arturo7
Well-Known Member
I'm looking at putting a keg set up on my garage fridge. Is there an easy way to prevent certain people (read that teenagers) from drinking all my homebrew when I'm not around?
Call me paranoid.
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Disconnect the liquid lines from the kegs and padlock the fridge door? They also make tap locks but they are pretty expensive.
brewt00l
Well-Known Member
What's preventing them from breaking into your garage right now?
I just had a great and simple idea for locking a few taps at once. Mount 2 long U bolts on both ends of your row of taps. The u bolts will need to stick out further than your taps in the closed position.
Then take a long rod with a hole on 1 end to put a pad lock in and something large on the other end (a big washer or something) to keep it from being pulled through the u bolt.
When you want to lock the taps, you slide the rod through the u bolts and put the lock on the end. You would need to have it set up properly so that with the rod in place the taps can not be pulled forward.
I hope that makes sense. It doesn't stop someone from opening the fridge and hooking up a picnic tap or something but it will lock the taps closed.
Then take a long rod with a hole on 1 end to put a pad lock in and something large on the other end (a big washer or something) to keep it from being pulled through the u bolt.
When you want to lock the taps, you slide the rod through the u bolts and put the lock on the end. You would need to have it set up properly so that with the rod in place the taps can not be pulled forward.
I hope that makes sense. It doesn't stop someone from opening the fridge and hooking up a picnic tap or something but it will lock the taps closed.
Kayos
Well-Known Member
Threats and punishements if they are your kids. Police and jail if they are not.
conpewter
Well-Known Member
The only problem I see with this is if it's just the simple tap handles, unscrew the handle and just pour without it. (use channel locks and something to pad the threads)
tranceamerica
Well-Known Member
Keep the tap on the inside & padlock the door.
Or, fill the kegs w/something so horrid that they'll never do it again
jay075j
Well-Known Member
Kill the first one you catch, and let the word spread to the others naturally.
Just kidding! I would go with locking the fridge and taps.
Just kidding! I would go with locking the fridge and taps.
I'm not too worried about my kids getting into my taps, but since our garage is also a game room, I have thought about the possibility of them getting bumped open etc... Cheapest solution would probably be a shut-off valve in the beer line for each keg and a padlock.
tranceamerica
Well-Known Member
Hoosierbrewer
Well-Known Member
I think a nice barley wine or douple IPA will keep them away
blacklab
Well-Known Member
I agree - just put a valve in-line on your beer line(s), then lock the refer when you're not around.
OP
OP
arturo7
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone. I like the shut-off valve and padlock idea. Seems simple enough to pull off.
I don't mind someone sneaking a beer or two out of a keg. I was certainly guilty of this once upon a time. I just don't want the bastiges to drain it!
I don't mind someone sneaking a beer or two out of a keg. I was certainly guilty of this once upon a time. I just don't want the bastiges to drain it!
tranceamerica
Well-Known Member
If these are your kids - what's your plan for teaching them to drink responsibly? I'm honestly interested, because I have a much younger child, and hope that she's able to be responsible when she's old enough.
g_rath
Well-Known Member
I would just tell them that. And add the "if you get drunk or abuse it it's over" speech.
That is if your kids are responsible/trustworthy.
OP
OP
arturo7
Well-Known Member
Not my kids.
Evan!
Well-Known Member
Oh, really? Then the solution is quite easy: 911.
tranceamerica
Well-Known Member
seriously, who is getting into your house/garage when you're not around? Maybe you keep your beer fridge outside?
Personally, I wouldn't keep my beer where anyone could get at it, I'd either put the beer fridge indoors, or bottle, if I couldn't trust my neighbors.
Locking a fridge/valve will just result in a lot of broken locks and frusteration for you.
OP
OP
arturo7
Well-Known Member
You guys are reading waaaaaaaaay to much into a simple question.
No one has been quaffing without permission. My kegging system is still in the concept stage. Just trying to look ahead.
No one has been quaffing without permission. My kegging system is still in the concept stage. Just trying to look ahead.
I'd put a lockable cover over the taps with padlock on it. You can unlock, and lift out of the way. I've also thought about an electric in-line solenoid to control the flow through the hose. Works off a key switch.
Seriously, if I had kids able to walk into a "rec room" and get beer any time, I'd be afraid of someone haiving me arrested for contributing to minors. Their parents might freak out when the word gets around. And my kids don't drink and as far as I know, neither do their friends, but in today's society things get blown out of proportion very easily. Just having it there, and not "permitting" them might be enough to get the police involved. (although I am not sure why this is any different than keeping beer in the fridge...)
Seriously, if I had kids able to walk into a "rec room" and get beer any time, I'd be afraid of someone haiving me arrested for contributing to minors. Their parents might freak out when the word gets around. And my kids don't drink and as far as I know, neither do their friends, but in today's society things get blown out of proportion very easily. Just having it there, and not "permitting" them might be enough to get the police involved. (although I am not sure why this is any different than keeping beer in the fridge...)
