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Are You Sick Of Bars? Move The Tavern To Your House!
By Michael Usry
Are you tired of always having to go out to a bar for a couple of cold beers when you really just want to take it easy and relax a bit? Have you ever thought about how much money you spend when drinking out in public? For anyone who’s had to put off their car payment for another week just because of last Saturday night, the solution is simple; taps right in your own home!
Buying draft by the keg not only costs much less but the quality and experience goes up as well. A draft system is a fairly simple way to enjoy great without going anywhere. A draft system uses gas (usually CO2 or a blend of nitrogen and CO2) to push from the keg right out of the beer tap handles and into your glass. must remain in between 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit for two reasons: for proper pouring and to maintain the freshness of the beer, as it is not pasteurized. It can be a bit more complicated with multiple taps, but the basics remain; consistent temperature and a proper pressure level of gas.
At home taps are fairly simple in design. A small tank of CO2 attaches to a regulator, which reduces the pressure down to 10-12 psi. A hose goes from the tap handles to the keg. There are a variety of tap handles that go along with certain kinds of beers. All tap handles have a screwing or keyed fitting that hooks up to the keg and another hose that runs to the faucet where the is poured out. Tap handles usually run anywhere from $15-$150, depending on what style and brand you choose.
Most
of the domestic keg coolers are designed to hold a pony keg, or about ¼ of a regular sized keg. Some larger coolers are made for restaurants that hold ½ of a keg. There are also conversion kits where you can actually turn your old refrigerator into a keg cooler. It is a good idea to test out the size of the keg you’ll be using with the fridge before building it to completion. Local distributors will more than likely loan you one for a small deposit down. After that, it’s as simple as measuring a frame around the keg to make sure your cooler is big enough to hold the size keg you want.
A five-pound tank of gas is usually enough for about 5-7 half kegs and is relatively inexpensive (between $7-$12) to refill. Regular cleaning should be done to maintain proper flow through the system and to keep the taste of the great. This can be done by regularly running clean and hot water through the lines every couple of weeks or so. Whatever system you go with, there’s a lot to be said about being able to stay in your own home and still being able to enjoy your favorite draft just like at the bar. Michael Usry is a long-time lover and contributing author for "Beer Maniac" fanzine in Austin, Tx. He is also a top affiliate at www.beertaps.com>beertaps.com, and www.steinsandglassware.com>steinsandglassware.com, websites for household draft accessories.
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