I recently threw a party and bought a keg of beer at a beer store somewhat nearby. My local store was all out of kegs of the beer I wanted so I had to drive about 20 minutes to purchase the keg. When the time came to return the keg to the beer store I didn’t want to drive all the way out to the original store and wondered if I could just return it to my local store. A quick search online turned up the answer.

So, can you return kegs to any beer store?  Kegs should always be returned to the place where you obtained them. The keg is the property of the vendor who originally filled and sold it to you and should be returned to that same vendor.   

Whenever you put a deposit down for a keg, it means you are renting it, which many consumers misunderstand.  If you try to return it to another store it will most likely be rejected because of keg registration laws. This will leave you without your deposit money and the vendor without their precious keg. Talk about a lose-lose situation!

Well folks, after finding all this out I did a deep dive on beer kegs and found some great information that I’d like to share with you, so read on to learn how not to get arrested when returning a keg!

Things to Know When Returning a Keg

Here are some important things to know when returning a keg to the store:

Keg Registration

Many states have a keg registration law which requires retailers and wholesalers to attach an identification tag to a keg that exceeds a specified capacity of 2-8 gallons minimum depending on the state you are in.  Although keg registration is mainly to help reduce underage drinking, it also helps with identifying who the keg belongs to.

When you obtain a keg, the retailer should record your identifying information such as name, address, driver’s license, and telephone number.  They will also collect a deposit which is refunded at the time the keg is returned. The keg must be returned with the ID tag intact. In some states there is a penalty, or it is considered a crime if you have an unlabeled or unregistered keg.

Empty Kegs

Kegs are made of tin, aluminum, or stainless steel.  An empty keg can be worth $15 to $55 in scrap. But, before you try to take an empty keg to a beer store or scrap it, be sure that the manufacturer’s name is not stamped on it.  If it is, you are not allowed to sell or scrap it. You must return it to the manufacturer if you know where it came from.

Manufacturers label their kegs with serial numbers so they can track which stores, bars, or restaurants are in possession of their kegs.   If one of these establishments reports their keg(s) as stolen and you try to turn it in for a reward, you may be unpleasantly surprised when an officer slaps the cuffs on you!

Keg Theft

Kegs are expensive, and large breweries purchase tens of thousands every year at approximately $100 apiece.  It is especially costly for breweries that lose kegs every year through misplacement or theft. Larger breweries actually lose approximately 10% of their kegs annually.  

Because beer keg theft is so rampant, fewer vendors and scrap yards will even purchase empty kegs.  However, there are some commercial outlets and liquor stores where you can get in-store credit or cash.  But if you rented a keg for an event, you must return it to the place where you got it. With kegs being so expensive, it’s understandable why businesses do not want to keep replacing them.

A beer store that takes a keg from you when you have received it from another retailer may be breaking the law.  Many stores will refuse a keg, especially if it is labeled with the brewery where it came from. 

Keg Management

With all of the above being said, some companies have sprung up to help provide a solution to the small keg crisis.

As of 2019, there are over 7,000 breweries operating in the United States.  Managing and tracking kegs is a huge undertaking that many small breweries do not have the money, time, or resources to handle.  But the loss of kegs is an even bigger financial hit to breweries. Companies like MicroStar are providing solutions. 

MicroStar’s warehouse in Green Bay, Wisconsin, spans 100,000 square feet and houses approximately 200,000 kegs.  Tracking and returning, buying, transporting and maintaining kegs can be costly for brewery owners. MicroStar works with the Brewer’s Association to find the largest pool of stray kegs, pays the deposits for them, and coordinates their delivery back to the warehouse in Green Bay.  From there they work on returning the kegs to their rightful homes. 

Know the Laws in Your State

The next time you go and pick up that keg of beer and put a deposit down, remember, you are renting, not buying.  Even if you purchase a beer keg, make sure you know the laws that apply to your state. For example, in Louisville, Kentucky, House Bill 136 was passed in 2018, which allows consumers to purchase up to 31 gallons of beer directly from Kentucky microbreweries. 

Previously, it was illegal.  In 2015, the Brewers Association and MicroStar sent a letter to eBay requesting that they no longer allow the sale of used kegs without proof of sale.  It’s important to know the laws relevant to kegs in your state, or you might find yourself on the wrong side of the law!

What Do People Use Empty Beer Kegs For?

Many consumers don’t give it a second thought when they decide to make use of an empty beer keg.  They think that if they don’t take it back, the store has their deposit, and they can do what they want with the keg.  Wrong! 

The deposit is a good faith promissory note that you will return the keg to that store.  But people will try to use them as hot liquor tanks, boil kettles, or mash tuns to brew their own beer.  Then there are the creative crafts like coffee tables, bar stools, lighting fixtures, and even urinals. What consumers do not realize is that they may have (probably) illegally acquired and are often tampering with the property of a brewery.

The Basics of Kegs

Now that we know what to do once the keg is empty, we should definitely know how to empty it!

So, your big event is coming up, and you have rented your beer keg.  Now you want to make sure the beer tastes just right, and the keg works properly.  When you rent the keg, vendors will also rent you a tap to serve and drink the beer.  Here is some basic keg information and some tips to ensure your brew is perfect!

Types of Kegs

Below is a table of common beer keg types and their capacities.

Keg	Capacity (gal./oz)	Pints	Cans/Bottles
Mini Keg	1.32/169	10.6	14
Half Barrel	15.5/1984	124	164
Slim Quarter	7.75/992	62	82
Quarter Barrel	7.75/992	62	82
Sixth Barrel	5.16/661	42	56
Cornelius Keg	5.0/640	40	53

Keg Valve Systems

There are various types of valve systems, and tapping them requires slightly different steps.  American breweries generally use the “D” system, but when it comes to imports, it can get confusing.  Valve systems include:

•     American “D”
•     European “S”
•     “U” System
•     German “A”
•     German “M”

Check with the vendor to confirm the type of valve system you have.  Tapping the keg basically means attaching the valve system to the keg and engaging the tap so the beer will flow smoothly.  You will know if the pump is not seated on the keg correctly if you see bubbles or foam escaping from the tap. It is normal for the first pint to come out as foam, but beer should follow shortly after. 

Benefits of a Keg

If you are hosting a party or event, people will most likely want more than one beer. A keg offers a few unique advantages for your get together such as:

• Kegs are cost effective, much cheaper than buying canned or bottled beer.
• No bottles or cans lying around.
• Better quality beer.
• Kegs are more environmentally friendly due to their reusable nature.
• Kegs are much more fun for your guests to use!

Just make sure you return the keg to the proper place!

Keep it Cold

The most important thing when dealing with any keg is that you want to make sure the beer is nice and cold because no one likes warm beer! Here are a few tips to make sure the keg stays cold:

• Cool the keg before you tap it.  
• There are containers that the keg can fit in, or you can use a large garbage can filled with ice.  
• Situate the keg where you want it because it is heavy, and you don’t want to keep moving it around.
• Let the keg sit on ice for several hours, which will help prevent cups and cups of foam.  
• The tap should also be iced otherwise it will lose carbonation when the cold beer hits the warm tube on the tapping system.  
• Sit the tap on ice for approximately 1 hour.

Well folks, I hope you know where you need to return your keg to next time you rent one, as well as how to enjoy the overall keg experience!

Can I drink this old beer? It’s got to be at least a couple decades old…This was what I was muttering to myself last weekend when I came across a few cool looking dusty cans in my uncle’s garage. It was cold in there so the cans were definitely cold and I was also pretty thirsty after working for a few hours. In the end I chickened out but then I went online and found out a few things about decades old beer.

So, can you drink decades old beer? Yes, it is a resounding yes as far as health is concerned. Beer will preserve quite well for long periods of time due to its alcohol content and type of packaging. However, after about 6 months, the flavor of the beverage will change or become “skunked.”

Chances are the beer I found in my uncle’s garage wouldn’t have tasted too great but it wouldn’t have killed me either. In my aforementioned research I found some interesting things about what happens to beer as it ages and why those things happen, as well as a few cool tidbits on the history of beer. So read on to find out about what to do when you have the age old debate about what to do with that beautiful old can of beer you found.

How Beer Came To Be

The origin story of beer is still somewhat of an enigma. The most likely creation story of this beverage that is older than written history has been tracked down to ancient Mesopotamia. Supposedly, beer was an accidental creation, as most of our best creations are, when a jar of collected barley grain was left out in a field during a rain.

As it turned out, not only was this mystery liquid palatable, but it had an intoxicating effect. These early humans must have felt as if the spirits had blessed them by giving them this magical brew seemingly overnight, and probably cursed them the next morning because of the world’s first hanovers!

While they may have believed their jar had been possessed by joyous spirits looking to share and spread joy to man, today we know that what happened is called spontaneous fermentation. Yeast is a fungus, and fungi reproduce by way of spontaneously creating microscopic spores that use the air itself as its transportation vector.

So, while the rain-soaked barley grains were beginning to sprout in the jar, turning starches into sugars for the use of growth, the yeast found this environment a suitable habitat to establish growth. In this soupy sugar rich environment, the yeast would explode in numbers and begin an anaerobic fermentation that results in ethanal creation. About 70% of the flavor of beer comes from this fermentation process!

What Happens to Old Beer as It Ages?

So now that we know how beer is created, let’s find out about what happens as it ages.

Beer is a product that is often pasteurized before being packaged, and some of the ingredients such as hops, and alcohol will have a preservative effect. Beer will keep for a long time compared to other food and drink. However, over time the beer’s flavor will alter, either giving the beer an altogether different flavor, or simply causing it to taste bad.

As it turns out, canned or bottled beer has a pretty long shelf life, especially if kept refrigerated. However, over the course of 6 to 9 months, the beer’s flavor will begin to alter and seemingly taste flat. Those who are familiar with the artisanal crafting of home brewed beer will most likely be familiar with the flavors and aromas that accompany an “off” beer.

As time progresses, regardless of whether the beer is bottled or in a can, the beverage will oxidize. This is because the beer itself contains oxygen and will eventually begin to interact with different chemicals in the beer. This will produce off flavors and smells in the beer that may ward off any potential drinkers.

Oxidation can cause a variety of smells and appearances to happen in beer such as:

• A smell and odor like cardboard or paper.
• Other odors can have a hospital like smell or banana odors.
• It can create a hazy appearance.

Oxidized beer is still safe to drink even if it doesn’t taste fresh however, there are other things that can happen to beer that can cause it to become undrinkable. Most of these things will not make you sick, but they may upset your stomach for a little while, but nothing more serious than a hangover by any means.

It is not unheard of for people to drink beer that has been aged for tens of decades. In fact, depending on the quality of the brewing process, aged beer can make beer more delicious and sought after than freshly made beer. In the worst case scenario, it will taste a bit off or become vinegar.

Old Beer Turns into Vinegar?!?

Ever found a beer in a hidden corner of the house and took a swig to taste vinegar? Good, I’m glad I’m not the only one here. Don’t throw that out. It won’t make you sick. What you have inadvertently created is malt vinegar, which is a premium cooking ingredient for many sauce and dressing recipes.

In some cultures, people would leave open containers of beer out that they didn’t finish or had gone flat and let flies land into it. Kind of like how grandma hangs bags of water over the door, but this wives-tale had a neat side effect. See this kind of bacteria, known as acetobacter, often lives on the carapace of flies and acetobacter is the agent responsible for the creation of vinegar. 

This is how it works: The yeast loves sugar, and it turns all manners of sugars into ethanol alcohol. Acetobacter loves ethanal alcohol and will turn ethanol into vinegar. It’s a pretty simple process but because of the flies it definitely seems a bit gross.

Since the industrial process of creating vinegar usually creates an inferior product, feel free to keep a jar of beer turned vinegar around as a “vinegar mother”. Traditionally Italian families would pour their left-over wine at the end of the night into a cask with a vinegar mother in it to use the next day for cooking. 

It seems humans just can’t lose when it comes to beer, we can either drink it or let it turn into something else useful!

Other Old Beer Tastes

Aside from acetobacter pulling a beer to vinegar act, there is another microscopic scoundrel out there that may ruin your beer. By ruin, I mean create an altogether different and unexpected flavor profile some may enjoy. This culprit is known as lactobacillus, the bacteria known for creating yogurt and other fermented milk products.

When introduced after the boiling process of creating beer, it can produce a wonderful sour profile to your beer. Due to the prolific reproduction rates of bacteria, though, you will most likely only be able to use that equipment for the creation of sour beer. If lactobacillus happens to get into your beer after it has been open, it creates an extra sour taste.

In conclusion, while they won’t make you sick, we have identified a few things that can create weird flavors in old beer:

• Acetobacter, which is responsible for turning your old beer into vinegar.
• Lactobacillus, which will make a beer sour 
• Oxygen, which can cause spoilage in the beer even in small amounts, possibly leading to unpleasant flavors and a hazy appearance.

So, while old beer may not have the expected taste, it is perfectly safe to drink. If it’s ever you and I with an old can in our hands, I’ll let you pop your top first and tell me all about the taste!

Have you ever been at a friend’s house or at a bar and saw someone pour salt into their beer? Well, if you aren’t familiar with why someone does this, or what exactly it does to beer, then you are probably confused. Some people have speculated that it makes people feel the effects of being drunk faster, while some will say it is for the flavor.

Does salt in beer make you drunker? No, pouring salt into your beer will not increase your alcohol levels in your beer to make you drunk. It also does not speed up the process of becoming drunk, either.

Despite salt not making people drunker, many people still do it. Today, we’ll be taking a look as to why someone would put salt in their beer, and what exactly it does to the beer itself.

Why Put Salt in Your Beer?

Taste

Even though it doesn’t increase your chances of being drunk, salt in beer does help enhance the flavor of the beer. Similar to how salt works with food, salt can increase the flavor of the beer tremendously.

This is great if you are drinking cheaper beers, as it will help bring more flavor into the drink, rather than a stale, bitter taste, which is often associated with less expensive brews.

Another reason that you may see people putting salt in beer is for the revival of a flat beer. We’ve all left a beer out a time or two for far too long, and it becomes disgustingly flat. Pouring some salt into it will help bring out the flavor and the life of the beer once more.

Also, as I mentioned, salt does a great job of removing bitterness, so it is a great way to counter those bitter brews, no matter the quality.

Extra Foam

Another reason that you will see salt added to beer is to enhance the foam/bubbles of the drink as well. However, although it does increase the beer’s foam, it is rather short-lived. The better the quality of the beer, the more likely it is to last longer and doing this with cheap beers won’t last you very long. If, for some reason, you are wanting to keep that experience going for most of the drink, then you will have one salty mess on your hands after you are done.

Is Salt Used on High-Quality Beer?

Typically, you won’t see salt poured in more expensive beer. This is because many of the higher-quality beers do not need flavor enhancement and/or already have a smooth taste.

However, that isn’t to say salt isn’t used on the higher-quality beers at all. As I mentioned, salt is great for bringing flat beer back to a tasty state, so you may see this done a time or two to make an older drink have its original kick.

The majority of beers being salted though,will typically be cheaper beers, such as Busch, Keystone, and so on.

Don’t Forget Water

It is a well-known fact by now that beer, or any alcohol for that matter, will dehydrate you. Now, mix that in with added salt, and you are really in for a treat. If you plan on having multiple beers with salt added, it is crucial that you keep in mind to keep drinking water.

If you skip out on the precious aqua throughout the night, you may find yourself on the wrong side of one of the worst hangovers you’ve ever had. Adding the salt will only increase the dehydration, but will also make you thirstier.

Becoming thirstier while drinking alcohol will cause you to do one of two things:

·       Drink more alcohol to quench your thirst

·       Cause you to drink normal drinks such as water

Let’s hope that you are in the latter category of drinking water during this time, but if you are worried that you will be too intoxicated to remember to do so, make sure to have a buddy constantly remind you.

How Much Water Should I Drink?

The water/beer scale is always one that is delicate. Finding the right balance of how much water to drink vs. how much alcohol you are consuming is always a tough task, and often a confusing one.

Personally, I always thought that a good rule of thumb was one glass of water for every three beers, as it seemed to do the trick…at least most of the time.

However, my instincts were certainly wrong, as you should actually consume 16 oz of water for every 12 oz of beer. At first glance, that may seem like quite a lot of liquid, but if you are planning for a long night, then I recommend playing it safe, especially with the mixture of salt added in as well.

What Does Cause You to Get Drunk Faster?

If it isn’t the salt in the drinks, then what does cause people to get inebriated too quickly?

There are many reasons out there that can cause one to get drunk a bit quicker than they intended, if they even wanted to get drunk in the first place. Some of these will speed the process up more than others but each one can be a bit dangerous in their own right.

Avoid High-Percentage Beers

The first obvious choice is to stay away from the beers that have the highest alcohol content to them. The higher the alcohol percentage, the better chances you have of getting drunk a bit too quick. 

Some of the beers with the highest alcohol percentages are:

·   Flying Dog

·   Evil Twin Molotov Cocktail

·   Delirium Tremens

·   Japanese Green Tea IPA

·   120 Minute IPA

Eat Beforehand

Although this one has some controversy to it, it also has quite a bit of truth. If you want to avoid getting inebriated too fast, make sure that you eat at least a few hours or so before. The food will absorb the alcohol, and the process will be much slower.

However, if you drink on an empty stomach, then the alcohol will get into your system quicker, ultimately getting a person drunk faster. Be wary of this, as this can put you on the fast track to a wicked hangover, and make sure you are hydrating properly as discussed above.

Hard Liquor

If you are truly wanting to avoid getting drunk as quickly as possible, you’ll need to ditch the hard liquor. Not only does liquor contain a much higher alcohol percentage, but it will hit you much faster as well.

Tip: Some craft cocktails will knock you on the floor (Like this trick) after just one so definitely be careful around those hip cocktail lounges people rave about.

Don’t Drink too Fast!

This tip should be obvious but can easily be overlooked, especially in a celebratory atmosphere. The faster you drink, the quicker you’ll become drunk. It isn’t rocket science, but reminding yourself to drink at a slower rate can be harder than you think.

Tip: If you find yourself drinking a little too fast, refer to our tip above about drinking 16oz of water per 12oz of beer. At the very least you’ll be spending a lot of time in the bathroom from all that liquid, thus keeping yourself from over imbibing!

Beware of Disguised Tastes

Last but not least, disguising the taste of a drink can go a long way for a bad hangover in the morning. This doesn’t apply to beer as much, but mixing hard liquor with a drink such as Coke or a fruit juice will take a lot of the edge off, making you think that what you’re drinking isn’t all that potent. Trust me, it is!

Well folks, there you have it, an answer to all those questions floating around in your head as to why these people are putting salt in their beer. I hope this helps you sleep better at night!

If you’re having one of those days again and you just realized that you left your beer in the fridge for too long again, then don’t fret. Everybody has experienced the let-down of throwing a few cold ones in the freezer to enjoy later and then forgetting about them and we understand how disheartening that experience can be after a long day of work.

So, Is frozen beer ruined beer? As long as your bottled or canned beer hasn’t shattered, and the seal hasn’t broken on the beer, then your beer will taste normal once you bring it back to an average temperature. So, most likely, a frozen beer isn’t ruined, and with some time and effort, a frozen beer can be enjoyed later in the day.

Since there isn’t a lot of information available on the Internet about how to save a frozen beer, we’ve gathered some information about this type of unexpected situation to assist you. Below we’ll discuss how to tell if your frozen beer is ruined or not, how freezing beer adds to the alcohol content, and how to unfreeze a frozen beer.

Saving Accidentally Frozen Beer

Trust me; we’ve all had those days. Last week, I woke up one morning only to realize I forgot my beers in the freezer again. While I don’t do this often, every time it happens, it feels like it’s too often. Since beer isn’t a cheap beverage to purchase, you’re probably wondering now if you can save your beer after it’s frozen.

As disheartening as the entire experience can be, you don’t need to worry. You can save accidentally frozen beer as long as a few conditions apply, and your beer can still potentially taste good enough to drink. Matt Meadows, who works as the draft beer quality ambassador for the Brewers Association and director of field quality at the New Belgium Brewing, provides us with a few ways to handle this problem.

Meadows has dealt with accidentally frozen beer issues in both his professional and personal life. According to Meadows, distributor warehouses and refrigerated trucks sometimes malfunction, meaning beer freezes while it is in transit to its destination. 

Must See: Take the “What Should I Drink Tonight?” Quiz

Check the Seal

According to Meadows, the biggest concern you’ll need to address when you accidentally leave your beer in the freezer for too long is checking on the seal. Whether you are using a beer can or bottle, if the beer becomes unsealed while it is frozen, it will no longer taste right.

Remember, when liquid freezes, it expands. That means there is more volume and pressure placed on the bottle or can, which can rupture the seal on the bottle or can. However, if your beer still appears sealed, then Meadows states your beer will taste just fine once you return it to its correct temperature. 

 “If the vessel stays 100-percent sealed and if the beer is allowed to return to a standard temperature, then Henry’s Law dictates that carbonation will go back into solution in the same place it was before,” Meadows commented.

On the other hand, if the seal is broken, you probably won’t enjoy your beer because you’ll miss out on that carbonation you enjoy. According to Meadows, “In that case, because you’ve pushed the CO2 out of solution, that’s the first thing to gas off. If your vessel has stayed sealed, your carbonation will be fine. If not, it’ll certainly be flat.”

How to Defrost a Frozen Beer

If you’ve frozen your beer in your freezer by accident, don’t worry. We’ve got the steps below to guide you on how to defrost a frozen beer.

1. Get a Ziploc bag or container you can put your frozen beer into for protection. We suggest placing the beer in something so that you don’t wind up with a mess if the beer leaks.
2. Put the beer in your fridge or some other area of your house that is cool. Don’t put the beer in warm regions. You don’t want your beer to thaw out too quickly, or the can or bottle might explode.
3. Let the beer sit in the cool area until it is defrosted. It can take between 12-24 hours for this to happen, depending on what temperature you have set in your fridge.

Tip: Avoid running glass beer bottles under hot or warm water. If you do this, the glass might expand too quickly and break, and then you’ve lost your beer and your glass all in one fell swoop!

Drinking Previously Frozen Beer

If you’re planning on drinking previously frozen beer, then you’ll want to thaw the beer out before you drink it. That’s because if frozen beer isn’t thawed, the liquid you’ll drink first out of it will be straight alcohol. Since water stays frozen for longer than alcohol, what unfreezes first is the alcohol content of the beer.

If you wind up drinking just a few ounces of an unthawed beer, then you’ll also be getting straight alcohol, even if you only drink a little bit of it. So, it’s obviously best to avoid doing that and wait for your beer to thaw out completely.

Another reason you’ll want to let your beer thaw out is because you don’t want to drink a beer while it is in the “chill haze”. The chill haze refers to the opaque sheen a frozen beer gives as well as being able to see floating bits and chunks of the beverage in the beer. Your beer won’t taste or smell differently, but it’s unappetizing to drink a beer with pieces in it. Since most people don’t enjoy having chunks in their beer, let your beer thaw out before you drink it.

Does Freezing Beer Remove the Alcohol?

Another common question people have is if frozen beer removes the alcohol content. 

Freezing beer doesn’t remove the alcohol in beer. As mentioned above, it can actually be a way to end up getting yourself drunk as fast as possible and increase the amount of alcohol you’ve got in your beer. 

People that freeze beer to purposefully improve the alcohol content perform a process known as “jacking,” which is also called fractional freezing. Since alcohol does not freeze as fast as water, if you freeze beer, wine, or apple cider, you can up the amount of alcohol in your beverage quickly and easily.  

This is not really a recommended practice though, and we would recommend following the steps below to avoid the frozen beer problem altogether.

How to Chill Beer Quickly Without Your Freezer

If you want to chill beer quickly and you want to avoid using your freezer, and the potential pitfalls associated with it in the future, then here are a few steps to help you out.

1. First, start by putting a few bottles or cans into a bucket of salted ice water.
2. Note that a bucket of salted ice water can also chill wine quickly.
3. By using salt, you’ll be lowering your water’s freezing point. That means the water you’ll create will get colder than freezing temperatures. 
4. By doing this, your beer will chill quickly, and you won’t wind up leaving it in your freezer overnight.

And boom, just like that you’ll be able to quickly enjoy a few cold ones after a hard day’s work!

Does beer get ruined if it freezes?

When you accidently leave your beers in your freezer, bad things can happen. If they don’t explode, then consider yourself lucky! One thing that doesn’t happen is that it gets ruined. You can still thaw it out and enjoy your favorite cold one!

Final Thoughts

If you’ve had the misfortune of freezing your beer by accident, know you are not alone. We’ve all experienced this mishap and left our beers in the freezer overnight. However, now you know what you can do to save your beer and, better yet, what you can do to avoid making the same mistake again. So sit back, relax, and enjoy another cold one!