Mini Keg Views
Occassionally, US beers come in them, as well, (macros like Coors and Bud) and Heineken is doing a big push for their new minikeg (in NJ at least) package which has some sort of patented keg that *supposedly* prevents oxygen from entering the partially used keg. (The paperwork is sealed inside a plastic cap, so I haven't read the PR).
Newcastle Brown now has the 5 ltr. mini like the Heineken w/a CO2 charge that they claim will last 30 days. I've never had one that long but I did have one for 4 days and it poured as well the last pint as the first. I enjoyed the tap system so much I'm looking for other beers, especially micro etc. in same style. The Newcastle tasted really fresh from the mini, it poured wonderful & was easy to handle . The uncharged kegs allow air to the beer that's why they go flat. w/CO2 no air. My Brother and I charged a half barrel of Old Foghorn Barley Wine Ale w/CO2 and it kept for two years. STG. Fond memories.
ANY beer, whether bar sized keg or minikeg will last a good while (even a month) if it is dispensed with co2 . All minikegs provide for this....for some of them you need to invest in an inexpensive charger/dispenser to use co2 cartridges (like the ones for seltzer bottles); some of the newer minikegs coming out these days are apparently ready to go for co2 dispense with minimal fuss and little or no extra investment.It's all about keeping the air out of the beer.
Kostritzer is a very good (and very dark) lager available in mini-kegs. Paulaner exports some mini-kegs to the US, although I've only seen the hefe. n my experience, the mini-kegs lose their carbonation quickly. However, it appears some brewers are attaching CO2 tanks to them, which would solve the problem.If you go through a fair amount of beer at home, you might consider a 'kegerator' set up, a cooler that has a tap and a CO2 tank. The set up might set you back a few hundred to a thousand dollars, but it will keep your draught beer in the same condition from the first beer to the last, and may eventually pay for itself compared to the cost of mini-kegs.
Mini Keg Images
