New Keg vs Used Keg: Important Things to Know

If you are planning to expand your keg fleet, then you’ve surely faced with a choice of which is better to buy a new vs used keg.

Kegs are an essential element of your draft beer system, so the choice should be taken as responsibly as possible: they are used for storing your products and, if the kegs are of poor quality, the beer may be spoiled.

By reading our article, you will know all the advantages and disadvantages of old and new kegs, so you can make an informed decision for your brewery.

What You Should Know Before Buying Used Beer Kegs?

Before buying used Sanke kegs, several factors should be considered:

1. General condition of the keg

Make sure that the beer barrels are free from dents, rust, deep scratches, and other damages that may affect its service life, as well as affect the quality of the drink.

2. Cleanliness

Make sure the barrel is thoroughly disinfected and cleaned of previous drinks. It is important because the beer that was stored in the barrel before, can contaminate the taste of your products and affect their quality.

The remaining taste or residue from previous use may affect the quality of the beer.

3. Pressure testing

This is important to ensure the structural integrity of the container and its ability to maintain pressure.

4. Manufacturer and compatibility

Each brand may have slightly different quality standards, metal characteristics, keg models, as well as their compatibility.

For example, different kegs may have different keg couplers, the type of which depends on what kind of beer you produce.

Make sure that the chosen used kegs for sale match your objectives and are compatible with the rest of your draft beer system.

5. Price

Compare the price of a used barrel to the cost of a new one. Keep in mind that you may additionally need to purchase some beer keg replacement parts. This often makes buying used kegs unprofitable.

Used Beer Kegs Pros and Cons

Let’s start with the advantages of used Sankey kegs:

• Cost saving

Used tanks are usually cheaper than new ones. This will help to save money, especially if you need to buy a large quantity of keg at once.

Environmental friendliness

The reuse of such kegs reduces the need for new materials and the energy required to produce them. Thus, buying used barrels is a more environmentally friendly option.

• Recognized quality

When buying used kegs, for example, products of the world-famous brand Schaefer, you choose durability and functionality.

In contrast to the low-priced new barrels of poor quality, the used kegs of this brand have proven their reliability in terms of preservation of beer quality and keg performance.

Despite the obvious advantages of a used beer keg, the disadvantages, in our opinion, still prevail:

1. You should test every tank before using it.
2. High probability of spending additional money on restoration. This is often due to the barrel’s ability to hold pressure inside, which decreases over time.
3. Quality used kegs are quite difficult to find in good working conditions.
4. There is a risk of leaks and point holes (if the restorations of the barrel are not of sufficient quality or when all service periods for the material have passed).
5. There may also be an unpleasant taste in your beer.
6. There is always a risk of purchasing a container that is not compatible with your beer system.

New Beer Kegs Pros and Cons

Concerning the benefits of the new Sanke keg, it is important to note the following:

• Sterility

New beer kegs are supplied sterile so that the beer will remain fresh, tasty, fragrant, and pure.

• Lightweight

New beer kegs of the Schaefer brand are made of a special kind of steel, so they come 15-30% lighter than standard barrels. This makes them very convenient for production and transportation.

• Pressure

When choosing new barrels, you can be sure that they keep the pressure within the limits required for the production of a particular type of beer.

• Risk-free

In addition to problems with pressure and sterility, new beer barrels also guarantee the absence of leaks.

• Expectation/Reality

When choosing new kegs, you can get qualified advice. The representatives of UBC Group USA will gladly answer all your questions and help choose empty kegs for sale, which will be compatible with all your other equipment.

• Long service life

Quality beer tanks, with proper care, will serve you for at least 20 years, which fully pays for all money invested in them. If you are still thinking, we would recommend you buy new kegs: for sure, you will be satisfied!

A few disadvantages of new beer kegs:

• The first and most obvious is the price. However, you can make the purchase more affordable. For example, when ordering a large batch of barrels you can get a discount. Or take advantage of a keg leasing program.
• If you buy new kegs of little-known brands, it is difficult to guarantee the quality of materials and compliance with all modern industry standards.

Ways to Tell if a Used Beer Keg is a Truly Good Deal

Still want to buy used stainless steel kegs?

If you choose this option, in any case, do not repair the barrels yourself, without having the proper tools and training.

Entrust this work to UBC Group USA, the company specializing in beer equipment. We have been operating since 2004 and are a certified Micro Matic service provider.

Our team is ready to offer a wide range of used keg restoration services:

1. Internal and external cleaning of the barrel;
2. Maintenance or replacement of broken parts of equipment;
3. Internal and external inspection;
4. Pressure testing and, if necessary, its adjustment;
5. Spear maintenance including re-passivation and pressure test;
6. Removing of old bar codes, stamps, and other markings, new markings application;
7. Rebranding and customization according to your wishes.

By contacting us, you will get the best used empty kegs for sale that will delight you with their long service life, sterility, and no side effects such as an unpleasant taste of beer.

After our repair and maintenance, you can be sure that the keg is ready for use and will not damage the rest of the equipment.

We specialize in working with Schaefer kegs but also accept kegs of other popular brands. Contact us to find out all the details.

Choosing the Right New Empty Beer Kegs Supplier

Looking for the new stainless steel kegs for sale? Look no further than UBC Group USA!

Here you will find:

• Products made of high quality, environmentally friendly materials according to all current industry standards;
• A large selection of kegs designed for commercial production: choose between 1/4 barrel keg, ½ barrel keg, and 1/6 barrel keg.
• The ability to brand your barrels by adding a company logo, images, or other branding that will promote your business.
• Excellent customer service and support: We try to respond quickly to all your requests, approach each order individually, and provide useful assistance, service, repair, or advice when you need it.
• We provide guarantees for all our new products.
• We offer affordable prices and are ready to meet the customers who are going to buy a large batch of goods.

Choose a new Sankey keg from UBC Group USA and you will avoid all the risks associated with pressure, improper cleaning, leakage, and other problems that may occur when using old barrels.

Proven by the experience of many breweries - such investment will be 100% worth it, making your work even more convenient, safe, and quality!