how long will a tapped keg last?

[purbeast0]

new years i got a keg of miller lite and tapped it that night. there is still like a good 40% or so left in there. we just had a hand pump to pump the keg.

i've been getting mixed reviews about how long it will last when doing a google search. just wondering if anyone has any experience with this and knows how long it will last. i was hoping to keep it for the playoff games this weekend but it seems from the research i've done that chances of it lasting that long and tasting okay are slim.

granted, this is just some basic light beer and nothing fancy. it's still cold outside and it's still on the ice that it was put on monday night.

 

[MixMasterTang]

With a hand pump it's probably already going bad. With co2 2-4 weeks.

 

[gorcorps]

Don't worry, it's Miller Lite so you'll never notice it go bad

 

[dougp]

Hand pump introduces oxygen into the system as opposed to CO2. This can cause oxidation, but more importantly it will cause the beer to go flat.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/shelf-life-hand-pumped-keg-244222/

 

[crownjules]

Probably 3-4 days at most before it goes flat. You've consumed lots of the beer which means there's lots of space in the keg for the CO2 to come out of solution to occupy.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Hand pump introduces oxygen into the system as opposed to CO2. This can cause oxidation, but more importantly it will cause the beer to go flat.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/shelf-life-hand-pumped-keg-244222/

Yep - imagine that you basically opened a beer and left it setting in the fridge. The next day it's not too bad, but after more than that it will taste a bit off until it fully goes flat and will taste nasty.

 

[seepy83]

The FAQ at micromatic.com is a great resource. This should answer your specific question: http://www.micromatic.com/beer-questions/how-long-keg-beer-remain-fresh-aid-44.html

I wouldn't drink a keg that was tapped with a party pump after more than 1 day.

As for kegs hooked up to CO2...I've had to keep some in my kegerator for 60-90 days, and they tasted fine right up until the last pint was drawn. Constant CO2 pressure and constant temperature in the kegerator go a long way. It's never recommended to keep a keg that long, but if you clean the faucet, coupler, and beer lines regularly, it's perfectly drinkable.

 

[Abe Froman]

It depends on the number of frat boys with whom you are hanging out.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Yep - imagine that you basically opened a beer and left it setting in the fridge. The next day it's not too bad, but after more than that it will taste a bit off until it fully goes flat and will taste nasty.

It's Miller Lite, it tastes nasty from the very beginning.

 

[Crusty]

It's Miller Lite, it tastes nasty from the very beginning.

You're not drinking it, why do you care?

 

[randomrogue]

You bought a $40 dollar keg. Buy another one. lol

I had a lot of keggers and hand pumps make the beer go flat by lunch the next day.

 

[herrjimbo]

just as filling. less taste.

 

[dank69]

The rule is this:

If you don't think you are going to be able to finish the keg, everyone must drop acid. The keg will be empty in 3 hours. Even less if you have more than 4 people.

 

[Wyndru]

You bought a $40 dollar keg. Buy another one. lol

I had a lot of keggers and hand pumps make the beer go flat by lunch the next day.

Man I wish it was only $40 around here, my halves of Domestic beer run me over $100 - that's without deposit, but after tax. (It was less than $80 a couple of years ago).

 

[randomrogue]

The rule is this:

If you don't think you are going to be able to finish the keg, everyone must drop acid. The keg will be empty in 3 hours. Even less if you have more than 4 people.

Wait. You share kegs? It's one keg per person. That way you don't need any chairs.

 

[randomrogue]

Man I wish it was only $40 around here, my halves of Domestic beer run me over $100 - that's without deposit, but after tax. (It was less than $80 a couple of years ago).

Whoa really? Holy shit. Granted I haven't bought a keg since college but domestic beer was always dirt cheap. I could have sworn it was like $40 and $25 for a pony.

 

[purbeast0]

Man I wish it was only $40 around here, my halves of Domestic beer run me over $100 - that's without deposit, but after tax. (It was less than $80 a couple of years ago).

yea not sure wtf he is talking about. it was $102.

ill probably just return it though since it sounds like it'll be flat.

 

[randomrogue]

Damn looking at prices at Bevmo is crazy. $75 for coors/bud light!?

My bad on current pricing.

 

[Wyndru]

Damn looking at prices at Bevmo is crazy. $75 for coors/bud light!?

My bad on current pricing.

Yeah and they have skyrocketed fairly recently (+$20 per keg over the last few years). The guy at the beverage place I buy them from say's it's related to both taxes increasing on Alcohol as well as rising gas prices, at least in NY.

 

[iRONic]

yea not sure wtf he is talking about. it was $102.

ill probably just return it though since it sounds like it'll be flat.

How many of your beer-drinking friends attended the party?

Mebbe get a better beer next time and you won't have as much leftover...

 

[waggy]

I wish someone would come up with a way to keep a keg for like a year. sigh i love beer on tap but can't drink it fast enough.

 

[Wyndru]

I wish someone would come up with a way to keep a keg for like a year. sigh i love beer on tap but can't drink it fast enough.

On co2 and at 38 degrees I keep mine for about 6 months max, but toward the end the taste changes a little. The carbonation is fine, but it starts to taste a little different around that 6th month.

 

[highland145]

'Bout 2 hours around me and my friends.

 

[Crusty]

I wish someone would come up with a way to keep a keg for like a year. sigh i love beer on tap but can't drink it fast enough.

No issue keeping kegs for many months if you've got a proper kegerator with CO2.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Don't worry, it's Miller Lite so you'll never notice it go bad

:thumbsup: