Mini Keg Beers for the Mini Kegerator

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

EdgeStar Mini Kegerator

If you’re a draft beer lover like I am, there is something to be said for bottled beers. The beers they contain are delicious, but something about them being in a bottle just doesn’t taste as good as if they’re poured right from the tap. Unfortunately, most grocery and liquor stores force you to buy the bottles, and there is no way around the fact that you’ll have to drink bottled beer yet again.

That is where the 5 liter keg comes in. It was designed by draft lovers, just like you, to allow you to serve fresh draft beer in your home without having to buy a keg or build a home bar. We love these specialized kegs, but not every beer brand comes in this size. So, to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of a few brands that you will be sure to love on draft. If you’ve had them, try them on draft; if you haven’t had them, then be sure to put them on your grocery list!

 

heineken mini kegHeineken Lager

As one of the most popular European beer brands, Heineken’s unmistakable look and label has given the beer increased notoriety over the last few decades. This clean-tasting lager is malty and has a nice bite to it, and the most distinctive part of this beer is its “skunky” smell, meaning that the hops really take effect in the aroma of the beer. A good mix of sweet and bitter, this Dutch beer goes down smooth.

ABV: 5%

 

newcastle mini kegNewcastle Brown Ale

Newcastle Brown Ale is heralded by critics, thanks to its sweet and nutty flavor that seems to please most beer drinkers. Originating from Britain, the brown ale has hints of caramel, a malty taste, and a creamy texture that is easy to drink. The light body also gives this beer a certain quenching aspect that enables you to drink several without getting too full.

ABV: 4.7%

 

Coors Light Mini KegCoors Light Lager

Coors Light, one of the major American brews enjoyed by millions, is a thirst-quenching beer with a light body for easy consumption. The crystal clear beer features notes of grains and high carbonation, which is great for those who don’t like heavy or dark beers. A crisp finish and clean taste, this beer can be enjoyed by people of different tastes and styles.

ABV: 4.2%

 

Paulaner Mini KegPaulaner Oktoberfest Marzen Amber

A local favorite in Germany, the Paulaner Oktoberfest was a seasonal beer that was so popular, the brewery decided to brew it year-round. Very malty and sweet, this beer is great for those who don’t like an aggressively bitter taste, and the medium body has hints of bread and butter. Because of the malty taste, this beer goes down smooth and quite easily and leaves a bit of an aftertaste to enjoy.

ABV: 6%

 

DAB Mini KegDAB Original Lager

The DAB lager is a German pilsner with a very earthy smell and rich golden color. A simple beer, the taste of bread, malt, and hops are the key notes taken away from the taste, while a slight citrusy flavor combines to provide a great aftertaste. The light body allows for it to quench your thirst with ease, while the crisp flavor will leave your taste buds satisfied.

ABV: 5%

 

Widmer Mini KegWidmer Hefeweizen

This popular American brew is a slight mix between a hefeweizen and a wheat beer, as the taste is wheaty with a mix of a citrus flavor like most wheat beers. The medium body ensures that it will be lighter than wheat beers, but the overall light taste is reminiscent of a hefeweizen. With a malty feel and distinct taste, this hefeweizen will be sure not to disappoint.

ABV: 4.9%

 

Bell's Oberon Mini KegBell’s Oberon Wheat Ale

A typical wheat beer, Bell’s Oberon has a full wheat taste with a hint of citrus for flavor, as well as a nice, hoppy taste that will mix together well. A sweet, floral aroma entices you to drink more, while the malty texture mixes in with the smells and tastes to create a wonderful drink. The sweet flavor and medium body is great for drinking in the summertime, which is the only time this beer is in stores.

ABV: 5.8%

 

Rogue Yellow Snow Mini KegRogue Yellow Snow IPA

In the traditional fashion of most IPAs, Rogue Yellow Snow features high notes of hops, but it also has a citrusy bite to it that gives the beer some flavor. Beer drinkers should note that, like most IPAs, the bitterness of the hops in this beer takes over as the main flavor. With a hazy feel and medium body, this beer will quench your thirst as well as fill you up, and the aftertaste has hints of pine and, of course, hop.

ABV: 6.2%

 

Bitburger Mini KegBitburger Premium Pilsner

This light pilsner hails from Germany, and – as most pilsners – is very golden in color, and features a grainy aroma. However, Bitburger is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to pilsners, as it has a more hoppy flavor than others thanks to its origin. This beer provides a good balance of spice and bitters with malt to give a good, crisp taste.

ABV: 4.8%

 

Spaten Mini KegSpaten Premium Lager

Originating in Germany, the Spaten Premium lager is an easy beer to drink, thanks to the smooth taste and light body. The grassy, earthy aroma gives a clue to the taste: an herbal taste with a small amount of hops. A malty texture is another feature of this beer, and the balanced flavors make for an overall enjoyable drinking experience.

ABV: 5.2%

 

Warsteiner Mini KegWarsteiner Premium Verum

As a German pilsner, the Warsteiner Premium has a straw-colored yellow look with a crisp, light taste. The mild hop flavorings do not tend to overshadow the rest of the beer, and a malty sweet flavor tends to carry through the initial taste. A very simplistic but refreshing beer, the carbonation level is not too high, which is great for being able to taste the subtle notes inside.

ABV: 4.8%

 

Feel free to leave a note in the comments if I missed any!

Filed Under: Beer, Mini Kegs Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Different Types of Kegs

December 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Simply put people love beer!  You love to try new types of beer, you love hanging out with friends while drinking beer or maybe even brewing your own, so you decide the next step is finally buying a kegerator.   The big question is what type of kegerator do you want, but before you choose your new beer dispenser you should know what types of kegs are out there. Did you know there are six different types of kegs?  Here is a quick guide to help you on your way to becoming a Master Cicerone (an expert on beer).

Mini Keg (5 Liters)

The mini keg, nicknamed “Bubba,” is a 5 liter keg.  This keg is produced for retail sales and you can only purchase specific beers, which limits your choices.  There are more and more labels popping up to make mini kegs, some of the  beer companies currently are Heineken, New Castle,  Beck’s, Coors and Miller Light to name a few. This is a great keg size for small apartments or if you want the party to become portable.

A mini kegerator will hold and dispense your beer all from your kitchen counter top, so you don’t need to worry about having much space if you decide to go the mini keg route. A mini keg is equal to about 10.6 pints, so enough beer for a small get-together or a few people.

Cornelius Keg (18.9 Liters)

The Cornelius Keg has a few nicknames “Corny Keg,” “Pepsi Keg” and “Home Brew Keg.”  The origin of this type of keg is it was originally used by the soft drink industry and can be used to store and dispense homemade sodas and home-brewed beer. There are also two varieties of connectors which attach to the ports: pin-lock and ball-lock which is useful to know since they are not interchangeable. Historically, pin-lock kegs were used primarily by the Coca-Cola company, while ball-lock kegs were used primarily by Pepsi.

The most common use nowadays of the corny keg is for home brewing as opposed to bottling the beer.  They are easier to fill and maintain and are preferred over bottling for conditioning purposes.  Another common use for this keg is it’s also good for micro-brewing.

Sixth Barrel (19.8 Liters)

The Sixth Barrel is sometimes referred to as “Sixtel,” “Log” and “Torpedo.”  This is not a widely used keg as it is mostly used for breweries when they want to use a smaller keg than a half barrel.  The sixth barrel is typically the same size as the Cornelius.  This size lends itself to be a great choice for retailers with a small space but want to showcase a large variety.  Common uses for these kegs are for home brews and micro brews, but these you can also use with a dual tap kegerator which is good to keep in mind.  This keg functions identical to its full size counterpart.

A sixtel is equal to about 42 pints of beer and only weighs around 58 pounds when full, so a great alternative to a half barrel keg for a party.

Quarter Barrel Keg (29.3 Liters)

The Quarter Barrel also goes by “Pony Keg” and “Stubby Quarter.”  The name simply comes from it being a quarter of a barrel and is half the size of a standard beer keg (called a half barrel).

The size allows it to be moved easily but you do need to do all the same setup as a large keg.  You need to provide a deposit when purchased from a store and will need to get a tap to serve.  This keg is great for small parties or watching the game with a group of friends. Pony kegs typically hold about 62 pints of beer.

Slim Quarter (29.3 Liters)

The Slim Quarter is also known as “Slim ¼” and “Tall Quarter.”  The name says it all, this keg is the exact capacity as the quarter but just slim.  The difference between the slim and the regular quarter is not just the shape but the slim can be used with a dual tap kegerator.  That means not only is it smaller and easier to maneuver like the quarter but more versatile and can be used with a dual tap application.  This is not a keg that is as widely known though, so most people use a sixth barrel keg or a corny keg when setting up a dual tap system.

When full, the slim quarter weighs around 87 pounds – same as the pony keg.

Half Barrel (58.7 Liters)

Simply put, this is the “Full Size” keg.  This is the mostly commonly known type of keg and is basically a great party waiting to happen.  You’ve probably seen this keg at parties and for large functions. If you’ve been to a frat party once in your life, this was the large wonderful barrel dispensing your beer perhaps propped in a garbage can filled with ice.

For home bars and nicer functions than a frat party, this can be used with a home kegerator.  While a half barrel is a lot of beer (around 124 pints), when used with a kegerator, it can keep the beer fresh for up to a few months. This will only work with a Co2 dispensing system though, not an air pump, as the air will cause the beer to eventually go flat after a day or two.

Here is a helpful chart for a quick comparison of all of the kegs. Happy and safe drinking!

Keg Comparison Chart:

 

Filed Under: Buyers Guide, Types of Kegs Tagged With: , ,