How Do You Keep A Beer Keg Cold?

Let's face it, no one likes warm beer, and most people don't. Keeping a beer keg cold can be a little tricky if you are transporting it or enjoying it outdoors for an extended period of time.

I have a big social event coming up and I wanted to find out the best way to keep the keg cold while "on site". So, here's what I found.

Bags of ice and plastic buckets are the simplest, cheapest and most readily available items you can use to keep your kegs cold. For this reason, this tried and true method has been around for a long time. There are more efficient and effective methods such as using a cooler, keg blanket/sheet or kegerator.

In most cases, we all know how to use ice and tubs, but may not be aware of other options. Also, there are better ways to cool kegs for different situations. Depending on the venue and the weather, I will go over the best ways to keep your kegerator cool.

Do I really need to keep my keg cold? 

In almost all cases, yes, you do need to keep the keg cool. If you don't keep it cool, first of all it won't be as refreshing on a hot day. Secondly, if you let it get hot or even very hot for a long time, it may turn sour and taste funky. 

Another byproduct is that when you try to pour it, it gets very frothy, which is a waste of beer and can be messy. The reason for this is that warm liquids contain less gas than cold ones. Therefore, the carbon dioxide that was previously dissolved in the cold beer will spurt out of the tap when it gets hot. 

Now, there is an argument that you can serve a decent ale at room temperature (20-22°C / 68-72°F), and I grew up drinking such beers since I was a teenager. However, most people would only expect a cold beer, especially on a hot day!

Where should I put my keg before I drink it? 

You don't always need to store your kegs at freezing temperatures. In most homes, there are several places where it will be sufficient to keep it for at least a few days even in the summer. 

► Basement - This option is better suited for those in the north, but an old ice cellar will work too. 

► Cooler/Tub - Just keep it in a cooler/tub with a little ice. 

► Shed/Garage - These may or may not get hot, but will work well in combination with a cooler.  

However, in order to keep your beer cooler for longer, you may need to chill it before bringing it to its final serving location.

Will adding salt to the ice in the cooler make it colder?

If your goal (everyone's goal) is to keep your beer colder for longer, it's best to add some water and salt to the ice. This will make your beer start to get colder, which means it will stay colder longer. As long as you have a good cooler for the keg, the ice will melt faster, but the rest of the water will still be cold. 

Now, I won't pretend I understand the physics behind this (something about a lower freezing point), but try it and you'll find it very effective!

Another great tip is to try buying your ice in larger chunks rather than smaller ones. The larger the surface area of the ice, the faster it will melt. This means that an open tub filled with ice will lose its cooling power faster than the same tub filled with ice.

Keeping your kegs cool around the house 

Whether you make your own beer or not, a great way to keep and enjoy beer for everyone is to have a keg. That way you can enjoy your favorite beers (even your own brews) and enjoy them at your own home bar.

Now, if you are going to buy and make this amount of beer, you really want to invest in a kegerator. A kegerator is about the size of a small refrigerator and can easily be placed around the house or in the garage.

If your goal (everyone's goal) is to keep your beer cold for an extended period of time, it is best to add some water and salt to the ice cubes. This will start to chill your beer, which means it will stay colder for longer. As long as you have a good cooler for the keg, the ice will melt faster, but the rest of the water will still be cold. 

Now, I won't pretend I understand the physics behind this (something about a lower freezing point), but try it and you'll find it very effective!

Another great tip is to try buying your ice in larger chunks rather than smaller ones. The larger the surface area of the ice, the faster it will melt. This means that an open tub filled with ice will lose its cooling power faster than the same tub filled with ice.

Keeping barrels cold at campgrounds

There are many different types of campgrounds and campers. While some people prefer to camp in/from their cars, some people just have a tent while others go camping. Besides the outdoors, a great thing that brings us together is beer.  

The advantage of bringing a keg when camping is that you will have less cleanup if you use a reusable mug. Also, campgrounds tend to be shaded, which helps keep the beer cool. 

You can use the tried and true method of ice and tubs, but it's pretty obvious that national parks don't allow alcohol, although it's rarely enforced as long as you're not obvious and belligerent. 

So, here are some more "secret" ways to keep your beer cool outdoors.