The Beer Keg Pump Takes The Pressure Off Of You
Beer-Brews.com


Defined Tag: Beer Keg Pump.

The only thing between you and 15.5 gallons of cold draft beer is a thin metal wall. However, you cannot pierce the keg wall without spraying the beer all over the room. That would also destroy the beer keg, which is an expensive proposition. Put down that ax and drill, and pick up your keg pump. It safely and effectively dispenses the beer out of the keg.

The first kegs were wooden barrels bound by metal bands and used to hold nails. When they were adapted for beer brewing usage, a bung hole was added to the sides or tops of the kegs. Beer was extracted by removing the bung stopper and dipping or pouring out the ale. This method caused lots of spills and much beer was wasted. The invention of the beer engine revolutionized the beer dispensing industry.

The beer engine was a type of hand pump used to force the beer out of the keg. With the pump at rest and the handle held high, an airtight piston rested below the surface of the beer. Lowering the keg pump handle raised the piston, extracting about half a pint of ale. Subsequent strokes on the beer pump provided a somewhat continuous stream of beer to be dispensed.

When opening a new keg of beer, pumping will initially not result in beer flow. Sufficient suction must be developed to draw the lager up the piston shaft. This volume of beer remains in the piston until it is pumped. If left for a long period or overnight, however, this portion of beer will often go flat. Bartenders will pump a pint to waste before the bar opens so that patrons won't be served flat beer. Some bartenders prefer to wait until the first beer order before wasting a pint or two.

Today's beer keg pumping systems fall into two general categories. The first is the manual pump or party pump. This beer pump forces outside air into the top of the keg under pressure. The increased pressure at the top forces the beer downward into a fill tube. The fill tube exits the keg through the tap at the top. This beer keg pumping technique is satisfactory if the beer will be kept refrigerated and used within 8 to 10 hours.

The other type of keg pump is the gas pump. The keg vendor pressurizes the keg with compressed gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Opening the beer keg tap allows the compressed gas to expand, forcing beer up the tube and out the tap. Pressurized containers may pose a safety risk, so be sure to get a keg with a pressure release valve installed.

All keg beer needs to be refrigerated, regardless of the keg pump used. Refrigeration keeps the carbonation dissolved and the beer fresh. The beer keg pump uses the power of pressure to fill mug after mug with beer.