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NiCkNaMe

NiCkNaMe

NiCkNaMe

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Joined
17 Jul 2005
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Hi Guys

Wondering if someone can help...

I'm building a shed at the moment that's going to have a small bar in it. On the bar I wanted to have either a single or two beer pumps to serve keg beer.

I've looked around and there seems to be numerous kits... does anyone have any experience of these, and which one I should go for?

Key things for me are;

  • Probably not going to want to buy massive kegs, as it will only be used for parties, so something that is compatible with cheap 6+ ltr party kegs?
  • Where can I buy the kegs from?
  • I'd ideally like something that looks authentic at the top of the bar, i.e. a real looking pump. I can store kit below the bar as there is room
  • Ideally no requirements for electric

Any help appreciated!

Cheers
 
Any reason you won't just buy a polypin?

My mate made a nice wooden cabinet with 3 holes for the large polypins. No one can knock then and they stay cool.
 
Mainly just for the fun of it to be honest, I fancy making a 'pub' feel in the shed and a draft pump/optics cut the mustard :). I'm just a bit lost with all the various kits, etc.!
 
Yeah barrels, was hoping to buy online, e.g. http://vibars.co.uk/services/beer-keg-prices or use a local brewery for the odd occasion (we have titanic brewery close by)

Looking around looks like the keginator kits seem the best thing to go for. Just need to get a fridge around the size of the kegs I will be using and the kit does the rest.

Am assuming the same kit will serve ale and lagers (but the CO2 won't be used if pulling from an ale keg), my knowledge is pretty lacking in this area and I worked in a pub years ago :\
 
Funny i was going to post this exact same question today! im looking to get my dad a Peroni keg and had no idea if it was possible.
 
So the problem you have is threefold:

Propulsion - you need some type of pressure to get the beer out of the keg, up the lines and through the tap. Usually pubs use co2 as it doesn't spoil the beer like air does. So you need a co2 can and lines
Cooling - if you want larger, and don't want it at room temperature, you need to get the keg cool and keep it cool. If you can get a cheap old fridge of the right size you can use that.
Cleaning - lines need very strong chemicals to clean them out - you need to do it properly and if your going to leave lines empty (which you will) then you'll need to dry them properly too.

Your best bet might be a manual keg pump - like the one they have on that vibars site here: http://vibars.co.uk/services/draft-beer-systems - you can buy them on ebay etc for around £100 - could probably rig one up to dispense through a pump i guess... Still need to keep it cool though.

Real ale pumps are easier as you use the pump itself to drive the propulsion, or you get a tap and set them up on a shelf with a tilt.
 
Real ale and a hand pump is the way forward for a home bar. As long as your going to drink at least 36 pints (pin) relatively quickly. They're far simpler.

Keg beer does give you more time to drink it but it's far more hassle with all the cooling, the co2 and the line cleaning, which is less of an issue with real ale as you're going to have to drink it quick enough to not worry about it anyway.

If you're not going to drink 36 or 72 pints quick enough to have an ale on, then you should just be buying bottles or cans anyway.
 
agree hand pump is the most sensible option for your needs.

Install the rest of it and you then have the nightmare of CO2, keg fittings, cleaning lines,a chiller which will need power etc.

Personally cask or polypin and if you really need the pump on the bar - run that into the cask under the top
 
Thanks guys, I think a hand pump does my needs. It will be mainly for use at parties and ale probably suits better anyway. I can get polypins for lager if required. Plus I fancy trying some brewing at some stage so be good to serve my own stuff! And cleaning is not my strong point and don't want to poison anyone

I assume with the pump its just the pump and connectors for the cask that's required?
 
You can use a beer engine/tap with a polypin. A lot of bars do it with all of the craft beers they sell these days

Link here
 
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