Pubkeg plastic kegs?

[chicagobrew]

I was checking out the website for the Craft Brewer's Convention happening this week in Chicago and I saw an ad for the Rehrig pubkeg (www.pubkeg.com). Anyone ever seen one of these? This looks pretty interesting.

Basically, it's a disposable, fully recyclable 5.25gallon keg. Right now it comes with either a sanke or euro hookup, but it looks like they're just getting off the ground. I'll bet they'll end up making this is all different sizes and configurations if it works.

Anyone have thoughts or experience?

AP

 

[mosquitocontrol]

Of course just what we need. More disposable products. Just seems like a waste.

 

[jezter6]

Interesting idea...

As for homebrew uses, I'm betting that until the corny's really dry up, that the initial price of these will be no better than we already get with what we have. That and the fact that it's plastic and meant to be pretty disposable seems to be a negative factor as well. We all know how bad it can be scratching a plastic bucket or better bottle -- do we really want a keg with the same short term viability?

 

[Strongbad52]

I recently came into 2 of these from a local growler place. After taking them apart, these will easily be re-usable. It is basically a 5 gallon tap-a-draft with a sanke connection. By the way, to get the sanke top off use a strap wrench like the ones you use to change the oil filter on your car.

 

[kaboom133]

When you say use a strap wrench, do you mean it unscrews?

 

[br1dge]

They are very nice vessels, I have a bunch of of them. They are completely reusable, I just wish they had corny type posts.

 

[Strongbad52]

Yep, they just screw right off without too much effort. You just have be careful when you reassemble them - they have a very thin oring that seals the top and you have to make sure you don't pinch it.

 

[tektonjp]

From their site:
Can I get just one for my homebrew?
We’d love to send you just one or two PubKegs, but we don’t want to mislead you. Here at PubKeg, we have created what we feel is the best one-way keg out there. That being said, because it is a one-way keg, it probably isn’t the best fit for your home brew. Because it is made of recyclable plastic, we recommend that the internal parts be replaced after each use. We don’t want to discourage your interest in the PubKeg, humble home brewers, but we do feel that there are better options out there for you. Once your beer gets famous and you are shipping it all over the world to be enjoyed, come back and find us. We might just be the perfect fit for you then!

Read: These will probably be just fine for you home brewers, but if we said that, you'd be snatching them!

 

[kaboom133]

The bar I work at is giving them to me when they kick. I thought I was going to have to fill it from another keg, it's so nice that I can just unscrew it.

As far as the not using them for homebrewing, I use quite a few things in my homebrew ventures that are not ever meant to be used for brewing with no problems, I can't wait to give these a try.

 

[mattd2]

Not to discourage but before using look into the explosion risk associated with these plastic kegs. Red Hook brewery had a fatality when a plastic keg exploded, which has caused a lot of people in the industry to take a closer look into these.
http://www.brewbound.com/news/plastic-keg-safety-under-scrutiny

 

[Strongbad52]

Personally I will still be using mine. It seems from reading the article that all these accidents happened when cleaning under pressure. On a home brew scale it seems more likely to screw the top off to clean & sanitize than to try to clean on place under pressure.

 

[wilserbrewer]

These things look great! Wish I could find a few. The inner vessel is lightweight like a soda bottle w/ a sanke fitting, the outer shell looks like an HDPE bucket. Gotta search a few of these out.

 

[mattd2]

Personally I will still be using mine. It seems from reading the article that all these accidents happened when cleaning under pressure. On a home brew scale it seems more likely to screw the top off to clean & sanitize than to try to clean on place under pressure.

I wasn't meaning to discourage the use. Just wanted to point out that you should expect these to be as tough as a SS sanke. One of those noted that it burst at approx 30psi = a lot of people force carb at that pressure. I would expect that that failure was due to temperature and pressure but I thought it should be said that don't expect them to have the same 100psi design pressure that conry kegs have.

 

[milesvdustin]

The pubkeg website says minumum order quantity is 48 kegs at $25 each. So 1200 bucks to get a batch of these things.

 

[br1dge]

The pubkeg website says minumum order quantity is 48 kegs at $25 each. So 1200 bucks to get a batch of these things.

I can get them for $40 each plus shipping, no minimum required

 

[wilserbrewer]

I can get them for $40 each plus shipping, no minimum required

I was hoping to get a few used or "pre-owned" for free, as they are disposable or recyclable as the PC term goes.

 

[br1dge]

They are worth $20 recycle fee back to rehirg

 

[wilserbrewer]

They are worth $20 recycle fee back to rehirg

$5 here?
http://www.rehrigpacific.com/produc...port-packaging/pubkeg/pubkeg-exchange-program

 

[WortMonger]

Very interesting. I will have to look into these.

 

[kaboom133]

The bar I work at said they didn't pay any deposit and the distributor said not to return them.

 

[br1dge]

$5 here?
http://www.rehrigpacific.com/products-and-services/reusable-transport-packaging/pubkeg/pubkeg-exchange-program

Good find. I need to get more details, I guess. I know they are returnable, because they swap out the inner container and sanitize.

 

[wilserbrewer]

The bar I work at said they didn't pay any deposit and the distributor said not to return them.

What breweries are using these kegs, wondering if they are available in my area as well?

 

[kaboom133]

The only thing I've seen in them so far is 21st Amendment.

 

[tyfernandez]

Looks like Homebrewing.org has them for sale. Kinda curious about these.

http://www.homebrewing.org/5-Gallon-Plastic-Pub-Keg_p_3197.html?AffId=160

 

[wilserbrewer]

$59 plus shipping, I am not that curious One note, these are 11 1/4" wide, so they will take a bit more room in the keezer.

 

[Strongbad52]

The two I got were from left hand brewing company, and I think rogue uses these too.

 

[wilserbrewer]

...and I think rogue uses these too.

Bonus, maybe I can make a starter out of the pacman dregs at the bottom of the keg

 

[br1dge]

Bonus, maybe I can make a starter out of the pacman dregs at the bottom of the keg

Wilder - if you want to try them, pm me and I will hook you up

 

[trboyden]

Just picked one up from www.home-brew.com, my LHBS, to give it a try. I have a new SS corny, but I always have trouble getting it to seal well. I'm looking to try a Sanke style keg to cut down on the areas where it can leak. Figured this was worth a try and no snap ring to have to worry about. Only question I have is how well I can get the valve cleaned. LHBS said they can get the replacement internals for me if need be. I spend more on ingredient kits than this keg cost me, so no big deal to me if it doesn't work out. I can also get the ball lock conversion kit for the Sanke valve I have to reuse the corny equipment investment.

 

[kaboom133]

Just picked one up from www.home-brew.com, my LHBS, to give it a try. I have a new SS corny, but I always have trouble getting it to seal well. I'm looking to try a Sanke style keg to cut down on the areas where it can leak. Figured this was worth a try and no snap ring to have to worry about. Only question I have is how well I can get the valve cleaned. LHBS said they can get the replacement internals for me if need be. I spend more on ingredient kits than this keg cost me, so no big deal to me if it doesn't work out. I can also get the ball lock conversion kit for the Sanke valve I have to reuse the corny equipment investment.

By internals do you mean the whole inner, or the valve/diptube? I can't figure out how to take the valve out or apart on mine: I had come to the conclusion that it doesn't come apart.