Kegs & Kegmenters

Ball Lock kegs (Cornelius or "Corny" kegs) are the industry standard for homebrewers in New Zealand. They use a simple push-and-click connection. Pin Lock kegs are an older style primarily used by Coca-Cola. At Brewshop, we standardise on Ball Lock equipment because it offers the widest compatibility with modern taps, regulators, and accessories.

A Kegmenter is a hybrid vessel. It has the high-pressure rating of a keg but the wide-mouth opening of a fermenter. This allows you to ferment, carbonate, and serve all from the same stainless steel vessel. Its 4-inch tri-clover lid makes it incredibly easy to clean and allows for "pressure fermentation," which results in cleaner beer and faster turnaround times.

PET Oxebar kegs are a fantastic, cost-effective, and lightweight alternative to stainless steel. They feature a special polymer blend that provides a superior oxygen barrier to keep your beer fresh. While stainless steel is a "lifetime" investment, PET kegs are perfect for taking beer to parties, events, or for brewers on a budget who still want a professional draught setup.

With proper care and cleaning, a PET keg can be reused many times. However, they do have an expiry date (stamped on the keg) for pressure safety. You should also avoid using hot water (over 45°C) or harsh caustic cleaners, as these can weaken the plastic.

Yes, you can! This is often called "keg fermentation." To do it successfully, we recommend using a shortened dip tube or a floating dip tube so you don't draw up the yeast sediment (trub) when pouring. You will also need a spunding valve to manage the pressure during the fermentation process.

After a keg is kicked, rinse it thoroughly and then soak it with an alkaline cleaner like StellarClean (PBW). Pay special attention to the posts and dip tube. Once clean, sanitise with StellarSan. For long-term storage, it is best to leave the keg under a small amount of CO2 pressure (5-10 psi) to keep the seals tight and prevent oxygen from entering.