A rod and tap draft beer system is a good possibility for tapping a keg at events and occasions. Whereas just like tapping a keg with a celebration pump, it makes use of CO2 to push the beer from the keg, permitting it to last more than if the beer was uncovered to oxygen.
For individuals who could not already personal a kegerator and are ranging from scratch or choose to have all-new elements, we provide a whole rod & faucet system that provides you the whole lot to faucet a keg and begin pouring. Let’s run via what comes within the equipment and learn how to set it up.
Rod & faucet system elements
- Dishing out Rod: This steel tube connects the keg coupler to the tap and is what the beer travels via on its option to being poured. When linked, the rod stabilizes the whole system and securely holds the tap in place.
- Faucet: A typical beer faucet that releases a circulation of beer when opened totally. A faucet deal with can also be included with our equipment to can help you open and shut the tap simply.
- CO2 tank: The 5-pound tank shops the CO2 that pushes beer out of the keg. On common, one tank can serve 5-7 half kegs. Word that the tank ships empty and can must be crammed. Native welding or hearth extinguisher provide shops are sometimes good locations to fill it or verify with a neighborhood beer distributor for suggestions.
- Double gauge regulator: This element allows you to correctly pressurize your system by regulating the CO2 stress from the tank to the coupler.
- Keg coupler: Our equipment contains a typical US Sankey D-System coupler, which attaches to the keg and connects to each the rod and air line. This coupler will work with most home and North American craft beers. Seek the advice of our Keg Coupler checklist to double-check compatibility earlier than buying a keg.
- Air line: Vinyl tubing that carries CO2 from the air tank to the coupler. Clamps are included that can assist you obtain a safe connection.
How one can arrange rod & faucet system
Word: This method operates at a decrease stress (round 4 PSI) than customary draft methods, which usually run at 12-14 PSI. The next steps will information you in setting it up accurately, very best for short-term use at occasions. For longer-term meting out, we suggest a typical CO2 system.
Step 1: Connecting the CO2 tank and regulator
Join one finish of the air line to the barbed becoming on the regulator. Screw the coupling nut on the regulator onto the cylinder valve outlet on the CO2 tank. Tighten with a CO2 tank wrench to make sure that it’s correctly tightened. That is the spot the place most air leaks happen. Flip the shut-off valve on the base of the regulator to the “OFF” place. Open the drum cylinder valve all the way in which out (that’s the massive screw on the face of the regulator). That is essential as a result of the cylinder valve seats in two locations. Flip the adjusting screw clockwise till the proper stress is indicated on the gauge (about 4 PSI).
Step 2: Connect the rod and tap
Connect your draft faucet to the highest finish of the rod and tighten the connector securely utilizing a faucet wrench. Then, join the underside finish of the rod to the keg coupler. Guarantee to make use of a draft beer washer when connecting the rod to the coupler to forestall leaks.
Step 3: Tapping the keg
Join the opposite finish of the air line to the right enter on the the coupler. Make certain the tap is closed earlier than connecting the coupler to the keg.
Align the coupler lugs with the openings on the prime of the keg and press the coupler down till it matches contained in the neck of the keg. Flip the coupler about 90 levels till it locks into place. As soon as it’s locked, pull out the deal with after which push it down to have interaction it. If you happen to see bubbles or foam leaking from the highest of the keg, then your coupler shouldn’t be hooked up securely. Disengage the coupler by pulling the deal with out, then up, disconnect it from the keg, after which strive once more. On the facet of your keg coupler is a security/bleeder valve. Use it to launch extra CO2 stress from the keg.
Lastly, open the beer faucet and let any preliminary foam escape. Then, open the regulator’s shut-off valve to use 3-4 PSI of CO2 to the keg. Keep away from activating the CO2 tank earlier than bleeding preliminary stress to forestall extreme foam.
Now, you may pour draft beer utilizing your rod and tap system.
Rod and tap set up suggestions
- Retailer a CO2 tank upright, by no means on its facet. Hold the tank chained to a wall to forestall it from tipping over.
- Watch out with the regulator; its gauges are considerably delicate and may break simply.
- This equipment is commonly utilized in an 8-48 hour particular occasion sort software. Hold the keg as iced down as attainable. Heat draft beer will pour foamy, which ends up in waste. Holding your beer between 32-36º when utilizing this equipment will likely be very best with about 4 lbs of utilized stress. Temperatures between 36-40º will want about 3 lbs of utilized stress.
- When pouring the beer, fully open the tap, not partially, to obtain a correct circulation.
- Similar to any draft beer system, cleanliness is of utmost significance. Clear your complete system month-to-month or instantly after ending a keg. This contains eradicating the tap, disassembling it, and cleansing the components with a brush. We feature a number of draft beer cleansing merchandise that can assist you preserve your system. Test out our information to cleansing draft beer methods for extra data.
