Labor Day weekend is coming up and you or someone you know is throwing a party. So while everyone else is figuring out how to buy the perfect ratio of hot dogs to buns, one-up them and bring the keg. Besides, nothing screams “Back to School” like a keg party. But merely showing up with a keg won’t warrant undying love from your friends, you’ll actually have to get the beer into their cups.
What You Need: • The keg of beer • A tap system (make sure you have the right one, different kegs may require different taps, so double check here) • Ice
Step 2: Tap That Sucker
Most taps have a handle that pushes down to lock the tap onto the keg, while others have dual-flanges that you twist about a quarter-turn. In either case, make sure that the handle or flanges are not in the engaged position. If they are, beer will spray out as soon as you put the tap on the keg.
Seat the party pump on top of the keg, making sure not to push down on the spring-loaded ball valve (another way to spray beer in your face). Lock the pump onto the keg by rotating it clockwise, then engage the tap by pulling the handle out then pushing it down, or by twisting the flanges. If you see bubbles or foam forming around the tap, something’s not seated correctly, so disengage the pump, take it off, and try again.
Step 1: Ice Your Brew
One of the most common causes of excessive foam is warm beer. The exact ideal temperature varies from beer to beer, but your standard American macrobrew will be tastiest around 35˚F. This means you’ll want the beer chilling at least two hours ahead of time, and ideally four to five hours. Whoever designed the typical keg bucket made it only about half as tall as a standard keg. So in order to ensure that the entire surface area of the keg is cooled (not just the bottom half) place a plastic garbage bag in the bucket, and then put down a thin layer of ice before dropping in the keg itself. Continue to pack ice inside the garbage bag until you cover the top of the keg. Check periodically and add ice as needed.
Tip: Cool down the tap too. The amount of carbonation the beer holds goes down as temperature increases, so letting cold beer hit a warm tube will guarantee an avalanche of foam. Fortunately, the solution is pretty easy: Just leave the tap on ice with the keg an hour or so before you decide to tap.
STOP Wasting Beer! How to Tap a Keg with a Keg Pump the Right Way
FAQ
Can you pour beer from a keg?
Can you drink straight from a keg?
Can you bottle beer straight from the keg?
How do I get beer out of a keg without a tap?
Can you pump a keg before pouring beer?
Pumping the keg before pouring could create too much pressure and cause the beer to pour foamy and too fast. Once your keg has been kicked, and the party is officially over, just disengage the tap handle by pulling out and up on it. Then unlock the coupler from the top of the keg. Where Do I Get A Keg Tap?
How do you put beer in a keg?
Attach the hand pump on top of the coupler, press the tap firmly into the keg, and start pumping. The hand pump operates by pressurizing the keg with air, forcing the beer up and out when the tap is open. Give the keg a few pumps, and that’s it! You’re ready to pour. A jockey box is another great option for outdoor events.
How to tap a keg?
Here are three of the best ways to tap a keg using a hand pump, a jockey box, and a kegerator. Any of these will do if you’re not sure how to tap a keg at home or outdoor event. Using a hand pump for a beer keg is a classic method that’s perfect for outdoor events or places where electricity might not be accessible.
Can You Spray beer on a keg?
Lift the handle of the tap. Avoid spraying beer in your face by disengaging the tap. It’s a small step, but many people forget it—and it can lead to a huge mess! Before you start tapping your keg, grab your tap and make sure the handle is lifted up. Otherwise, beer will start spraying out right away.