Kegerator Glossary

Applied Pressure – The amount of pressure, in PSIs, needed to force the beer from a keg and through a beer dispensing system.  In a regular kegerator setup, the applied pressure usually runs between 12-14 Lbs.  Some beer dispensing systems require more pressure, especially if the beer lines are lengthened (see Beer Cooler, below).

Air Pump – A device used in the place of a CO2 canister to produce the Applied Pressure needed to make beer flow from the keg.  Air pumps are only used when the entire contents of the keg are to be drunk within 8-12 hours, as the beer becomes contaminated once exposed to outside air.

Beer - Beer is made form Yeast, Water, Malt, & Hops.  Many beers have other admixtures, but if a beer contains more rice then barley (many national name brands are suspect), it is a bit of stretch calling it beer.

Beer Cooler - An ice chest converted into a mobile picnic beer-serving unit.  Draft spigots, usually one or two, are mounted on the front, and the beer is pushed through stainless steel or copper tubing which is immersed completely in ice.  As the beer is pushed through this system, it is chilled by the cold metal.  It is necessary to increase the CO2 pressure in order for the beer to flow through the increased length of coiled tubing.  The Applied Pressure should be set to around 30 PSI.  In some circles, a beer cooler is known as a “Jockey Box”.

Beer Faucet – The Tap or Spigot which signifies the end of the beer line. The point of dispensation sometimes consists of a variable flow knob, but usually a level.

Beer Line/Tubing/Hose – Usually made of surgical tubing, this hose brings the beer from keg to tap.  These can also be stainless steel, vinyl, polyethylene or barrier.

CO2 Volume – The amount of CO2 that is dissolved into the beer.  This figure is helpful in determining the amount of pressure needed to keep the beer tasting fresh, and the exact temperature the beer should be kept at. 

CO2 Cylinder - Made from aluminum or steel, this Cylinder, or canister, contains liquid CO2 gas.  This gas is used in most cases to produce Applied Pressure to keep beer tasting fresh and flowing smoothly. CO2 cylinders can be bought in sizes ranging from 2.5 lbs to 50 lbs.  Proper care and handling of the CO2 Cylinder is important.  If the canister should fall over and knock of the spout, the resulting 800 lbs of pressure will turn the canister into a torpedo shooting through not only your house, but maybe your neighbors.  It is acceptable to lay the cylinder on its side during transport and storage, but it is important to secure the cylinder in an upright position if it is being used.  Once again, a warning: damage to a cylinder valve or cylinder may result in a serious injury or death.

Draft Font- See Draft Tower.

Drip Tray- A tray with slotted cover that is placed or mounted below the beer spigot to catch excess foam and drips.  This tray can be freestanding and manually emptied, or it can be attached to a drain system.

Draught Beer - See Draft Beer

Draft Beer – Any beer served by way of a draft beer system, with a spigot instead of from a bottle or can.

Draft Tower- The draft tower is a pedestal upon which beer spigots are mounted.  The beer lines run through the tower, and in some systems, cooling lines in order to ensure that beer is cold all the way up to the point of dispense.  The Draft Tower is sometimes called a Standard or a Font.  Towers are not part of every kegerator, but only the smaller sized ones that have beer spigots on top instead of the side.

Faucet Handle – There are the levers by which beer is dispensed from a beer faucet.  Often, they come in specialized shapes and with the logos of certain beers printed on them.  Many microbreweries produce very unique faucet handles in order to make their brews recognizable by bar patrons.  Simple black plastic varieties are available as well.

Flow Rate – This is how fast beer is (or should be) flowing while your beer spigot is open. Your average beer is designed to flow at 2 ounces per second.  This comes to 120 ounces per minute and roughly one gallon of beer per minute.  If your beer lines have kinks or blockages, or your CO2 pressure is not set correctly, it can cause your flow rate to vary.

Gas Line/Tubing/Hose – For most home bar draft systems, simple vinyl tubing similar to beer lines is all you need to pump your gas into your keg of beer.  For more elaborate high-pressure systems (over 50 PSI Applied Pressure), braided line is available.

Gauge Pressure – This term represents the pressure setting on your CO2 regulator.  The Gauge pressure can vary if your beers lines are exceptionally long or kinked, with room temperature changes, and elevation.  Most beers are served between 12-14 PSI Applied Pressure.

Icemaker – One of the accessories featured in deluxe kegerators.  Stand alone under the counter versions are available for home bars as well.

Inebriation – The ultimate goal of owning a kegerator.

Jockey Box - See Beer Cooler

Keg Tap – See Keg Coupler.

Keg Coupler – This device connects the gas line to the keg.  In the Cornelius keg, the coupler is separate from the beer line dispensing lines, but, in the larger kegs, the coupler contains both.  Domestic brewers in the United States use the “D” keg coupler system.

Kegerator – The term Kegerator is a combination of the words “keg” and “refrigerator”.  A kegerator can be a specialized appliance built solely for the purpose of dispensing beer in an intimate setting.  The most efficient aspect of owning a kegerator is that it extends the life of your beer and allows for purchase and dispensing in mass quantity.  Beer stored in a kegerator is preserved in pristine state for as long as 6 months.  .

Kegerator Conversion Kit - Another type of kegerator is the refrigerator or freezer that has been modified to accommodate kegs, and dispense their liquid contents.  Kegerator conversion kits contain all the hardware and some of the specialty tooling required to convert nearly any refrigerator or freezer into a kegerator, minus the CO2 tank and keg of beer.  There are many versions of this kit, from the bare bones to the deluxe.

Line Cleaning – A very important aspect of owning or operating a kegerator is the cleaning of the beer lines.  The whole system must be flushed at least every three weeks in order to maintain proper sanitation in your kegerator.  A variety of cleaning products are available either online or at your local home brew store.  Warning: beer line cleaning leaves dangerous chemicals in the beer lines, which must be flushed with water before dispensing beer.  Injury or death may result from imbibing beer line cleaning chemicals.

Line Cleaning Kit – An essential item for kegerator operation.  Included are all the tools you need to scrub your beer faucet, clean, and sanitize your beer lines.  Various qualities of kit are available, and some come with electric pumps, others are powered by air pumps or CO2 gas.

Nitrogen Generator – This device sucks nitrogen from the very air for the purpose of creating applied pressure in nitrogen draft beers or mixed CO2 and Nitrogen draft beers.

Party Pump – An air pump used when the keg is planned to be emptied at one sitting, like a big party.  Party pumps are primarily made for regulation kegs, but it is very simple to build one for a Cornelius keg.  Simply take a bicycle inner tube, cut out the Schrader valve, and attach it via a hose clamp to you a gas line that goes to your keg.  

Primary Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Regulator – This is the dual gauged regulator that is attached to your CO2 cylinder.  One dial reads the amount of pressure left in the cylinder, and the other read what level of gauge pressure is being applied to the keg through the gas. A screw valve is the primary method of adjusting the applied pressure. 

Primary Nitrogen (N) Regulator – See above, but replace CO2 with Nitrogen.

Restriction – The gauge of the amount of resistance beer encounters while flowing through the beer line and dispenser.  The amount of restriction will vary with each beer draft system based on the length of the beer line, and kinks or bends, and blockages.  Restriction is sometimes referred to as resistance or holdback.

Sankey – A type of keg tap that fits most regulation sized beer kegs and allows for the inflow of gas or air as well as the out flow of beer.

Secondary Regulator - A regulator used to set different pressures for individual beers in a multi keg operation.