Cornelius keg

Coneliuskeg

Cornelius keg

A Cornelius keg, also known as a Corny keg or soda keg, is a type of stainless steel container originally used in the soft drink industry. These kegs are now commonly used by homebrewers to store and dispense beer, cider, wine, and other beverages.

History

The Cornelius keg was developed by the Cornelius Company in the 1950s for the purpose of storing and dispensing carbonated beverages. The design allowed for easy cleaning, filling, and maintenance, which made it popular in the soft drink industry. With the advent of bag-in-box technology, the use of Cornelius kegs in the soft drink industry declined, but they found a new life in the homebrewing community.

Design and Components

Cornelius kegs are typically made from stainless steel and come in various sizes, with the most common being 5-gallon (19-liter) capacity. The kegs are cylindrical in shape and have a removable lid that is sealed with an O-ring. The lid is secured with a clamp or latch mechanism.

The kegs have two ports: an "in" port for carbon dioxide (CO2) and an "out" port for dispensing the beverage. These ports are equipped with quick disconnect fittings, which are either ball-lock or pin-lock types. The ball-lock type is more common in the homebrewing community.

Inside the keg, there is a dip tube that extends from the "out" port to the bottom of the keg, allowing the beverage to be dispensed from the bottom up. The "in" port is connected to a short tube that releases CO2 into the headspace of the keg.

Usage in Homebrewing

Homebrewers use Cornelius kegs to store and dispense their homebrewed beer. The kegs are filled with beer, sealed, and then pressurized with CO2. The CO2 serves two purposes: it carbonates the beer and provides the pressure needed to dispense it.

Cornelius kegs are favored by homebrewers because they are durable, reusable, and easy to clean. They also allow for precise control over carbonation levels and can be used with a variety of dispensing systems, including kegerators and draft beer systems.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Proper maintenance and cleaning of Cornelius kegs are essential to ensure the quality of the beverage stored within. The kegs should be disassembled and cleaned after each use. This involves removing the lid, dip tubes, and fittings, and cleaning them with a suitable cleaning solution. The O-rings should be inspected and replaced if necessary.

See Also

• Homebrewing
• Kegerator
• Draft beer
• Carbon dioxide
• Stainless steel