Keg Or Cask

[Ashley]

I have been reading though the threads can keep coming across the term Keg:

Just for I know do you class a keg as A) or B) in the US

A)
http://www.ukbrewing.com/images/Firkin.jpg
I whould class this as a 9g cask (firkin) for bitter

or

B)
http://www.moonshine-still.com/Photo/keg1.jpg
I whould class this as a keg for lager

Sorry for such a dumb quistion but I thought I would get this out of the way.

[Beer Monkey]

thats the way that I understand it

and these are corny kegs
http://webtrolley.org/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BaderBrewandWine&Category_Code=1116

[fretlessman71]

Not a dumb question at all - the terminology from England to America isn't always compatible, and can be illogical at best and confusing at worst. Heck, our fluid ounces don't even come out equal!

[toneyc]

And we do seem to use the term "keg" pretty loosely. But I think, for completeness, that the item you have pictured in "B" is a 15.5 gallon half keg. A US keg is actually 31 gallons. Right Brewmonkey? Almost always, though, when we say "I went down and picked up a keg of beer" it is the 15.5 gallon half keg, and when we say "I just kegged a batch of homebrew" it is the 5 gallon cornelius kegs.

:)
Toney.

[dirt1016]

I thought a half keg is technicaly the 31 gallon, a quarter barrel is the 15.5 gallons? That would make a pint a..........?

[Beer Monkey]

one I'm not sure on is, a "keg" is poured by Co2 , which uses a counter pressure to force the beer out the tap. how is a Cask used? is it the same?

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by dirt1016
I thought a half keg is technicaly the 31 gallon, a quarter barrel is the 15.5 gallons? That would make a pint a..........?


A U.S. Barrel is 31 gallons. A "half" keg is 15.5 gallons. A quarter bbl., or pony keg, is 7.75 gallons.

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by Beer Monkey
one I'm not sure on is, a "keg" is poured by Co2 , which uses a counter pressure to force the beer out the tap. how is a Cask used? is it the same?


A cask uses no pressure to force the beer out. It is either poured by gravity or is pumped out using a hand pump, also known as a beer engine. The volume lost is not replaced by CO2, but by ambient air, usually. This means the cask will only be good for a couple/few days.