Using kegs also tends to be economical in certain situations. Knowing that many people use beers in kegs rather than in individual bottles. With that information, are you now wondering how many beers can fit into a keg?
Honestly, there is no definite answer to how many beers in a keg. Yet, it is safe to say that kegs can hold about 30 gallons of beer.
Kegs have different sizes, and it is more practical to base the answer on each size. That way, you’ll get accurate measurements.
Different keg sizes
Speaking of keg sizes, check the table below to see their other names, gallon sizes, and uses. We will use United States sizing for kegs. Analyze the table, as it will be helpful to better understand the following parts of the blog.
Keg size | Another name | Capacity per gallon(US standard) | Uses |
Half barrel | Full keg | 15.5 | Large parties Bars and clubs |
Quarter barrel | Pony keg | 7.75 | Small parties |
Sixth barrel | Sixtel or Torpedo keg | 5.16 | Personal use Dual to triple tap kegerator |
Cornelius | Soda keg or Corny keg | 5 | Small batch beer Homebrewing |
Mini | Disposable keg or Bubba | 1.32 | Travel Solo drinking |
We can use volume units, such as pints and fluid ounces, to measure how many beers are in a keg. We will use fluid ounces for this blog, specifically 16 and 12 ounces.
It is easier to measure this way since 16 ounces is already equivalent to a pint of beer. Meanwhile, 12 ounces is equal to a can of beer. These are the standard measurements in the beer industry.
How many beers are in a Half-barrel keg?
In US standard, a half-barrel keg can contain 15.5 gallons. A gallon is equal to 128 ounces. Hence, 15.5 gallons is 1,984 ounces. After converting the gallon to fluid ounces, it’s time to divide it into the respective ounces.
Computation 1: 1,984 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 124 ounces
Computation 2: 1,984 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 165.333333 ounces
How many beers are in a Quarter-barrel keg?
Now, for a Quarter barrel keg with a capacity of 7.75 gallons, we will get a total fluid ounce of 992. Let’s calculate!
Computation 1: 992 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 62 ounces
Computation 2: 992 ounces divided by 12 is 82.6666667 ounces
Note that you may also see a slim quarter barrel keg available in the market. Its beer capacity is just the same as the regular quarter barrel.
How many beers are in a Sixth-barrel keg?
Sixth-barrel kegs can hold 5.16 gallons of beer. If converted into fluid ounces, we will get 660.48 ounces. Let’s divide it by 16 and 12 ounces.
Computation 1: 660.48 ounces divided by 16 is 41.28 ounces
Computation 2: 660.48 ounces divided by 12 is 55.04 ounces
How many beers are in a Cornelius keg?
Corny kegs can contain 5 gallons of beer, which is equal to 640 fluid ounces. Now, let’s do the computations.
Computation 1: 640 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 40 ounces
Computation 2: 640 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 53.3333333 ounces
How many beers are in a Mini keg?
The last computations will be for the Mini keg. This type of keg can only hold 1.32 gallons of beer. If converted to fluid ounces, we will have 168.96 ounces. Now, let’s divide!
Computation 1: 168.96 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 10.56 ounces
Computation 2: 168.96 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 14.08 ounces
Summary of calculations
Keg size | Number of 16 fluid ounce beer | Number of 12 fluid ounce beer |
Half barrel keg | 124 | 165.333333 |
Quarter barrel keg | 62 | 82.6666667 |
Sixth barrel keg | 41.28 | 55.04 |
Cornelius keg | 40 | 53.3333333 |
Mini keg | 10.56 | 14.08 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can beer last in a keg?
There are plenty of factors that you should consider when you want to store the beer in a keg for a long time. The first one is the type of beer and its shelf life as is. Another factor is the temperature where you’ll store it.
A pasteurized draft beer can stay longer in a keg than those that are not. Specifically, these kinds of beer can last for 3 to 4 months, even if not refrigerated. If it is untapped, it can last for approximately 6 months.
On the other hand, unpasteurized beers only last for 6 to 8 weeks maximum. If it is untapped, expect to get a fresh draught beer even after 2 months of storage.
Unpasteurized draft beers are more common in countries like the US since people often finish their kegs on just one occasion. So, breweries don’t usually produce pasteurized ones.
Are kegs expensive?
If you think about it from a short-time perspective, kegs are expensive. Especially if you only drink beer occasionally. But, sometimes, your circumstances may justify your purchase.
For example, you are a bar owner who needs to refill beers repeatedly. Kegs are rather ideal to use than to purchase bottled or canned beers in bulk.
Another is when you are a habitual drinker. If you like drinking beers at home and always need stock, you can purchase a keg. In events, kegs are also more economical to use.
Once the keg reaches its shelf life, you can still repurpose it. You can turn them into garbage cans and gardening pots. You can fill it with water as well.
Again, if you are not a heavy drinker and you won’t need kegs for parties, it is best to buy canned or bottled beers.
Conclusion
Talking about how many beers in a keg may be confusing. However, it is an essential topic in the beer world that everyone, especially beer consumers, should understand.
Michael, a dedicated homebrewer, founded Unknown Brewing after perfecting his craft through trial and error. A DIY enthusiast, he also enjoys tackling projects and reviewing tools, sharing his expertise to help others succeed.