Half Barrel Kegs

[Shamrock28]

Came into some 15.5 gallon kegs today. Question is how do i wash it, fill it, and carb it.

Its not like a corny keg which is a piece of cake

 

[Nanobru]

First things first... De pressurize it! The easiest (and least messy) is to tap it untill completely depressurized. There is a retainer ring to remove by using any pointed instrument you can find (did you de pressurize it first?). then the spear will come out. Fill up with your favorite cleaner and scrub. Rinse, and inspect with a mirror. Sanitize with star san, bleach water (gasp), or boiling water (recommended because of lots of nooks and crannies in the spear). Filling can be achieved by removing the spear or transferring from a corny via beer out from corny to beer in on sankey while under co2 pressure.

 

[Shamrock28]

Can i fill it and pressure with a sankey straight from the tank?

 

[Nanobru]

From the co2 tank? of course. To fill from a corny: Pressurize corny keg, connect beer out from corny to beer out (now in) on sankey. leave the co2 in (now out) open on the sankey, and the pressure from the corney does all the work. After the transfer, you can hook up the sankey to co2 and pressurize it to the correct co2 level to carbonate. It will be ready in a few days.

 

[KYB]

What he said. To add, there should be a tab on each side where you can stick a somewhat small (but tough) flathead screwdriver. Pry out the top part of the retaining ring, whichever side that may be. Once the top portion is out get some pliers and pull the rest out little by little. To put it back in, get the bottom part of the ring started, then use the pliers to clamp the rest of it in working your way around little by little. It only takes like 20 seconds each way once you know what you are doing and have the right tools. Don't get the kegman kit. Btw this is for most American D-type sanke kegs. However, there are some that don't have the tabs on the sides, but most do.