I'm not really much of a NASCAR fan, but I've got a younger brother who is, and for the past 7 or 8 years, we've made the pilgrimage north (by car) to Watkins Glen, NY, to attend the road-course race there in early August. We camp in the infield for 3 or 4 days. Its a real blast. Here's the issue: The quality of my homebrew is getting pretty good, and I'm considering the idea of taking a couple of kegs to the race this year for sharing with the NY family. Probably a Cream Ale and American Wit (to supplement numerous cases of Labatt Blue that will undoubtedly also be present). I've never really attempted anything like this, so I'm wondering if some of you who are experienced in serving your homebrew OUTDOOR, VIA KEG at parties, weddings, competitions etc. would be willing to share some info on how to do this successfully. What works? Do I have to rent a jockey box? (I'd rather not). Any interesting stories, tips? Thanks in advance!
You can be successful. I've served my beer at several weddings and neighborhood parties (and even at Shaun Hill's Brewdown in the old days) with no significant problems. You don't need a jockey box but you will need a lot of ice (plan ahead). Put your keg in the container that horse people call a 'muck bucket' or something similar. You will see pro brewers using these containers at outdoor brewfests. I got mine for $5 each at Big Lots. Use a bungie cord to secure the keg to the bottom of the bucket because it will want to float when it gets low. Once the keg is secure, fill the bucket with ice and water. Ice will probably need renewing if it's hot. Make sure you have plenty of CO2 for pushing the beer (bring a spare tank if you have it). That's about it unless you want your beer to be crystal clear. If that's the case, use a 'jumper' to move the clear beer off its sediment into another sanitized keg a couple days before you head up (google it). Basically just using some gas to push the beer into a new keg instead of your glass, but in a sealed system so you won't lose carbonation or sanitation. It sounds harder than it is but you may need to buy a couple of extra disconnects.
A jockey box is your best solution. If you have AC power you may opt for a kegerator, but unlikely. So... rent a one or two coil box, plan to buy alot of ice... 20 or 30 pounds at least, maybe more. Remember that a j box is for sankey kegs. You will need to mod the line in with the blessing of the owner (you distributer) to accommodate homebrew. Have a lot of red cups available. Party. Rooster fish is in town, and I recommend you get a sixtel or two of their fine local beer. Order now. Watkins is surprisingly tiny. Cheers. Ps bring some pint glasses to really show you mean business. Fine beer requires more than red solo cups. A small upgrade that shows a dramatic improvement in quality.
This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping to learn. Would not have anticipated the floating keg issue. Good advice.
Traveling with kegs, rack to a fresh purged keg before you go. That will leave any yeast and other sediment behind. If you don't it will get cloudy. I know this to be a fact.
You can do a simple trash can and keep ice in it. I'd use a cobra tap and keep it submerged in the ice as well. Bring some rock salt to add to the ice to help. The advice to keg it, let it carbonate, chill, and crash and then rack it to another purged keg before you leave is good advice. The keg will get kicked up, so the less crap the better.
I will add that if you do decide to go with a trash can/cooler filled with ice, plan to have a siphon or some other device to remove waste water. it doesn't sound like such a big deal until you have 5 gallons of slush to drain, and the only place it can go is under you or your neighbors tent. or perhaps you don't mind standing in mud every time you need a beer refill. get 10 feet of 3/4" vinyl, $2, and you will be better off. all of that melted ice has to go somewhere. Cheers.
If you only had 1 keg, that would make a great excuse to buy a 10 gallon cooler. The cooler could also be used as a mash tun. It's too tight in a 5 gal keg, but a 10gal cooler fits nicely. I fill so that only enough of the cobra tap and hose is above the ice. You could also use a square/rectangle cooler, that you probably already have and extend it up using the foil/bubble wrap insulation (reflectix, sold by the foot). It insulates, doesn't fall apart when wet, cheap, reusable, and is very flexible. Put the keg into an ice chest half filled with ice, wrap the insulation with a 3 inch gap around the keg like a tube. Duct tape the insulation "tube" and fill with ice around the keg.
