Anyone know where to buy SMALL kegs (like 1 gallon or 1.5 gal)? I can't seem to find any for a decent price. They're all way more expensive than 5 gallon kegs! 
Small kegs?
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madscientist451
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My 3 gallon kegs came from more beer, and yes, they are higher priced than the 5 gallon size. I use them because I brew mostly small batches and they fit in a regular refrigerator.
There's always the kegland pet option. I don't have any of the small ones (which are a little different), but I have been completely happy with the 5 gallon ones.
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That's kind of what I'm leaning towards. Unfortunately you have to buy the corny keg adapter separately
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I've got 3 of these 1.6G ones from ebay...dunno what the prices are in the US but they're also on amazon and aliexpress.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2859906003...Fug7iN/OS+v+NCdb8s4Kp0mjI=|tkp:Bk9SR9by9oW1ZA
They've worked out quite nicely for me.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2859906003...Fug7iN/OS+v+NCdb8s4Kp0mjI=|tkp:Bk9SR9by9oW1ZA
They've worked out quite nicely for me.
madscientist451
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The PET 2 gallon kegs are $11 and 1.5 gallon SS kegs at more beer are $100. I was thinking of trying the PET kegs, but was wondering how long they’ll last.
The Oxebar kegs are rated to last at least two years, at which point you're supposed to do a pressure test.
I have a bunch of these, and they're ... fine. I've had no problems, but they feel a bit on the flimsy side.
Most of my small kegs are from Old Ale (https://homebrewing.org/products/aih-new-1-75-gallon-ball-lock-keg), and yes, you indeed pay as much or more than new 5-gallon kegs. And that makes a lot of sense: the hardware, assembly, and fabrication costs (number of welds) are pretty much identical, and the cost of a bit of extra stainless sheet to make the keg taller isn't going to matter.
AiH (Old Ale) used to have semi-regular sales, but they've since raised the base price and even the "discounted" prices aren't great. Sometimes you do get lucky, if you can stand to wait.
I don't have personal experience with Torpedo kegs (https://www.morebeer.com/products/slimline-torpedo-ball-lock-kegs.html), but if I had to buy new, right now, that's the way I'd go.
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Caveat emptor... I had concerns about the small diameter and surface weld footprint of the handles, but in the 1.6G size I've judged it reliable..mind you; I would not even consider that style of keg in the 5G size unless it was never going to be carried while full as the small handle/weld size will cause flexing of the tank. I did consider getting the 6.5G version though, to use as a stationary fermenter...still am considering it. That said; One of my kegs did arrive with the gas and liquid diptubes reversed, but no big deal..In Canada the ebay.ca price was dead cheap.
It has occurred to me to ask @Newsman though; What's the intended purpose? I use mine because when I started kegging and moved entirely to floating diptubes in my fermenters, I became obsessed with having a full 5G of clear beer in a keg for serving others so I adjusted my batch sizes to about 6.5G so the lowest level which on a couple favourite brews always have an inch or so of cloudiness above the trub will never enter the 'presentation' keg and I drink the (possibly) cloudy beer from the 1.6G keg myself. If you just want to go mobile; @mac_1103 has a nice mobile rig based on this keg with a tap mounted on the disconnect and a mini-regulator on the gas post. (maybe he'll come in and post a nice of it here
) The oxbar seems like a nice option too, but I have no experience with it.
OP
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Thanks. They're $84 US. Which is significantly more than I'm looking to spend. I found something on AliExpress for pretty cheap, a d someone on FB said ge has a couple and likes them
https://a.aliexpress.com/_msQGxFw
OP
OP
I have a small batch of mead I want to keg, which would disappear in a 5 gallon kegCaveat emptor... I had concerns about the small diameter and surface weld footprint of the handles, but in the 1.6G size I've judged it reliable..mind you; I would not even consider that style of keg in the 5G size unless it was never going to be carried while full as the small handle/weld size will cause flexing of the tank. I did consider getting the 6.5G version though, to use as a stationary fermenter...still am considering it. That said; One of my kegs did arrive with the gas and liquid diptubes reversed, but no big deal..In Canada the ebay.ca price was dead cheap.
It has occurred to me to ask @Newsman though; What's the intended purpose? I use mine because when I started kegging and moved entirely to floating diptubes in my fermenters, I became obsessed with having a full 5G of clear beer in a keg for serving others so I adjusted my batch sizes to about 6.5G so the lowest level which on a couple favourite brews always have an inch or so of cloudiness above the trub will never enter the 'presentation' keg and I drink the (possibly) cloudy beer from the 1.6G keg myself. If you just want to go mobile; @mac_1103 has a nice mobile rig based on this keg with a tap mounted on the disconnect and a mini-regulator on the gas post. (maybe he'll come in and post a nice of it here
OP
OP
Yeah. Torpedo kegs are WAY more expensive than I'm willing to pay. $100 (US) is crazy. I'm leaning towards the PET keg or the AliExpress keg, although that looks like it would need a Sanke to Ball Lock adapter.
I have a bunch of smaller ones of that type that I bought cheap on Amazon. Also no real problems. The main O-ring, I am 90% sure is silicone, so worth replacing if you're going to use it for storage. (I have the McMaster part # somewhere if you decide to go this way.)
If storage is the main concern and you can be flexible on dispensing, splitting a gallon into four 1-L EZ-Cap bottles may be a good option. Each one is ~$5 if you buy a dozen.
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Those types of containers with the screw on lids require a separate tapping head which is usually about $30, maybe less direct from aliexpress. I have found when looking at reviews across Amazon that these containers and the tapping heads aren't given high marks. The quality seems to be mixed bag. It's why I haven't bought one even though I have a good selection of most every other size and type of growler or keg. If cost is the greatest concern the oxebar kegs are probably the least expensive. The tapping heads cost less than for those linked and the kegs are very inexpensive.
I recently picked up a couple 8 liter Oxebar kegs from Williams Brewing. 2 kegs plus connections for $40. I’m planning on using these as serving kegs. Haven’t tried them yet, I have a batch of Amber ale fermenting in a regular 5 gallon corny keg now. During a pressure test one of the kegs was not holding pressure. By swapping parts I narrowed it down to the cap that the prv screws into. I called Williams yesterday and there a replacement part already on its way. I feel for the price these are worth giving a shot.
Ballaratguy
Well-Known Member
This happened at a show in Melbourne (Australia)It was carbed and served at15psi
It shot 20 feet into the air and splattered 20Lt of beer all over the ceiling and everything underneath
The venue owners were really pissed about it
Remember the kegland colouring
Amber - CAUTION
Red - DANGER
madscientist451
Well-Known Member
After seeing the photo above, looks like I will not be buying the cheaper PET kegs.
I can't say much as I just received them, but I bought a set of Amcyl 3 gallon kegs recently from Amazon. They're about $160/pr. Much cheaper than a pair of 1 gallon Torpedos.
Amcyl 3 Gallon Kegs
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Yikes!! I had been planning to buy a couple large oxbars, not for beer but for Star San to simplify my sanitize/purge routine....I think as this is a fairly recent product I'll hold off a bit to see if this is a one-off or if we get more such reports.
In the meantime; If you're only looking to use it occasionally and the volume is small, you could consider 2L soda-bottles with carb-caps & tee. I have one for utility purposes but have, about a dozen times, used it for 'remainders' of cider & beer, shaking it at 28psi for quick-carbing even. Works quite well, but the price of the parts is probably close to the oxbar price;
Dunno if this is useful or not.
I have quite a few of the 1.75gal cannon ball type kegs, I like them because they stack easy and work well with a 2gal brew size. I bought most before keg prices skyrocketed and waited until there was 20% off sale to ease the pain. I also have a few of the 3gal silver stackable kegs from "Corny Keg" that I like, they offer a slight discount for buying two at a time and give discounts emails from time to time if you register with them.
I have some the small kegland style stainless kegs too but with the adapter they were about the same price as the cannon ball kegs. I initially had issues with oxidation and foamy pours with the kegland kegs but have fixed that with proper orings and dip tube tubing. I use them mostly to clear the last of kegs that are drinking slowly.
I have some the small kegland style stainless kegs too but with the adapter they were about the same price as the cannon ball kegs. I initially had issues with oxidation and foamy pours with the kegland kegs but have fixed that with proper orings and dip tube tubing. I use them mostly to clear the last of kegs that are drinking slowly.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...=scene:pcDetailTopMoreOtherSeller|query_from:
20USD complete (bottle+head) - cannot beat that
OP
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Unfortunately it can't be delivered to me for some reason?https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006385483055.html?pvid=65f843be-5515-4d03-b9d4-98dea0219a11&_t=gps-id
20USD complete (bottle+head) - cannot beat that
Yes it is strange and I never got an answer from Aliexpress sellers on why they won’t ship. I guess it is probably licensing agreements with Kegland product sellers in the USA. Though some products are available such as the Rapt Pill.
OP
OP
I went ahead and ordered one of the $50 stainless growler/kegs and a ball lock adapter. We'll see how it works out
That is too bad. I have two of the 4L Oxebars and have had great success with them.
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Snuffy
He ain't scared.
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I have mostly 5 gal cornies but I also have a 3 gal and a 2.5 gal. It IS weird that they charge the same for mini cornies and regular ones. I get people to give me Amazon money for bdays and xmas and then buy them (or anything else I'm too cheap for) with that and they ship "free" with Prime.
I figure Bezos needs enough money to build a distribution center on the moon so he's ready to ship to Elon's Mars colonies.
I figure Bezos needs enough money to build a distribution center on the moon so he's ready to ship to Elon's Mars colonies.
