Does beer sit in the top or bottom of the keg?

[travisio]

I was at a wedding the other day and I heard a guy talking about how beer sat at the top of the keg and all the air was at the bottom. I was going to debate with him, but I realized I really wasn't sure. I assume there is a cylinder that goes down the center to the bottom of the keg and the air pressure forces the beer up through it. Hence the beer is at the bottom. I was searching around on google for a visual picture of the inside of a keg or an explanation of how it is positioned inside the keg, but I couldn't find much about this specific topic. I dunno....what do you guys think?

 

[PsychoAndy]

Last time I checked, you dont put air in a keg, you put CO2.

This is sad though. My parents have a bar and I dont know how a keg works

Here is crass speculation. I think product sits throughout the tank, however when CO2 gets inducted, the product will automatically flow towards the lower pressure side (open tap). This theory may be correct as the CO2 may rise to the top of the keg and slowly displace the product as time passes.

Hey, its how pepsi works.

-PAB

 

[dolph]

does he really think there's a giant bubble underneath the beer? i'm... speechless. really, i am. this is a new low for the internet.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

its def. not in the top...if u pick up a keg that is almost empty, the weight is more towards the bottom...i have no proof of this, but i have picked up a lot of kegs to see if they were done and it feels like the bottom is heavier when there is more beer

 

[dolph]

try here

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: travisio
I was at a wedding the other day and I heard a guy talking about how beer sat at the top of the keg and all the air was at the bottom. I was going to debate with him, but I realized I really wasn't sure. I assume there is a cylinder that goes down the center to the bottom of the keg and the air pressure forces the beer up through it. Hence the beer is at the bottom. I was searching around on google for a visual picture of the inside of a keg or an explanation of how it is positioned inside the keg, but I couldn't find much about this specific topic. I dunno....what do you guys think?

yea...not many people do research on kegs....

 

[XZeroII]

It actually floats around in there. You see, because it's under pressure that beer gets pushed all over the place. It just keeps spinning around going from top to bottom to side to side and such over and over. If you put your ear against the keg, you can actually hear it sloshing around in there.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: dolph
does he really think there's a giant bubble underneath the beer? i'm... speechless. really, i am. this is a new low for the internet.

hoary carp! :Q

beer sits on top of air, wow

 

[rgwalt]

Just ask yourself one question... which is more dense, the CO2 or the beer? You would have to have A LOT more pressure than is in a keg for the CO2 to be more dense than the beer. The beer is on bottom, and there is a stem going from the tap on the top down to the bottom. The CO2 forces the beer through the stem and out the tap.

Ryan

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: rgwalt
Just ask yourself one question... which is more dense, the CO2 or the beer? You would have to have A LOT more pressure than is in a keg for the CO2 to be more dense than the beer. The beer is on bottom, and there is a stem going from the tap on the top down to the bottom. The CO2 forces the beer through the stem and out the tap.

Ryan

what happens if you turn the keg upside down?

or on its side?

 

[knightc2]

Gravity prevails... Bottom.

 

[Aceman]

It sits at the bottom! There is a diptube that goes to the bottom of the keg. The CO2 is absorbed into the beer liquid itself. Yes, eventually there will be CO2 space on the top of the beer. CO2 is lighter than the beer therfore would be on the top.

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Last time I checked, you dont put air in a keg, you put CO2.

This is sad though. My parents have a bar and I dont know how a keg works

Here is crass speculation. I think product sits throughout the tank, however when CO2 gets inducted, the product will automatically flow towards the lower pressure side (open tap). This theory may be correct as the CO2 may rise to the top of the keg and slowly displace the product as time passes.

Hey, its how pepsi works.

-PAB

Okay, but I guess you've never been to many keg parties..... They all have the hand pump. That's air, unless it has a converter inside the pump mechanism that converts air into CO2...

I guess common sense really does not prevail. The beer is on the bottom just like in a deodorant spray can. The pressurized gas forces the liquid up through the tube and the product is dispensed. If you turn it upside down, the tube at the bottom of the can isn't in liquid and it won't dispense, only air comes out. Like turning a windex bottle upside down and trying to spray it. Won't work.

 

[ElFenix]

mmm beer

 

[stev0]

Originally posted by: knightc2
Gravity prevails... Bottom.

ahhh yes... good ol gravity

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: jemcam

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Last time I checked, you dont put air in a keg, you put CO2.

This is sad though. My parents have a bar and I dont know how a keg works

Here is crass speculation. I think product sits throughout the tank, however when CO2 gets inducted, the product will automatically flow towards the lower pressure side (open tap). This theory may be correct as the CO2 may rise to the top of the keg and slowly displace the product as time passes.

Hey, its how pepsi works.

-PAB

Okay, but I guess you've never been to many keg parties..... They all have the hand pump. That's air, unless it has a converter inside the pump mechanism that converts air into CO2...

I guess common sense really does not prevail. The beer is on the bottom just like in a deodorant spray can. The pressurized gas forces the liquid up through the tube and the product is dispensed. If you turn it upside down, the tube at the bottom of the can isn't in liquid and it won't dispense, only air comes out. Like turning a windex bottle upside down and trying to spray it. Won't work.

I dont go to keggers. Air would work, because its not designed for longetivity. I've seen CO2 tanks the size of 2 filing cabinets put together used in tap configurations. You use CO2 to preserve the product.

Pepsi pre mix follows the same principle. Steel tank, dip tube to the bottom, CO2 comes in on the top and displaces product.

-PAB

 

[jemcam]

Air would work, because its not designed for longetivity. I've seen CO2 tanks the size of 2 filing cabinets put together used in tap configurations. You use CO2 to preserve the product.

Huh? Air does work. I know restaurants, bars, etc. have kegs with CO2, but if you go buy a keg, you get a plain, old fashioned hand pump, and it works well. Granted, the beer will be stale & flat if you don't finish it within a day or so, but it works. CO2 has nothing to do with preserving the product, it's just able to keep pressure on the product, keeping it from going flat. With a hand air pump, you don't have that ability and the beer goes flat over night.

 

[travisio]

Well Im glad to see that most agree with me Thanks for that link dolph, that is good evidence to show him.

Originally posted by: jemcam

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Last time I checked, you dont put air in a keg, you put CO2.

This is sad though. My parents have a bar and I dont know how a keg works

Here is crass speculation. I think product sits throughout the tank, however when CO2 gets inducted, the product will automatically flow towards the lower pressure side (open tap). This theory may be correct as the CO2 may rise to the top of the keg and slowly displace the product as time passes.

Hey, its how pepsi works.

-PAB

Okay, but I guess you've never been to many keg parties..... They all have the hand pump. That's air, unless it has a converter inside the pump mechanism that converts air into CO2...

I guess common sense really does not prevail. The beer is on the bottom just like in a deodorant spray can. The pressurized gas forces the liquid up through the tube and the product is dispensed. If you turn it upside down, the tube at the bottom of the can isn't in liquid and it won't dispense, only air comes out. Like turning a windex bottle upside down and trying to spray it. Won't work.

This is why I referred to air and not CO2 to begin with. Im sure when the keg is filled they insert CO2 inside to keep it at a constant pressure but when you have a handtap, you aren't pumpin in CO2

 

[jemcam]

This is why I referred to air and not CO2 to begin with. Im sure when the keg is filled they insert CO2 inside to keep it at a constant pressure but when you have a handtap, you aren't pumpin in CO2

Me too. The point I'm trying to make is that in order for a keg to work, it can be hand pumped air or CO2.

I think we're getting an argument that only CO2 will work, but I'm waiting for clarification on that one so I can prove him wrong.

 

[Viper GTS]

My god people...

Go get a balloon. Fill it part way with tap water. Then inflate it the rest of the way with air.

Tie it off, set it on the counter.

Does that answer your question?

Viper GTS

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: jemcam

Air would work, because its not designed for longetivity. I've seen CO2 tanks the size of 2 filing cabinets put together used in tap configurations. You use CO2 to preserve the product.

Huh? Air does work. I know restaurants, bars, etc. have kegs with CO2, but if you go buy a keg, you get a plain, old fashioned hand pump, and it works well. Granted, the beer will be stale & flat if you don't finish it within a day or so, but it works. CO2 has nothing to do with preserving the product, it's just able to keep pressure on the product, keeping it from going flat. With a hand air pump, you don't have that ability and the beer goes flat over night.

"CO2 has nothing to do with preserving the product, it's just able to keep pressure on the product, keeping it from going flat"

Um. AKA: Preserving the product....

I was referring to shelf life. Remember: mom and dad have bar. My thinking is askewed towards the big picture.

$20 to reload a CO2 tank beats $45 to replace a flat keg of bud.

-PAB

EDIT: Ok, I think I'm lost off in space somewhere. I've been thinking CO2 works to keep the product fizzy just because its CO2. If it were just regular high pressure air, I doubt the carbonics people would be in business. I may be wrong on this one.

 

[jemcam]

$20 to reload a CO2 tank beats $45 to replace a flat keg of bud.

If you're having to replace a flat keg of bud, you didn't invite enough people, or you should have ordered a pony keg.

My guess is that if you have a half full keg of flat bud at your house, chances are you don't care because it's the morning after and you don't want to mess with that keg anymore anyway.

 

[Aceman]

Originally posted by: jemcam

Air would work, because its not designed for longetivity. I've seen CO2 tanks the size of 2 filing cabinets put together used in tap configurations. You use CO2 to preserve the product.

Huh? Air does work. I know restaurants, bars, etc. have kegs with CO2, but if you go buy a keg, you get a plain, old fashioned hand pump, and it works well. Granted, the beer will be stale & flat if you don't finish it within a day or so, but it works. CO2 has nothing to do with preserving the product, it's just able to keep pressure on the product, keeping it from going flat. With a hand air pump, you don't have that ability and the beer goes flat over night.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Wrong answer! Air will introduce all sorts of contaminates and oxidize the beer (Nasty cardboard taste) CO2 is a pure gas that has no negative effects or contaminates to the beer. This I know from YEARS of brewing my own beer and serving my own beer. Keg parties use hand pumps that intoduces air to displace and keep pressure in the keg. The keg is usually consumed within a couple of days thus no ill effects of the air contaminating the beer. If you left that keg sit for a week with a hand pump on it, the beer would still be carbonated (CO2 IN the beer will not be released out of it if it has no place to go. The keg is still pressurized. )

 

[jemcam]

Originally posted by: Aceman

Originally posted by: jemcam

Air would work, because its not designed for longetivity. I've seen CO2 tanks the size of 2 filing cabinets put together used in tap configurations. You use CO2 to preserve the product.

Huh? Air does work. I know restaurants, bars, etc. have kegs with CO2, but if you go buy a keg, you get a plain, old fashioned hand pump, and it works well. Granted, the beer will be stale & flat if you don't finish it within a day or so, but it works. CO2 has nothing to do with preserving the product, it's just able to keep pressure on the product, keeping it from going flat. With a hand air pump, you don't have that ability and the beer goes flat over night.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!! Wrong answer! Air will introduce all sorts of contaminates and oxidize the beer (Nasty cardboard taste) CO2 is a pure gas that has no negative effects or contaminates to the beer. This I know from YEARS of brewing my own beer and serving my own beer. Keg parties use hand pumps that intoduces air to displace and keep pressure in the keg. The keg is usually consumed within a couple of days thus no ill effects of the air contaminating the beer. If you left that keg sit for a week with a hand pump on it, the beer would still be carbonated (CO2 IN the beer will not be released out of it if it has no place to go. The keg is still pressurized. )

Okay then, in your years of experience, can you explain to me why a party keg with an air pump tap is ALWAYS flat the next day? Doesn't matter what brand or anything, or where it's kept, in the garbage can packed with ice, or in the refrigerator. They go flat every time.

I assumed (incorrectly according to you) that it was because the hand tap does not keep pressure on the beer like a (or as much as) a CO2 tap.

Enlighten me!

 

[amnesiac]

Worst. Argument. Ever.