So I have the opportunity to get 4 corny kegs, a 2 or 3 tap hose and picnic tap dispensing set up, freezer, and CO2 tank for around 400 dollars. My question is, is it worth the money. My fear is that I wont drink the beer fast enough and it will go bad. I may have one beer when I get home from work and maybe 3 or 4 on the weekend. I know some beers can stay fresh for years in bottles but I'm getting tiered of how much time I spend having to collect, clean, sanitize, and fill the bottles. I realize I am the only one that understands my finances and that I am the only one that can truly answer this question. I'm just looking for some input from others who have a similar drinking schedule who have made the jump.
I made the jump on a two keg setup and I think it's worth it. Don't forget, you're going to need at least one regulator but it would probably be worth it to you to get a double regulator. That way, you can use one to carbonate and the other to serve and/or set different CO2 pressures for different styles of beer simultaneously.
Cleaned up used kegs are typically in the $50 range and I probably wouldn't pay over that for a used one. Very rarely you might find one for $25-$30 on the list of craigs. Make sure the seals have been replaced, buy a tube of petroleum based keg lube and that the keg holds CO2 pressure with no leaks.
As far as how long the beer will be good in the keg, it depends on the beer style in the keg, how it is stored and how often you're drinking that beer. Generally, you'll get about the same amount of time in the keg as you will in the bottle. Pale ales and hoppy beers are usually pretty good for up to six months. Malty beers up to a year and high gravity styles well over a year. With kegs, as you dispense the beer, you have CO2 constantly blanketing the beer and stainless steel protecting the beer from light, so it can really last a long time. Store it cold in a fridge or a kegorator just like you would cellar bottles.
Five gallons = 640 fl. oz.
640 fl. oz. = 53 individual 12 oz. beers
If you drink a beer a night and 3-4 on the weekends, you'll probably finish a keg's worth every month. That's just your drinking and nobody elses. If you have friends and family, they'll probably want to taste your beer at some point. Bring the keg, a regulator, the CO2 tank and a picnic tap and suddenly you're the life of the party if you brew a real crowd pleaser style session beer with fresh hops.