How to Convert Party Kegs for Home Brewing

Kegs can be reused after a party. However, most keg suppliers rent out kegs for a party, requiring a deposit. If you keep the keg, you will not only lose your deposit but also will most likely not be able to return as a customer to that particular supplier. Rather than keeping a keg after a party, it is advisable to purchase your own keg for home-brewing, which can range from about $50 used to over $150 for new, full-sized kegs.

• 1

  Release the pressurized gas from the keg by using keg coupler.

• 2

  Use a small nail to remove the ring clip from the steel ball valve. Insert the nail beneath the ring clip and pry it loose. Use a pair of pliers to grab the ring tip due to its sharp edges. Gently tap the barbs of the ball valve clockwise with a hammer and screwdriver so that you can untwist the sanke spear and remove it.

• 3

  Draw a circle on top of the keg with a marker according to the size of the lid that you intend to use for your keggle. This will allow you to precisely cut the top of the keg so that the lid will fit. A twelve-inch pot lid will fit well over the top of the keg.

• 4

  Remove the top of the beer keg. There are different strategies for the removal process. Some home-brewers suggest using a power drill to make a hole and a high-speed rotary tool to cut around the top. Once the hole is drilled in the top, you will be able to insert a high-speed rotary tool with a metal-cutting adapter into the hole to cut off the lid.

• 5

  Pull out the valve and dip tube after cutting off the top of the keg. Use an angle grinder to remove any jagged edges from the top of the keg's body. Finish the edges of the top of the keg with sanding paper.

• 6

  Clean out the inside of the keg with soap and water. Any contaminants left over from previous contents could ruin the next batch of beer that is placed in the keg.

• 7

  Use a power drill with a bi-metal bit to drill out a hole 3.75 inches from the bottom of the keg. Continue drilling until you have created a hole 7/8 inch wide. Grind and sand the hole in order to smooth out the edges.

• 8

  Install the weldless mash conversion kit, which should include bulkhead fittings, a false bottom and a stainless steel siphon tube. Insert the false bottom and tighten the bulkhead fittings into the 7/8 inch hole. Screw in the siphon tube.