How Much Room Do I Need for a Keg in a Fridge?

Keg Sizes

• Kegs are normally available in half or quarter barrel or keg sizes. A standard U.S. half keg is 16 inches wide and 23 inches high. The quarter keg size, also called a pony keg, has the same diameter as a half keg but is only 12 to 13 inches tall. You must also figure in the size of the keg coupler, which adds 6 to 8 inches to the height of the keg and make sure there is ample room on all sides of the keg to let air flow freely to keep the contents cold. The CO2 tank that pumps the beer has about a 6-inch diameter and can be placed outside the refrigerator if you are cramped for space.

Keg Capacities

• A half keg of beer holds 15 1/2 gallons, which is equivalent to seven cases of 12-oz. cans or bottles of beer. If you are serving the beer in 16-oz. cups, this size would provide 124 portions. If you choose a quarter keg, equal to three-and-a-half cases of standard size packaged beer, the 7 3/4 gallons in the keg will provide 62 16-oz. servings.

Keg Alternatives

• In recent years, liquor stores and supermarkets began selling draft beer in more convenient sizes that take up minimal space in refrigerators and either require no CO2 tanks or come with disposable tanks. Beer balls, also called party balls, are constructed of disposable plastic and come in 5.2 gallon and 3.8 gallon sizes, which provide 41.6 and 30.4 16-oz. servings respectively. Mini kegs are made of recyclable aluminum and hold 169 oz. (2 3/4 gallons) or about enough beer to fill 10 1/2 16-oz. cups.

Tips and Hints

• The easiest way to determine if a keg will fit in your refrigerator is to get an empty keg from a liquor retailer and bring it home for testing. If you are having a small to moderate number of guests at a party, opting for the mini kegs or party balls may be more convenient and cost-effective since neither requires returning equipment to the store or putting down a deposit for the equipment.