Finding empty Sanke kegs

donshizzles · 02-04-2009, 03:47 PM

So in the spirit of morality I am looking to pick up some empty Sanke kegs but only in a legal manner. Problem is I've spent over a month looking in all the suggested ways and have come up empty (no pun intended).

Craigslist - there is not one person selling an empty Sanke in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin.

Local breweries - I contacted many of the local breweries around me and all of them told me they don't own any of their own kegs, rather they use a 3rd party keg distributor called MicroStar. Smart move on their part but not helping out the home brewer cause any!

Any other ideas?

pen25 · 02-04-2009, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donshizzles

So in the spirit of morality I am looking to pick up some empty Sanke kegs but only in a legal manner. Problem is I've spent over a month looking in all the suggested ways and have come up empty (no pun intended).

Craigslist - there is not one person selling an empty Sanke in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan or Wisconsin.

Local breweries - I contacted many of the local breweries around me and all of them told me they don't own any of their own kegs, rather they use a 3rd party keg distributor called MicroStar. Smart move on their part but not helping out the home brewer cause any!

Any other ideas?

call microstar and ask them if they have any old unused kegs that have been desommisioned. tell them you would like to buy a couple. then go back to cl and post a wanted ad.

microstar contact us

donshizzles · 02-04-2009, 04:06 PM

I've actually done both with no luck

**Bobby_M** · 02-04-2009, 04:12 PM

Have you checked the stainless bin at all scrapyards in a 25 mile radius?

donshizzles · 02-04-2009, 05:33 PM

Spoke to a few with no luck. 2 of them said they will not even take empty kegs due to the rate at which people steal them and bring them for scrap money

McKBrew · 02-04-2009, 05:36 PM

Not sure what your threshold for spending is, but these are about the most reasonable "guaranteed legal" kegs you will probably find.
Winery Beer Kegs

**Bobby_M** · 02-04-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donshizzles

Spoke to a few with no luck. 2 of them said they will not even take empty kegs due to the rate at which people steal them and bring them for scrap money

If you're close enough, it would be worth driving over anyway and just asking if you can check out the "stainless section". There's a big difference between their official policy which they'll promote on the phone and what the scale jockey actually does out back. Yes, it sounds plenty shady and that's why I consider this method of acquisition grey. Bottom line, if it's in the bin, it's getting crushed. Besides, you'd be amazed at how many little trinkets you'll come across at the scrapyard that you can fit into your brewery. Stainless compression fittings, all kinds of copper, tanks, whatever. DIY playground.

MrShake · 02-04-2009, 06:20 PM

I know some here frown on Craigslist kegs... but did you POST on craigslist that your looking for some? Thats how I ended up with my. Guaranteed legal by the seller of course.. hahaah

**Orfy** · 02-04-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McKBrew

Not sure what your threshold for spending is, but these are about the most reasonable "guaranteed legal" kegs you will probably find.
Winery Beer Kegs

Those prices seem reasonable. Probably lower than 50 of the new cost and probably not more than double the scrap value.

darkestdays · 02-04-2009, 09:24 PM

Kind of a n00b question, but what are these used for besides holding beer? Do you turn them into a brew kettle of some kind?