Here you will find how to use a mini keg for homebrew beverages.
Mini Kegs are 5 liters which is 1.3 gallons. That is equal to about 169 ounces or (14) 12 ounce beers.
The benefits to these kegs are the size and ease of use.
There are 2 ways you can carbonate a mini keg.
- Force carbonate with co2
- Carbonate with sugar
Force Carbonating options
These kegs are originally designed to only be carbonated with priming sugar but we have found a way to force carbonate similar to a standard keg.
The tricky part is using the same hole on top of the keg as both a “gas in” and “liquid out.”
After months of research and trial and error we found 2 different ways to do that.
2 Setups for Force Carbonating Mini Kegs
Ball Lock Tap System
This way is most similar to a standard keg using the ball lock system.
Items for this system can be found online and at the local hardware store.
Setup is easy and will last a very long time. Plus replacement pieces are easy to find.
You can get the full directions and links to supplies in the directions below.
DIY Tap System
This system is a bit more rudimentary but works just the same.
All items can be found online or at a local hardware store.
Setup can be a bit challenging (though still simple compared to rocket science).
Overall cost is a little lower.
Priming Sugar Carbonation
Finally you can use priming sugar to carbonate your mini keg.
This way is by far the easiest.
Simply add sugar to the keg.
Warning! Don’t add too much sugar
The recommended sugar is 12 grams for the entire keg.
We have found reports from other homebrewers that adding too much sugar can be dangerous.
Too Much sugar can cause warping of the keg and possibly an explosion.
But, that is true with any bottling of homebrew so take care and bottle safely.
Below is a tutorial on how to reuse a mini keg and carbonate it.
You can get the items discussed here:
More mini keg options and review:
Be sure to check back often as I am continuing to test and try more kegs!
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