Serving cocktails from a keg?

[corycorycory09]

I'm having a party soon, and I have a keg of homebrew ready to serve. I'd like to offer some mixed drinks for the non-beer drinkers though.

Have you ever served cocktails from your keg? I was thinking about making a big batch of tequila sunrise and putting it in my second keg.

 

[Clonefan94]

It would work fine, but it will probably carbonate if you leave it on the CO2 for very long at all.

When I first got started brewing, before I had made 3 beers to have on tap, I kept water in one of the kegs, for my kids to use to make sodas out of.

 

[Zepth]

There's no imminently apparent reason you couldn't except that it would start to carbonate. How much depends on temperature time and psi as we all know. I wouldn't be too worried about it leeching into seals if it was just for a short while.

Of course the carbonation could be kept under control just fine by either using an inert gas to push. But a short line and about 2 psi to get it flowing you shouldn't have any huge worries.

 

[corycorycory09]

There's no imminently apparent reason you couldn't except that it would start to carbonate. How much depends on temperature time and psi as we all know. I wouldn't be too worried about it leeching into seals if it was just for a short while.

Of course the carbonation could be kept under control just fine by either using an inert gas to push. But a short line and about 2 psi to get it flowing you shouldn't have any huge worries.

Yeah I figured that would be a problem, but I'd be serving at about 7 psi and it would only be hooked up to the c02 for a few hours during the party... I can't imagine it would carbonate too much in that time.

 

[ericbw]

And a carbonated tequila sunrise on tap would be bad because... ?

 

[fuelish]

No idea, we don't do cocktails in my house....it's beer, mead, wine, or ya bring yer own liquor....just the way it is I imagine it would work fine, but would you be adding the grenadine syrup after dispensing, hopefully??.....otherwise, it won't offer the visual appeal, and all...been decades since I had a Sunrise ...

 

[adamranders]

I think this sounds like a great idea, the small amount of carbonation would probably make the drinks a bit more refreshing and aromatic! Might be a tad more difficult to clean but nothing a good pbw soak or keg washer wouldn't take care of. I might just have to try this myself this summer. Also if you let the keg chill fully you wouldn't really need ice.

 

[Zepth]

And a carbonated tequila sunrise on tap would be bad because... ?

Because it wouldn't be appropriate to the style. Around here those criteria are a little lax.

 

[ericbw]

Because it wouldn't be appropriate to the style. Around here those criteria are a little lax.

There is no style for draft tequila sunrise

 

[JonGrafto]

Here is a recipe for Margaritas in a keg (compliments to Jaybird)

6 liters of Squirt
2 limes (juiced)
1 Bottle 750ml Triple SEC
1.5L Tequila (your choice)
5 (1.5L Bottles) Margarita mix.

Mix all ingredients in a keg, carbonate to 30 psi (the entire time) for 5 days (shake a few times over those 5 days) and serve in a salt rimmed glass over ice.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

No problem serving cocktails out of a keg. I have done this a few times - my personal favorite is vodka and cranberry juice nicely carbonated. Its delicious! If it were only on CO2 for a few hours, you will pick up a tiny bit of carbonation, but it would be so little that likely no one would notice.

 

[corycorycory09]

No problem serving cocktails out of a keg. I have done this a few times - my personal favorite is vodka and cranberry juice nicely carbonated. Its delicious! If it were only on CO2 for a few hours, you will pick up a tiny bit of carbonation, but it would be so little that likely no one would notice.

To what volume do you carb at? My beer is served at 2.2 volumes c02... not sure if that is enough for a cocktail and I only can set the regulator to one pressure.


Maybe I'll do a force carb at 30 psi with shaking for 5 minutes and then serve both at ~7 psi.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

I will carb up non-beer beverages quite a bit higher that your average ale/lager. I find that around 3 vols makes for a nice effervescent beverage. If you can only do one pressure at a time, carb your beer like normal and then disconnect it and use the shaking method on the cocktail. I usually set the regulator to 30-35 psi and shake the crap out of it for about two mins. Actual vols of CO2 are not really important here, just that the cocktail is carbonated and maintains a fizziness when poured.

 

[Zepth]

Derail time!

I while ago I saw those small carbonator caps to fit regular 2L PET bottles. Thought this would be a great way to test out sampling different beverages carbonated just "because I can," without needing to use a whole keg worth of CO2 for a small portion. Carbonated near-freezing-cold coffee? Science time.

I've seen these caps various places but keep waiting for a SS one to come on a good sale.

 

[BrewerBrad82]

Yes! These caps are great. You can carb anything in a soda bottle- beer samples, cocktails, orange juice, milk, egg nog errrr... on second thought, omit those last two.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/the-carbonater.html

 

[corycorycory09]

Yes! These caps are great. You can carb anything in a soda bottle- beer samples, cocktails, orange juice, milk, egg nog errrr... on second thought, omit those last two.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/the-carbonater.html

Thats pretty cool. Ordered one just to mess around with. My 2 liter soda bottles are always flat before I have a chance to finish them, so maybe I can recarbonate them.

 

[Culinarytracker]

Carbonated near-freezing-cold coffee? Science time.

I've seen these caps various places but keep waiting for a SS one to come on a good sale.

I did coffee. I found the carbonation made it a little TOO strong and intense of a coffee flavor. I'll probably play with diluting it. It was good though. I added a little sugar too.

I have used both the plastic one and the SS one. Definitely go with the SS.

 

[andrewmaixner]

Long island iced tea, it will be a killer party
My version:
1 part each of gin, rum, Bourbon, canadian whisky, tequila, vodka
2 parts triple sec
1 part lemon juice
equal volume diet pepsi, or whatever.

 

[grevengrevs]

Oh man yall have just made work for me. SWMBO asked what I was reading and I told her about this thread.
Her response, "Do it."

 

[SanPancho]

We serve draft cocktsils at our bars, people like them a lot. For a home party it's no big deal, but if you leave them on tap for more than a day do not put citrus juice in the keg. The co2 changes the flavor, throws your recipe way off. Takes a lot of trial and error to be able to correct recipe in advance. Stick to liquor based drinks for best results- negronis, manhattans, etc. or you can carb everything but the citrus and squeeze it or pour it to,order.

If you want the SS caps look on Alibaba or Aliexpress. It's the eBay of China. I assume they sell them right from the factory. New models come with a SS barbed fitting on bottom of cap so you can attach hose and carb stone if you want. Wit shipping it's still cheaper than paying US retail.

And for the love of God don't ****ing put squirt or roses syrup or any of that crap in a margarita. Tequila, triple sec, lime and water(ice). That's all. Make a big pitcher of what is basically limeade - lime juice-water-sugar. Leave it a bit on sour side as the triple sec will add sweetness to cocktail. Presto. There's your homemade margarita mix. I love squirt, but that's a Paloma, not a margarita. Great drink, it's the equivalent of a jack-n-coke in Mexico. Everybody drinks it- squirt, reposado tequila and lime wedge. Delicious.

 

[thejuanald]

And for the love of God don't ****ing put squirt or roses syrup or any of that crap in a margarita. Tequila, triple sec, lime and water(ice). That's all. Make a big pitcher of what is basically limeade - lime juice-water-sugar. Leave it a bit on sour side as the triple sec will add sweetness to cocktail. Presto. There's your homemade margarita mix. I love squirt, but that's a Paloma, not a margarita. Great drink, it's the equivalent of a jack-n-coke in Mexico. Everybody drinks it- squirt, reposado tequila and lime wedge. Delicious.

Thank you, margarita mix is terrible and when people put some sort of soda in it, I'm astonished. I like using agave nectar for my sugar component but it's gotta stay on the sour side with lots of lime juice. It's great.

I never thought of kegging and carbing cocktails, I may have to add a faucet to my keezer and do this (better to add new faucets than reduce my beer kegs!)

 

[SanPancho]

kegged cocktails are awesome for a party, you just make it in the morning, then let people pour their own during the party and nobody bothers you, at least until it runs out. i'd say dont be afraid to keg cocktails with juice in them but only if you're going to drink it all same day. and use low pressure. beer gas is ideal if you have it. but anything longer than a day in co2 starts to change the flavor of the juice.

i cant stand soda in margaritas either. but i kind of understand the idea behind it, though. they just think they need more sweet in the drink, in reality what they need is just some water. the problem with what most people consider a purist, "traditional" or "real" margarita (as made in the USA) is that its like drinking drano. yes its tequila, triple sec and lime juice, but said another way that's 80 proof alcohol, more 60-80 proof alcohol and some pure citric acid with a pH of 2. yes, 2. that's like star san. harsh. you gotta water the juice down to where its drinkable. in mexico thats done with a little bit of ice (not a full glass like in america) and some hot ass weather. the beverage is thirst quenching. not throat burning. it also helps that mexican limes get sweeter and not so sour, but in any case, the viscosity of the drink is what's screwed up. it shouldnt make you need a glass of water. but i understand why folks would think that soda will help, but all it really needs is some melted ice to smooth it out.