Cost Of Getting Into Kegging?

[beerandgarden]

Here in NZ a used corny keg typically runs around NZ$90-$100. It seems expensive compared with what I've seen on American websites - typically US$40, around half the price. Then 1 keg would not be enough, you would probably need 4 or 5. And then you need taps (seem to run around $50-$100 each) and CO2 tank (hundreds of $$$ unless you can use a small sodastream one?). Plus are there some other bits & pieces needed?

Well it seems awfully expensive. I'd like to get into it but the cost is an obstacle - doesn't seem worth the expense. Is there a cheaper way to go? What about those plastic ones with spigot and natural carbing?

 

[WarmBeer]

I'm in the middle of investigating this myself. Here's some costs I've done for a very rudimentary kegging setup from Keg King. No affiliation, just local:

2 x 19 Cornie Kegs (@ $70 each) : $140
1 x 6lt CO2 bottle (purchased, not rented) : $250
1 x CO2 Regulator : $80
1 x Non-return valve : $10
1 x Picnic tap : $10
Disconnects : $20
4 mt Beer / Gas line : $4

So, all up I'm looking at $514 Aussie dollars (closer to $1000 NZD ).

I could probably save a bit more by shopping around and getting pieces from various online vendors, but this place is only a 15 min drive from home, so very handy for gas refills, plus I shouldn't need to worry about ordering pieces that don't fit together.

Your other option would be Craftbrewer, see what deal he can do on shipping across the ditch, although he wont be able to send the CO2 bottle, you'll need to source that locally.

 

[MeLoveBeer]

So, all up I'm looking at $514 Aussie dollars (closer to $1000 NZD ).

Speak to Kee and he'll knock 10% off the total for cash ($50 is a fair bit on a purchase like that)

 

[WarmBeer]

Speak to Kee and he'll knock 10% off the total for cash ($50 is a fair bit on a purchase like that)

Yep, just waiting for him to get back from holidays. But man, I sure am getting thirsty...

 

[MeLoveBeer]

Yep, just waiting for him to get back from holidays. But man, I sure am getting thirsty...

I hear you... I emptied 6 kegs over Christmas/NYE and am brewing two double batches this weekend to try and rebuild the stocks (one of the doubles is an oatmeal stout that you helped convince me to make at the vic case swap)

 

[[email protected]]

From experience it does'nt pay to use cheap gear for anything, if you can get good gear cheap great,
having said that you won't regret going to kegs, only wish I'd done it sooner
cheers John

 

[beerandgarden]

I'm in the middle of investigating this myself. Here's some costs I've done for a very rudimentary kegging setup from Keg King. No affiliation, just local:

2 x 19 Cornie Kegs (@ $70 each) : $140
1 x 6lt CO2 bottle (purchased, not rented) : $250
1 x CO2 Regulator : $80
1 x Non-return valve : $10
1 x Picnic tap : $10
Disconnects : $20
4 mt Beer / Gas line : $4

So, all up I'm looking at $514 Aussie dollars (closer to $1000 NZD ).

I could probably save a bit more by shopping around and getting pieces from various online vendors, but this place is only a 15 min drive from home, so very handy for gas refills, plus I shouldn't need to worry about ordering pieces that don't fit together.

Your other option would be Craftbrewer, see what deal he can do on shipping across the ditch, although he wont be able to send the CO2 bottle, you'll need to source that locally.

Bloody expensive! At that rate I don't think it's worth it. Are there any cheaper keg options that you don't need CO2 setup for? i.e. just prime and use the natural carbonation?

 

[hsb]

You'll need CO2 of some kind to dispense the beer from the kegs, irrespective of how you carbonate it.
You can use mini charger party keg things, or fire extinguishers, but I think the CO2 bottle is necessary myself - you can rent them from BOC in the short term to get you started. - you could get a very small bottle to start with, especially if you plan to bulk prime the beer in the kegs rather than carb using CO2 - still a false economy in the long run though..

 

[DU99]

could go the soda stream option

 

[WarmBeer]

I hear you... I emptied 6 kegs over Christmas/NYE and am brewing two double batches this weekend to try and rebuild the stocks (one of the doubles is an oatmeal stout that you helped convince me to make at the vic case swap)

Sweet! Try toasting half the oatmeal in a low oven until your kitchen smells of cookies. IMHO, my beer was lacking a little bit in the "oatmeal" stakes, and this just brings it to a whole new level.

 

[MeLoveBeer]

Sweet! Try toasting half the oatmeal in a low oven until your kitchen smells of cookies. IMHO, my beer was lacking a little bit in the "oatmeal" stakes, and this just brings it to a whole new level.

Yeh, I made a single batch of it before christmas (with oats I toasted in the oven) and was more than happy with the results (we promptly emptied the keg in a day and a half).

 

[beerandgarden]

what does it cost to refill a co2 tank and how often do they need to be refilled? And of course that will depend on tank size, so what's ideal size for kegging?

 

[flano]

mine cost abuot $1000.00 aus dollars all up.
That was from scratch .
fementers kegs keg fridge the lot.

but it doesn't end there.

Then I started BIAB ..

brewing is like owning a boat

B. bring
O. on
A. another
T.thousand.

 

[Frag_Dog]

All up I spent about $1200-$1500 (Couldn't say for sure, didn't keep track) for my setup which consists of:

1x 215 F&P Chest Freezer (used)
1x TempMate (new)
2x 2.6kg CO2 Bottles (used)
6x 19L Kegs (used)
1x 23L Keg (used)
5x Chrome Celli Taps (new)
Disconnects, Line, rebuild kits etc.

In retrospect, I would have gone only 2-3 taps, as I don't drink that much now. I use to live with 2 other blokes who would drink, now its just me and the Mrs so consumption is down.

The 215L freezer size is good but. Can fit 2 kegs and a fermenter in it if I need too and the price wasn't that much more then a 150L one.

 

[Rodolphe01]

An important consideration for keeging is keeping the kegs cold. The only reason I still bottle is because I don't like the idea of keeping 4+ kegs in fridges (think space required, power consumption etc), in case I *might* have a beer after work... With bottles, I just throw 1 or 2 of each that I have on hand in the fridge, and re-stock as needed. If i'm having a party or something I just plan ahead and stock up proper. And if I do get caught out, it ony takes 10 minutes in the freezer to chill a bottle down.

The kegs themselcves are the cheap part - it is all the gear required to get the beer out cold that's the killer

Bottling is a time consuming pain in the arse though!

 

[mkstalen]

I must have got a bargain when I got my set up. The guy was going from brewing to distilling.

New fridge which will fit 4 corneys
2 corneys
2.6kg gas cylinder (full)
Regulator
2 taps mounted in fridge with all the lines already connected.
$650.



Edit: forgot the reg..

 

[flano]

An important consideration for keeging is keeping the kegs cold. The only reason I still bottle is because I don't like the idea of keeping 4+ kegs in fridges (think space required, power consumption etc), in case I *might* have a beer after work... With bottles, I just throw 1 or 2 of each that I have on hand in the fridge, and re-stock as needed. If i'm having a party or something I just plan ahead and stock up proper. And if I do get caught out, it ony takes 10 minutes in the freezer to chill a bottle down.

The kegs themselcves are the cheap part - it is all the gear required to get the beer out cold that's the killer

Bottling is a time consuming pain in the arse though!

take that back!

 

[Midnight Brew]

I didnt even know that place existed!! Im about to jump into kegging myself cause im a bit over bottling every batch and would love to have it on tap at home. Its only about 30-35 min drive from me, Ive gotta go check them out. Thanks for the link WarmBeer.

I'm in the middle of investigating this myself. Here's some costs I've done for a very rudimentary kegging setup from Keg King. No affiliation, just local:

2 x 19 Cornie Kegs (@ $70 each) : $140
1 x 6lt CO2 bottle (purchased, not rented) : $250
1 x CO2 Regulator : $80
1 x Non-return valve : $10
1 x Picnic tap : $10
Disconnects : $20
4 mt Beer / Gas line : $4

So, all up I'm looking at $514 Aussie dollars (closer to $1000 NZD ).

I could probably save a bit more by shopping around and getting pieces from various online vendors, but this place is only a 15 min drive from home, so very handy for gas refills, plus I shouldn't need to worry about ordering pieces that don't fit together.

Your other option would be Craftbrewer, see what deal he can do on shipping across the ditch, although he wont be able to send the CO2 bottle, you'll need to source that locally.

 

[flano]

1 plus is.

Once beer is ready to be kegged.
cleaning a keg takes about 15 mins and is not very hard to do .
filling it up takes about 15 mins.
gassing it can be done in 24 hrs and then your into it.

none of this 2-3 month wait business.

I brewed yesterday for a bbq on the 30th Jan.
should just scrape in.

 

[hsb]

I don't know about eBay in NZ but here in Oz there are bargains to be had from time to time as ppl sell off a complete Kegging setup though there are also plenty of overpriced ones as ppl look to recoup exactly what they paid for it in the first place!

I picked up a $50 fridge this way that had the holes drilled/lines & taps still attached.