Disposable kegs - reusable?

I work at a restaurant that has a great beer selection. We go through 25-30 kegs a week. Various sizes and such. We have received a few disposable kegs. Wondering if I can reuse this keg? If not for serving, at least for aging? I can't seem to get the collar off without damaging the whole shebang, so is there a way to clean and sanitize this using the coupler?

What system is it? In Europe we've got Petainer system and it's preety easy to open and reuse. Instructions:
http://www.piwo.org/topic/7131-keg-pet-firmy-petainer/page__st__20#entry163411

Language is polish, but photos makes it easy.

I forget the manufacturer, but they are calling them KeyKegs. I rigged this though. I have a small pond pump, so it's kind of a slow process. I inverted the actual container on its shell, and I'm pumping detergent water in thru the co2 line, and once it's full it will come out the beer line.

The system you rigged will work. It's better to Pump it up through the beer line and have it run down the sides and out the gas port.

If you have a bunch I would be interested in having 4 shipped to me.

If this can hold more than 10 gallons I would like to get my hands on them to try building a few ideas of my own out of them. So you say they are showing up at resturants... What brands of beer are coming in them so I can scope out my local resturants for some of them?

What's the pressure rating on these things? I'd be worried about accidentally overpressurizing it, and having an accident like what happened at Redhook earlier this year.

I know some European brands are using these to cut back on intl shipping costs of kegs. There are larger sizes as well. This particular keg is a Cleveland brewer (I am in Columbus Ohio) ill post the manufacturer website when I get home. The one I have is listed at 60psi

JRems said:

The system you rigged will work. It's better to Pump it up through the beer line and have it run down the sides and out the gas port.

If you have a bunch I would be interested in having 4 shipped to me.

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I tried this, but with a sanke coupler it didn't work. Dunno if there is a trick to it.

Does this have a standard sanke connection?

JRems said:

The system you rigged will work. It's better to Pump it up through the beer line and have it run down the sides and out the gas port.

If you have a bunch I would be interested in having 4 shipped to me.

Click to expand...

I tried this, but with a sanke coupler it didn't work. Dunno if there is a trick to it.

pickles said:

Does this have a standard sanke connection?

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Yup

What's the capacity on them?? If you remove the coupling/valve assembly, does it look like a regular sanke keg too (lip and such)?? If you have a spare, or two, I'd be interested in getting a closer look at them. I'd pay you for the shipping costs (of course). PM me if you're interested in shipping one or more.

Hell I live right herein Cbus, I'd be happy to help you figure out how to make it work.

The trick to the sanke coupler is to remove the one way valve in the beer out tube. It's just a round ball with a plastic retainer. You should be able to pull the retainer out with needlenose pliers and the ball should fall out then.

We just might be looking at the future of homebrew kegging here boys...what nationally distributed beers are using these kegs? Love to get a few of the thirty liter!

The OP said Cleveland brewery so I'm assuming Great Lakes, but Fatheads could be the one I guess.

I have one of these as well. I struggled to get these off at first, I tried channel locks and putting the top in a vise without any success. The trick to getting the top off is using a strap wrench like you use to take off an oil filter on your car. Once you get it started it just screws right off.

pickles said:

The OP said Cleveland brewery so I'm assuming Great Lakes, but Fatheads could be the one I guess.

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Hoppin frog is the brewery actually.

Chefencore said:

The one I have is listed at 60psi

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That's safe for homebrewer use!

Found this particular one here -
http://petainer.com/Large-Containers/Keg-Family.aspx

There's apparently another one on the market that uses a bag in the old beer ball trick too -
http://keykegbeer.keykeg.com/en/product.html

GTG

Found how to open this type of keg ,but after computer crash I lost link.
The gay was opening and reusing pet kegs.
If anyone got it pls post link.

ive opened them with a lock ring wrench. super easy.

http://batemansbikeco.com/images/library/large/park_lockring_10_m.jpg

im using them for kegging cider.

Great convo! I’m new at this and have access to many kombucha kegs. Im assuming these are similar?

TheDuderino said:

Great convo! I’m new at this and have access to many kombucha kegs. Im assuming these are similar?

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Please post a picture, I've reused 4 different types of plastic kegs.