Mini Kegs.

[Little Rock Brewing]

Interested in these for summer parties etc.
Are they any good?

 

[AnimatedGIF]

They're ok, though I consider them not re-usable and thus uneconomical.
They can only be used for ales/low-carbonated beers. They require very careful/delicate cleaning due to the thin coating on the inside that protects the metal. Once open, you only have a couple of days to drink it before it goes bad (though that wouldn't be an issue for parties you mention in the question of course).
I had a couple and after 2 uses, both developed a metallic taste. Some may have had a better experience with them than I did. Mine ended up getting recycled.
On the plus side, filling one is easier than filling the equivelent 10 bottles.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

As above, I bought them filled with beer washed them and brought the fittings. Refilled and ok but on second attempt metallic taste so ditched. Do not bother.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Ah well, thought it was too good to be true.

Just fancied rocking down to the beach with a nice cold keg.

Cheers for the quick replies guys.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I bought this 4 litres growler on Amazon for £19 back in 2021 but now £49.

Zerone Stainless Steel Mini Beer Barrel, Beer Barrel Mini Keg Style Growler Stainless Steel Beer Supplies Holds Beer Double Handles for Home Camping

 

[Zoiks]

Yep just to reiterate the above, I went big balls with these as I bought a Klarstein Beerkules (which ended up going back due to using twice and then it suffering from a co2 leak) wish I went for a 6.5L corny keg instead.

https://www.geterbrewed.com/corny-keg-6.5-litres?search=Corny keg

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Cheers CC.
But factoring in a tap etc it gets a bit pricey!

I do enjoy bottling too, honest!

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Cheers CC.
But factoring in a tap etc it gets a bit pricey!

I do enjoy bottling too, honest!

The smaller kegs and cornies are relatively expensive probably due to low demand or refurbished cornies are 19L.

 

[Zoiks]

If you already have a 19 litre setup, have you considered one of these for the beach?

https://brewkegtap.co.uk/products/jetkeg-keg-backpack?_pos=1&_sid=2a55e2a39&_ss=r

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

I don't do any kegging yet.
Mainly because I brew 23l of something different every week and so have to (and like to) give a lot away.
I currently have 17 different bottled beers in stock.
That's one hell of a lot of cornies!

 

[Zoiks]

You're going to need more backpack's!

Shame this thread only just came up, I threw about 5 or so away the day before new year, would have been happy to have shared to save you the ball ache of testing yourself, they're fairly cheap however and if you're alright with viewing them as single use, they're easier than bottling 23 litres every week.

 

[Jim Brewster]

As above they are alright for one re-use if buying one from the shop and re-using but not more than that, and carbonation has to be fairly low. Some of the supermarket ones have reusable valves if rubber but the plastic ones are too hard to remove and you inevitably scratch the steel and then it rusts

 

[Rodcx500z]

Just get a 10L corny and have a bigger party

 

[Benfleet Brewery]

I might be wrong, but I think the ones you buy empty (those in the OP) are stainless steel and not cheap steel like the ones you buy full of beer. They could, therefore, be that they last longer and are much better suited for multiple use. That said, they look to be a pig to clean out.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I have acquired a few of these 5L minikegs. I re-used them a few times. They are pretty easy to re-use and clean (simple instructions on youtube vids). I haven' had the metallic taste, but given they don't seem to be designed to be re-usable, I reckon it will come pretty soon.
As mentioned, you can't get fizzy beer in them. You can make them last more than a weekend by not opening the top valve to release the pressure - but if you do, you just get a glass of foam. For just topping up a pint glass at home, that's not a problem as I just let it settle out.
It's also a lot harder to fill them than bottles or real kegs as it's hard to judge when to stop filling. I reckon I get more (proportionally) headspace in the keg than in bottles, and in the last two brews I've used I could tell that they oxidised more than the bottles.

In short, they are quite a lot more faff than bottles, and I've got inferior beer from them every time I've used them. Once this last keg is empty, they are going in the recycling bin. For me, it was an interesting, but failed experience.

 

[AnimatedGIF]

I might be wrong, but I think the ones you buy empty (those in the OP) are stainless steel and not cheap steel like the ones you buy full of beer. They could, therefore, be that they last longer and are much better suited for multiple use. That said, they look to be a pig to clean out.

I bought those shown in the OP and had the issues, so have a feeling they're not stainless steel. And yes, they are a pig to clean and dry properly

@Little Rock Brewing - it is refreshing to hear someone say they enjoy bottling

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Yeah, the description on the BrewUK site says they are steel.

I'll avoid them.

 

[MickDundee]

I used to use them and found them good at the time, but I got fed up of the “has the lining split and made my beer taste metallic?” roulette that you’d get when trying to reuse them a 3rd time.

 

[Sandimas]

As above, I used to recycle them but got the metallic taste so ditched them.

These are much better and my staple now: I've got 2 and also bottle. They're stainless-steel so easy to clean and re-use, had mine for a few years now. Other companies make them, a bit expensive but suit me, I use about 2 CO2 bulbs per 10L
https://www.darkfarm.co.uk/10l-mini-keg-beer-dispenser/

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Yeah, the description on the BrewUK site says they are steel.

I'll avoid them.

They will be mild steel plate coated in some plastic. When the plastic film breaks down the beer attack the steel hence the metallic taste. However iron is needed by the body I thick. Help out Anna here.