How It All Works

Before I explain how to do it, you'll need to know how it all works so that the instructions make more sense. The way kegs operate is very simple - gas in, beer out - but it takes a little explaining if you're not familiar with the process.

It all starts with the CO2 tank. The nozzle on top of the CO2 tank turns the keg "on" or "off" just like a water faucet. You will also notice a coupling for the CO2 regulator. That's pretty much it for the tank. Feel free to take a break if I'm going too fast for you...

Attached to the CO2 tank will be a dual gauge pressure regulator. The gauge to the left - the high pressure gauge - measures the pressure in the CO2 tank. The gauge on top of the regulator - the low pressure gauge - measures the pressure in the keg. On the bottom of the regulator is a barb and a shut-off valve. When the shut-off valve is in line with the barb, the gas can pass through the regulator; turn the valve to the left or the right and it closes. The screw protruding from the front of the regulator regulates pressure - turn it clockwise and the pressure increases, turn it counterclockwise and pressure is relieved. Somewhere on the regulator you may also see a pressure relief valve, which is simply a built-in safety mechanism to prevent too much pressure from building up in the regulator.

As indicated above, there is a barb on the bottom of the regulator. To the barb you will attach plastic tubing, which is then secured by a hose clamp to ensure that there is no gas leakage at that connection. Tubing meant for gas will usually be colored or somehow distinguishable from clear beer lines. The inside diameter of your gas tubing is irrelevant, so get whatever fits onto your regulator barb, usually 1/4" inside diameter. Likewise, the length of your gas tubing is pretty irrelevant. Just make it long enough so that you can maneuver your equipment comfortably but not so long that you're tripping over it. Connect the other end of your gas line to the barb on the gray gas disconnect and once again tighten the connection with a hose clamp. Needless to say, the hose clamp should go loosely on the hose before the hose is connected to the quick disconnect barb.

Next, we turn to the keg. On the top of the keg you will notice two posts and an oval-shaped hole sealed off by a lid. The posts are the "gas in" and "liquid out" posts and they should be marked accordingly. These are the posts to which you will attach your quick disconnects. The "gas in" post connects on the inside of the keg to a tube that only drops down about an inch or two. This is where the gas enters your keg. The "liquid out" post, however, connects on the inside of the keg to a long tube than runs almost all the way to the very bottom of the keg. This is where beer comes out. The rubber ring surrounding your keg lid is called an "O-ring." This is the crucial piece that seals the keg when the lid is shut. Finally, the lid will contain some sort of pressure relief valve that should be self-explanatory in its use. This valve is used to relieve pressure from inside the keg when the keg is already sealed.

Finally, connect one end of your plastic liquid line to the barb on the black quick disconnect, again tightening the connection with a hose clamp. Because the barb on the quick disconnect is interchangeable, you are able to adjust your system to accommodate different sizes of interior diameter plastic tubing for your liquid line. Although "balanced systems" are addressed at greater length below, you ideally want to a system where you're not constantly adjusting the keg pressure to prevent over-carbonation (not enough head) or under-carbonation (too much head) in your beer. For now, it's enough to know that approximately 6 feet of 3/16" interior diameter tubing is recommend to achieve a balanced system at the appropriate pressures. Therefore, make sure the barb on your black quick disconnect will fit that size tubing. You will also need another barb of the same size at the other end of your liquid line where the line connects to whatever dispensing system you're working with.

Once the system is all put together from tank to tap, using it is simple. Before you begin, make sure the shut-off valve is closed before opening the CO2 tank. When you're ready, open the tank first. The low pressure gauge will register pressure within the regulator. Then open the shut-off valve and let CO2 into your keg. The low pressure gauge may register a slight drop in pressure since the CO2 is now running through the regulator and the keg. Simply tighten the adjusting screw until you reach the desired pressure. (More on the appropriate pressures below.)