Are You Tired of Bars? Move the Tavern to Your Home!

Are you tired of constantly needing to go out to a bar for a number of cold beers or glass of wine when you actually simply wish to relax and unwind a bit? Have you ever thought of just how much money you invest when drinking out in public? For anyone who’s needed to postpone their vehicle payment for another week just because of last Saturday night, the fix is easy; beer or wine taps right in your own house!

Purchasing draft beer by the keg not only costs much less however the quality and experience goes up too. A draft beer system is a fairly easy way to enjoy great beer without going anywhere. A draft system utilizes gas (generally CO2 or a blend of nitrogen and CO2) to push beer from the keg right out of the beer tap handles and into your glass. Beer needs to remain in between 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 reasons: for appropriate pouring and to preserve the freshness of the beer, as it is not pasteurized. It can be a bit more complex with numerous beer taps, however the basics remain; consistent temperature level and an appropriate pressure level of gas.

In your home beer taps are fairly basic in design. A little tank of CO2 connects to a regulator, which lowers the pressure to 10-12 psi. A hose goes from the beer tap handles to the keg. There are a variety of beer tap handles that support certain type of beers. All beer tap handles have a screwing or keyed fitting that hooks up to the keg and another tube that goes to the faucet where the beer is put out. Tap handles generally run anywhere from $15-$150, depending on what design and brand name you select.

Most of the domestic keg coolers are developed to hold a pony keg, or about 1/4 of a routine sized keg. Local beer distributors will more than most likely loan you one for a little deposit down. After that, it’s as easy as measuring a frame around the keg to make sure your cooler is big enough to hold the size keg you desire.

And to customize and label the beer keg or wine holder, try creating custom labels:

 

A five-pound tank of gas is normally enough for about 5-7 half kegs and is fairly affordable (between $7-$12) to fill up. Routine cleaning should be done to maintain proper circulation through the system and to keep the taste of the beer excellent. This can be done by routinely running clean and hot water through the lines every couple of weeks or so. Whatever system you choose, there’s a lot to be said about being able to remain in your own house and still being able to enjoy your preferred draft beer much like at the bar.