I wan to build a portable keg for tailgating and camping, etc. Something simpe like this http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=DYxMcURasy8&desktop_uri=/watch?v=DYxMcURasy8 Instead of the picnic tap, I would like to have a real tap handle. So, what would I need to connect the keg to the tap handle? Are those CO2 cartridges sufficient for the entire keg? Thanks!
That is a 3 gallon home brew keg, and that set up is commercially available. You would need to buy a shank, faucet, new length of beer line, and a ball lock coupler.
Ok, I have changed my plan to a wheeled 120 qt cooler. This should hold two 1/6, or one 1/4 commercial keg, with two tap hadles. My questions are: how big of a co2 tank will I need, and would a regular kegerator kit work, or should I order piece by piece?
How are you going to keep the tops of the kegs cool? 5lb CO2 tank will handle a lot of kegs....my last one lasted for 13 kegs (10 1/6ths, 3 1/4s). As far as a kegerator kit, most of those are designed to be mounted to something - bar top, through a fridge door, etc. What are you mounting the taps to? That will dictate what you need.
This is what I was thinking, but with two taps instead of one. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/corny-cooler-portable-kegerator-250991/
I don't think you could get two logs into the cooler side by side, you may want to buy the cooler first and swing by your beer store and see if there are a couple of empties you could try to fit in. Then buy the hardware. I would just buy pieces, and put them together rather than a kit.
Why the want for a 'real' tap vs a picnic tap? The 'real' taps use a shank which would require (for something visually appealing) something to go through (cooler or fridge wall). I'd save the money and just get a picnic tap and open the cooler top each time i need a fill. Quality wise, there is no difference.
In a cooler with no ice, trying to serve 5 gallons of beer by opening the door would likely warm up the keg. I question whether even without opening the door this would work.
Faucets would look cooler, plus you wouldn't have to open the cooler. I imagine the ice will melt, plus having the cooler on its end could be problematic when open the lid.
I would personally think about getting smaller kegs and do something like this: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/portable-kegerator-my-2-5-gal-corny-roller-180963/
