How Many Beers In A Keg? (With Basic Computation)

Beers in a keg have their own advantages. Thanks to these containers, beers could maintain their freshness since they could block contact with sunlight.

Using kegs also tends to be economical in certain situations. Knowing that many people use beers in kegs rather than in individual bottles. With that information, are you now wondering how many beers can fit into a keg?

Honestly, there is no definite answer to how many beers in a keg. Yet, it is safe to say that kegs can hold about 30 gallons of beer.

Kegs have different sizes, and it is more practical to base the answer on each size. That way, you’ll get accurate measurements.

Different keg sizes

Speaking of keg sizes, check the table below to see their other names, gallon sizes, and uses. We will use United States sizing for kegs. Analyze the table, as it will be helpful to better understand the following parts of the blog.

Keg size	Another name	Capacity per gallon(US standard)	Uses
Half barrel	Full keg	15.5	Large parties Bars and clubs
Quarter barrel	Pony keg	7.75	Small parties
Sixth barrel	Sixtel or Torpedo keg	5.16	Personal use Dual to triple tap kegerator
Cornelius	Soda keg or Corny keg	5	Small batch beer Homebrewing
Mini	Disposable keg or Bubba	1.32	Travel Solo drinking

We can use volume units, such as pints and fluid ounces, to measure how many beers are in a keg. We will use fluid ounces for this blog, specifically 16 and 12 ounces.

It is easier to measure this way since 16 ounces is already equivalent to a pint of beer. Meanwhile, 12 ounces is equal to a can of beer. These are the standard measurements in the beer industry.

How many beers are in a Half-barrel keg?

In US standard, a half-barrel keg can contain 15.5 gallons. A gallon is equal to 128 ounces. Hence, 15.5 gallons is 1,984 ounces. After converting the gallon to fluid ounces, it’s time to divide it into the respective ounces.

Computation 1: 1,984 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 124 ounces

Computation 2: 1,984 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 165.333333 ounces

How many beers are in a Quarter-barrel keg?

Now, for a Quarter barrel keg with a capacity of 7.75 gallons, we will get a total fluid ounce of 992. Let’s calculate!

Computation 1: 992 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 62 ounces

Computation 2: 992 ounces divided by 12 is 82.6666667 ounces

Note that you may also see a slim quarter barrel keg available in the market. Its beer capacity is just the same as the regular quarter barrel.

How many beers are in a Sixth-barrel keg?

Sixth-barrel kegs can hold 5.16 gallons of beer. If converted into fluid ounces, we will get 660.48 ounces. Let’s divide it by 16 and 12 ounces.

Computation 1: 660.48 ounces divided by 16 is 41.28 ounces

Computation 2: 660.48 ounces divided by 12 is 55.04 ounces

How many beers are in a Cornelius keg?

Corny kegs can contain 5 gallons of beer, which is equal to 640 fluid ounces. Now, let’s do the computations.

Computation 1: 640 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 40 ounces

Computation 2: 640 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 53.3333333 ounces

How many beers are in a Mini keg?

The last computations will be for the Mini keg. This type of keg can only hold 1.32 gallons of beer. If converted to fluid ounces, we will have 168.96 ounces. Now, let’s divide!

Computation 1: 168.96 ounces divided by 16 ounces is 10.56 ounces

Computation 2: 168.96 ounces divided by 12 ounces is 14.08 ounces

Summary of calculations

Keg size	Number of 16 fluid ounce beer	Number of 12 fluid ounce beer
Half barrel keg	124	165.333333
Quarter barrel keg	62	82.6666667
Sixth barrel keg	41.28	55.04
Cornelius keg	40	53.3333333
Mini keg	10.56	14.08

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can beer last in a keg?

There are plenty of factors that you should consider when you want to store the beer in a keg for a long time. The first one is the type of beer and its shelf life as is. Another factor is the temperature where you’ll store it.

A pasteurized draft beer can stay longer in a keg than those that are not. Specifically, these kinds of beer can last for 3 to 4 months, even if not refrigerated. If it is untapped, it can last for approximately 6 months.

On the other hand, unpasteurized beers only last for 6 to 8 weeks maximum. If it is untapped, expect to get a fresh draught beer even after 2 months of storage.

Unpasteurized draft beers are more common in countries like the US since people often finish their kegs on just one occasion. So, breweries don’t usually produce pasteurized ones.

Are kegs expensive?

If you think about it from a short-time perspective, kegs are expensive. Especially if you only drink beer occasionally. But, sometimes, your circumstances may justify your purchase.

For example, you are a bar owner who needs to refill beers repeatedly. Kegs are rather ideal to use than to purchase bottled or canned beers in bulk.

Another is when you are a habitual drinker. If you like drinking beers at home and always need stock, you can purchase a keg. In events, kegs are also more economical to use.

Once the keg reaches its shelf life, you can still repurpose it. You can turn them into garbage cans and gardening pots. You can fill it with water as well.

Again, if you are not a heavy drinker and you won’t need kegs for parties, it is best to buy canned or bottled beers.

Conclusion

Talking about how many beers in a keg may be confusing. However, it is an essential topic in the beer world that everyone, especially beer consumers, should understand.

Keg sizes vary hence the number of beers it can hold. Every buyer must assess themselves and the situation before buying a beer in a keg.