
If you want to think of it in even simpler terms:
Gas in, beverage out. No air (oxygen) or bacteria.
What Drinks Can Be Kept in a Corny Keg?
Beer may be the most obvious answer, but there are actually a lot of other beverages that can be stored in Corny kegs and served on tap. These include:
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Sparkling wine such as champagne and rosé
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Kombucha
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Cold brew & nitro cold brew coffee
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Root beer and other sodas
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Sparkling water and juice
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Club soda
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Seltzer
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Cocktails
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Hard lemonade
The options are as endless as your creativity.
Benefits of Keeping Beverages in Corny Kegs
There are several practical benefits to keeping beer and other beverages in Corny kegs. These include:
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Corny kegs keep the beverage good for longer due to the airtight seal and presence of CO2 or Nitrogen pressurizing the keg.
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If you are into home brewing, you’ll save time on the process of making carbonated bottled beer.
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You can carbonate beverages with precision thanks to the CO2 tank.
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Corny kegs are fairly easy to clean and sanitize, especially if you’re used to bottling your homebrew.
Ready to dive in? Shop our selection of kegs to get started.