Where to find kegs

[PitsPale]

Hey all -

I'm looking for some old 15 gallon (half barrel) kegs to convert to sparge water tanks, brew kettles, etc. for a home brewery project.

I'm in Northern VA - where is a good place to score a couple empties?

Andy

 

[Bobby_M]

Uh oh. duck.

 

[PitsPale]

I take it I hit a nerve...

Before anyone starts in about the ethics of empty kegs (most of which are stamped with "Property of..." or something to that effect) and the means by which they are aquired, perhaps a better way to phrase the question would be:

"Where does everyone else get their kegs since I've seen no fewer than a dozen "keggles" since I started checking this forum out?"

-OR-

If someone is going to tell me to try the search: I did and found nothing but information about cornies. I already have a bunch of those.

Perhaps someone could just tell me where to find half barrels. That would be good.

 

[grampska]

I don't get the whole "Property of ..." nonsense. If it's your property and you don't want to lose it, then don't let others have it. It's like those stupid cardboard bread boxes.

I think it's nice to return the kegs, but I don't know if I would go as far to say it's unethical to not return them seeing as you never agreed to return them in the first place.

All that being said, I'm still on my lil' old turkey fryer.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Maryland????

 

[PitsPale]

Agreed - It's my (or someone else's) deposit.

I still don't know what "uh oh, duck" meant.

And I still don't know where to find half barrel kegs.

Anyone?

 

[olllllo]

This is pretty much sums up the keg debate.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Keggle

 

[AGBrewer]

BMC can kiss my ass and I'll cut, drill, weld, and cook in their kegs all I want.
(ducking)

 

[PitsPale]

This is pretty much sums up the keg debate.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Keggle

Good read. But I still don't buy the ethical dilemma. There are alot of people, tons of people, on this very board with converted kegs. I'd like to make one. Can someone who's got one tell me where it came from?

 

[PitsPale]

BMC can kiss my ass and I'll cut, drill, weld, and cook in their kegs all I want.
(ducking)

BMC?

and why are we all ducking?

 

[AGBrewer]

Mine came from a lhbs who charged me the 40 dollar deposit for each. After he explained to me that they are not his nor are they mine. Whatever
Check lhbs for sabco kettles, ebay, craigslist, local microbreweries, scrapyards, bars, problably lots more

 

[PitsPale]

Mine came from a lhbs who charged me the 40 dollar deposit for each. After he explained to me that they are not his nor are they mine. Whatever
Check lhbs for sabco kettles, ebay, craigslist, local microbreweries, scrapyards, bars, problably lots more

That's what I was looking for. My brother manages and Applebee's. I'll start there.

Andy

 

[AGBrewer]

Good luck

 

[grampska]

BMC?

Budweiser Miller Coors

 

[olllllo]

Good read. But I still don't buy the ethical dilemma.

Then buy some BMC and skip out on the deposit.

Just know that you've now been informed that this is a hot button issue.

 

[Orfy]

Agreed - It's my (or someone else's) deposit.

I still don't know what "uh oh, duck" meant.

And I still don't know where to find half barrel kegs.

Anyone?

If you want a plain answer then it's here.

You steal one (Deprive the owner of their property) and then you do what you want. You can obtain one by renting and not returning. You can buy stolen property from some one or if you are lucky you can just find one to steal yourself.
I don't care what you do but I am not going to tell you it is legal.

 

[krispy d]

call your local breweries or distributors and ask to buy some discontinued kegs. They will have some and you can feel good about your ethical decision.

 

[AGBrewer]

call your local breweries or distributors and ask to buy some discontinued kegs. They will have some and you can feel good about your ethical decision.

When hunting for mine I tried this and it got me nowhere, I got an answer that went someting like "Half barrel kegs are very hard to come by and unfortunately we don't have any to spare"
BTW If there truly is a huge problem with homebrewers stealing half barrel kegs then why wouldn't breweries just ask for a deposit equal to the cost of the keg itself.

 

[Pedro-]

If there truly is a huge problem with homebrewers stealing half barrel kegs then why wouldn't breweries just ask for a deposit equal to the cost of the keg itself.

1. States determine deposit amounts
2. They would never sell beer


I know for damn sure I would not be buy a keg of beer if I had to put down a 250-300 deposit.

But really I extremely doubt there is a big problem of homebrewers stealing kegs. I see more kegs just kept from keg parties than there are keggles on this forum. I seriously doubt there is an epidemic of homebrewer thievery driving a shortage of stainless sanke kegs in the world. A drop of water in an ocean.

 

[the_bird]

Anyone who questions whether this is really a problem or not, I would suggest spending a little bit of time on some pro brewers' forums. This is a HUGE issue for craft brewers.

 

[user 574]

Think of the deposit down on the keg like a car rental. Cost ya $200 to rent a car for a week, doesn't give you the right to keep it. A little different class of theft since they'll definitely be coming back for their car but same principle. And they don't ask for a $23,000 deposit to rent the car .

 

[grampska]

I understand that it may be a problem. I just question these companies that think they can stamp "Property of" on something, sell it, and then claim that you stole it if you don't give it back. I don't think the legality of it would hold up in court.

There's a difference between considerate, ethical and legal.

But if you are going to keep a keg that you paid for, make sure it's a BMC keg.

 

[grampska]

Think of the deposit down on the keg like a car rental. Cost ya $200 to rent a car for a week, doesn't give you the right to keep it. A little different class of theft since they'll definitely be coming back for their car but same principle. And they don't ask for a $23,000 deposit to rent the car .

Yes, but you sign a legal agreement with car rentals. You don't do that with kegs. The first time I picked up a keg I didn't even know I paid a deposit.

 

[Bobby_M]

So, are we clear on why I said uh oh duck yet?

Just because ethical dilemmas exist does not mean everyone will fall on either side of the issue. As far as I'm concerned, unless you've personally purchased one from a distributor with the expectation that you will never return it in good working order, you're obtaining it in a "suspect" manor. One might even question the true source of the ones Sabco debadges if you wanted to be highly suspicious. If you loaned a corny keg to a buddy so they can drink the beer out of it and he cut the top off to make a vase, you'd be pretty pissed too.

Me, I got mine from a scrap yard and I'm about to get a couple more from a liquor store that only wants the deposit value $10 each. I know it's wrong and I'm doing it anyway because I'm a coniving bastard.

This topic comes up every other week and you'll get the same high number of posts because everyone has their opinions. So, to answer the OP, liquor stores, frat houses, garage sales, craigslist, scrap yards, out of business bars.

 

[user 574]

Personally, there isn't enough home brewers nabbing these kegs to create a dent in their bottom line. Who was stealing these is the same meth heads stealing copper and getting $ back for the scrap.

It still isn't ethical but... How can any keg that a homebrewer has be from a legal path unless it was from sabco or similar? I bought mine from ebay and I'm sure if you could trace it's footprint it's not "legal".

I opted to never chime in on these threads but I liked my car analogy . DB out.

 

[the_bird]

If you think they're selling you the keg for $40, sorry, that's just dead wrong. It's a DEPOSIT, not a purchase. If they didn't make that clear to you, well, either the store employee wasn't explaining things or you weren't listening, because on the issue of ownership, it's pretty much black and white.

 

[EdWort]

You can find a bunch out on Craigslist.com. Just post an add looking to buy them offering up to $30 based on condition. Also note in your ad that you are looking for kegs that are owned outright. If they lie to you, that's their problem, you've done enough due diligence for me. I've purchased several this way, and each one contacted me with a keg to sell.

 

[jdoiv]

Try going to Probrewer.com. There is a classified area there with a kegging area. Lots and lots of 1/2 barrels for sale there direct from the breweries micros. I saw some for $25 each FOB. Not sure if they would ship one by itself, but it would be a good place to start for a completely legal 1/2 barrel.

 

[desiderata]

Couple Questions.
Does this dilemma only apply to Sanke kegs, or does it also go for Cornies?

A deposit is different from rent. I rent an apartment, but I make a deposit equal to 1st and last months rent. If I screw the place up, (i.e. pets f-ing up the carpet), or I skip out on my rent before I move, then they keep the deposit. It is in place as their insurance.

for those of you who said that the deposit is lower than what the places would normally charge for a keg, b/c it is regulated, then please post a reputable link where you got that information. Not that I am questioning your honesty, but just so I know it's not some rumor.

 

[olllllo]

Couple Questions.
Does this dilemma only apply to Sanke kegs, or does it also go for Cornies?

Cornies are different becase the industry has moved from one piece of equipment to another (box). So they have sold thier old equipment to smaller companies and overseas. Many of these are bought by wholesalers and othe middlemen. That is why you see them for sale at LHBs and online, ebay etc.

It's legitimate resale.

Sankey kegs are still the container of choice in the beer trade. No one is dumping them like they are with cornies. They do not have the same market structure.

A deposit is different from rent. I rent an apartment, but I make a deposit equal to 1st and last months rent. If I screw the place up, (i.e. pets f-ing up the carpet), or I skip out on my rent before I move, then they keep the deposit. It is in place as their insurance.

The point is a deposit is not a sale.
http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C400-499/4170000290.HTM

for those of you who said that the deposit is lower than what the places would normally charge for a keg, b/c it is regulated, then please post a reputable link where you got that information. Not that I am questioning your honesty, but just so I know it's not some rumor.

Not every state does this, NY and MI do
http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/DWI/keg.htm
http://www.mlba.org/