Keg Life Untapped

[Weekender]

It takes me roughly 2 months to drink a 1/2 keg and it seems to loose taste by the end of that time. So I am thinking about getting two 1/4 kegs if the untapped keg would stay fresh (not go flat). Would it? What is the life of an untapped keg (chilled)?

[Scott Zuhse]

This depends on the brand of beer and the brewer's specification. Most non-pasteurized draught has an average shelf life of 55 days whereas pasteurized products can retain flavor for around 120 days.

Be certain that your system is balanced correctly as this will optimize the shelf life.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Weekender]

Thanks.

I've heard you mention that 55 days is a shelf life in other threads, but you are usually talking about a tapped keg under CO2 pressure. Is there a longer life if the keg has not been tapped?

[Scott Zuhse]

This is the actually shelf life of the keg untapped. When tapped, the only change that will occur other than natural flavor deterioration will be carbonation level. This is why temperature and pressure is critical. It is very difficult if not impossible to gain perfect gas equilibrium between the carbonation in the product and the CO2 used to propel the beer during the shelf life. The key is to get as close as possible while not changing the carbonation level of the product which can change the flavor and cause dispensing issues.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute