Kegging and the wife...

[thughes]

I tend to drink more when my wife is around. Your wife may very well be the cause of your disease too.

x2. My consumption has dropped 90% since the divorce.

 

[scottland]

I'll add a couple points, relevant or not:

A. I wouldn't go in with a friend on a kegerator. If for whatever reason he doesn't get to come over and drink as much as he likes, or if your friendship slips a little bit, a kegerator doesn't split in two. I would highly recommend saving up the money, and have your own.

B. On the alcoholism note. Having a kegerator lessens the accountability, as it's easier to lose count of how many beers you've had, but I don't find it any worse than homebrewing alone. As others stated, I actually drink less. Some days i'll want to see if a beer is starting to clear up in the keg, or how it's coming along, so I'll pull 3-4oz into a juice glass. There's much more flexibility, rather than being stuck with 12 or 22oz servings.

Let's face it though, homebrewing is not a good hobby for those with addictive personalities, or those that face problems with alcohol abuse. I've very personally dealt with alcoholism in my family, so I'm rather cognizant of my own level of intake. If you're actually worried that you are skirting the lines of alcoholism, I wouldn't take it lightly, as I can tell you it gets out of hand very quick, and truly destroys lives. I don't intend to start preaching to those that don't care. Many of us joke about being alcoholics; I do it myself from time to time, but if you or your loved ones actually feel concerned about addiction, I'd take a step back.

 

[graduate]

I actually drink less. As was mentioned above, instead of drinking whole pints all of the time, I tend to have a half-glass every-so-often.

The key word in this quote is "so often". So often I lose track of it.

 

[Airborneguy]

 

[NebraskaBrewer]

Kegs are awesome man, honestly I drink way more now that it's super easy to pull a pint. No more physical evidence laying around either. I rarely finish a beer, just keep topping up. How many beers did you have? Still working on the first one dear, haven't "finished" it yet. Nothing cooler than having the boys over to the man cave too, I love to share my BBQ & brew.

I'm with SmokeShank, I've cut back on my drinking, now I only drink on days that end in a "Y".

 

[Myrdhyn]

Going to have to +1 the "I actually drink less" category.

 

[HawksBrewer]

+however many thus far... having a kegerator definitely provides increased flexibility and ease of serving. Having two good brews on tap all the time is great, and having some bottled in the basement (i.e. oak aged bourbon ales) is an added bonus for when good friends are over, you know, the ones that appreciate real beer.

 

[Danbreeze]

I also drink less since kegging my brew. I keep a 5oz sampler glass by the kegerator for days when I want to just have a taste of beer and not a whole bottle.

 

[Skarekrough]

My wife, who isn't a consumer of alcoholic beverages, made a comment recently that she's concerned having a keg around will only serve to increase the amount of beer consumed by those at my house, as well as contribute to the "disease" of alcoholism for those who come over who really do have a problem.

Alcoholism is one of those things that can be tough to define and can also vary from person to person.

I've known folks that define it as anyone that has a "craving" for an alcoholic beverage.

What I do know is that it doesn't just happen....it occurs over a span of time.

With that said her concerns may be a thinly veiled attempt to state that she's concerned about your consumption rate. She may not be comfortable with it now and she may very well have a valid concern based on what her definition of what alcoholism is.

 

[edmanster]

+1 for drinking less.. I use the small 8oz coke glasses from the dollar sore as my glass and 8oz solo cups are always next to my taps.. Friends come over and laugh when I give them a glass but after 2 they realize why...

 

[Homercidal]

I have 2 taps on my kegerator and I wish I had more. I like the variety. But my door is full of bottles too, so I can still have something different now and then.

And I too have small glasses on the top of the kegerator. Nice for pulling that first few inches from the front, or checking up on the conditioning, or if I only want a small glass at a time. I rarely pull more than 10 ounces at a time. Probably will once that wit gets carbed though...

 

[hatrickwah]

I'm only using standard pint glasses. I've had a keg since college, so judging more or less is hard, but I will say that I can kill about 1 keg (5 gal) every 1.5 to 2 weeks, with my wife's help though. I know this may not be help, but I do think the keg is worth every cent of investment, if not just to keep the bottles down.

 

[RandalG]

I'm new to kegging still being on my first keg but so far I haven't drank anymore than before. Like others have said I use smaller glasses. I love being able to set my carb level more precisely and the convenience of being able to bottle at will.
The other thing I do is a have a lock for the tap. My wife babysits small children in our home during the day so it saves me from having them play with the tap. That and I have a 17 year daughter and don't trust her and her friends 100% when I'm not around. Also I keep the key stashed upstairs which helps with the temptation while I'm downstairs watching tv or whatever making it more of a pita to pour a beer.

 

[Photopilot]

The convenience of having a keg or kegs around is just too easy to drink and I find myself doing more of it. Having 5 beers on tap 15 feet away as opposed to having to go upstairs for a beer, makes it way too easy.

Part of this is also a schedule change for me. I used to work 15 hour days. I would not have a beer with dinner if I had to open a bottle as i knew I might be sleeping soon and would not want to waist a full bottle. It is easy to pour a glass, which might end up as two.

On nights when I have an easier shift PM reserve and usually work less than 5 hours it is easier to have more than one or two as you top off your glass and loose count. You can drink just as much beer out of a 8 oz glass as you can a 20 oz glass it just takes more trips. With endless beer on tap you have to make a conscious effort to know how many you've had.

As far as having beer on tap the beer lover will be very impressed. I have sample glasses so people can work they way down the line, choose which they like then grab a bigger glass and enjoy a few. There are others that are just as impressed as they try to drain your favorite keg and then move on to your second favorite one. I try not to have people over like that as you end up with an empty keg and a drunk in your home. If you have friends like that take a growler to their house then drink all their beer.

There are so many advantages to kegging and having a kegerator, its a natural progression to homebrewing. The dangers lie in you or your friends tendency to overindulge. My biggest concern with my keezer is our new kitten will knock the tap open while I am at work one day.

 

[Dynachrome]

I'm trying to picture my wife with a kegerator... It's not a good image. I'd really have to step up production.

 

[Dynachrome]

My buddy has a fridge he'll sell me for $50.00....

:evilgrin:

 

[bulldogbrewhaus]

Just thought of an idea for a t shirt. "My old lady said I drink too much. My new lady helps me brew."

This.

New wife time.

But seriously I don't notice any difference, just alot less work cleaning/sanitizing and alot less bottles in the drying rack, which for me=happier SWMBO.