What is the history of the corny keg?

Originally produced by Cornelius, Inc (hence the name), these kegs were used extensively by the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi back in the day until another technology called Bag-in-Box came along, which rendered Corny kegs obsolete for the soft drinks industry.

Who invented the Cornelius keg?

If you have not guessed it yet, his name is Richard T. Cornelius. The invention presented to the beer industry in 1935 that they were so impressed with is now known today as the “corny (or Cornelius) keg.” By pressurizing the storage tank with CO2, Richard T. Cornelius makes the “beer engine” a thing of the past!

What is the origin of the keg beer?

The origins of the beer keg date back to the 5th millennium BCE, when ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians discovered the fermentation process for wild grains. They produced beer in mass quantities and consumed the liquid bread from terracotta vats and bowls.

What is the history of kegs?

Early on, beer kegs were wooden barrels made by artisans called “coopers.” The barrels they made were large, bulky and much heavier than today's stainless steel, aluminum or polyethylene kegs, but for the times they allowed large amounts of beer to be transported to local pubs and on ships across oceans.

What is a Cornelius keg used for?

A Cornelius keg (also known as a Corny keg or soda keg) is a stainless steel canister (keg) originally used as containers by the soft drink industry. They can be used to store and dispense carbonated or nitrogenated liquids.

Understanding a Corny Keg Starter Kit - Cornelius Keg Systems from Geterbrewed

Why is it called a Cornelius keg?

Originally produced by Cornelius, Inc (hence the name), these kegs were used extensively by the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi back in the day until another technology called Bag-in-Box came along, which rendered Corny kegs obsolete for the soft drinks industry.

What are the benefits of a corny keg?

The main benefit of using a Corny Keg is the simple manual access via the oval handhole that facilitates safe and easy opening, filling, and cleaning, thus removing the need for investment in costly industrial filling and washing equipment.

Are old kegs worth anything?

While the price of scrap fluctuates, recent history has shown that the scrap value of a keg is easily the same or higher than a typical $20-30 deposit. Many states have laws prohibiting the scrapping of kegs. Others require clear title presented by the owner named on the keg.

Why do kegs taste better?

Light Exposure

Bottled beer is exposed to light one way or another whether it is during transportation or storage. Light exposure causes beer to lose its taste. Kegs, however, are not exposed to any light. Unlike bottled beer, the only time the beer sees daylight is the moment when it pours from the taps.

How was beer served before kegs?

Until Joseph Bramah patented the beer engine in 1785, beer was served directly from the barrel and carried to the customer. The Old English dragan ("carry; pull") developed into a series of related words including drag, draw, and draught.

Why are beer kegs so expensive?

Keg beer involves a bit more processing at the brewery, and needs more expensive equipment at the bar.

Why is keg beer more expensive than bottles?

I've worked at Heineken and you're actually quite right. Kegs are much more expensive that equivalent volume in bottles and cans. The explanation (in the company I worked in at least) is that kegs are mainly distributed to premium outlets, whereas crates are less so. Basically the channel is different.

How much beer is in a pony barrel?

1/4 barrel = 7.75 gallons = 62 pints = 83 12oz bottles (Pony Keg)

What are the different types of corny kegs?

Ball Lock and Pin Lock style kegs are both types of "Corny" or "Cornelius" kegs. Ball Lock Kegs: These are the most common of kegs available to homebrewers.

What PSI should a corny keg be?

The Cornelius, or Corny, keg is made from stainless steel and designed to hold up to 60 PSI (pounds per square inch) of pressure.

Why does my keg beer taste funny?

Re: Keg first pour tastes funny

It's likely just the leftovers sitting in the outer part of the faucet getting funky. Clean early, clean often, and run a little through before taking the first pint.

Why does my beer taste sour when I drink from a keg?

A beer that's been through unclean draft lines or taps may have a slightly sour, vinegary flavor due to acetic acid, and a buttery flavor from a chemical called diacetyl (the very same used to flavor microwavable popcorn).

Does beer taste better with age?

Flavours like vanilla, tobacco, and dried fruit develop over time, while the brew builds sherry-like aromas. The rough and sharp notes of the brew's flavour get rounded out. A well-aged beer is one that has less intense flavour, but more complex notes.

How much is an empty keg worth?

As a rule, the bigger the keg, the pricier. The new empty beer kegs for sale that we offer at Beverage Craft, start at around USD $100 and go all the way up to $200, depending on the model.

Does beer go bad in kegs?

Keg beer will remain fresh if dispensing with CO2 while maintaining the proper temperature and pressure: For non-pasteurized draft beer, about 45-60 days. For pasteurized draft beer, about 90-120 days. NOTE: When dispensing keg beer with a party pump (air), any draft beer will remain fresh for no more than 8-12 hours.

Can you drink out of an old keg?

This is especially true for craft beers because different styles of beer last longer than others. A good rule of thumb is that the shelf life for a keg of pasteurized beer is about 90-120 days (or 3-4 months), and unpasteurized draft beer will last about 45-60 days (or 6-8 weeks) when stored at the proper temperature.

Can you put boiling water in a corny keg?

Boiling water will kill germs, but only after 5-10 minutes. There's no way you can keep water in a keg boiling long enough to sanitize it, and boiling water is an even worse idea for tubing. Break your keg down completely, soak all the parts in Starsan or iodophor and throw the tubing away.

Can you put wine in a corny keg?

Cornelius kegs can be used as holding tanks for wine reserved for topping up barrels or other fermenters. They can also be used as holding tanks for wines destined to be blended. Since the wine is pushed from the keg using gas pressure, you don't have to worry about lifting carboys or getting a siphon started.

Can I lager in a corny keg?

Let the beer sit in your Corny keg at 40–45 °F (4–7 °C) then step cool it down to 30 to 32 °C (-1 to 0 °C) and let sit for 5–10 weeks depending on the strength of the beer. With these steps you can make a truly authentic European-style lager beer.