Counting & Weighing Kegs
In this tutorial, you’ll learn:
- The options for counting kegs
- The types of scales you can use to weigh kegs
- The keg dimensions and metrics
THE OPTIONS
Counting kegs is a pain in the ass, simply because they’re so darn heavy. There are a few different methods for counting kegs:
- Shake and guess
- Condensation
- Weigh
- Draft Meters
The shake and guess method simply means you are lifting a keg up, shaking it, and trying to approximate how much is in the keg, and then entering via point-count method (i.e. 0.6 kegs). Not a very reliable method, to say the least.
The condensation method involves leaving the beer cooler door open long enough so that the air inside the cooler warms up and condensation starts to form on the keg, which causes a line to form where the level of the beer is at. Theoretically, that is. I’ve seen this method work, and I’ve seen it bomb as managers squinted to find the condensation line. In the end, it’s a lame method and not recommended.
Weighing kegs is a very accurate method for determining how much is left inside the keg. Though labor-intensive, it is leaps and bounds more effective than the first two methods. Simply place the keg on the scale, enter the pounds into Bar Patrol App and the system knows how much is left in the keg based on the full and empty weight of the keg (which we have for your at the bottom of this page.
Draft meters are highly accurate and eliminate the need to lift kegs on to scales. The only problem is, it can get very expensive. One decent draft meter can cost $150 – $200 per keg. If you have a lot of handles, that can add up in a hurry. However, if you can afford to have them, they are highly effective.
TYPES OF SCALES
Keg Scale: $250
Bathroom Scale: $20
You can buy a fancy keg scale to weigh your kegs if you want. They are very nice, with a big square platform and the digital reading is separated from the scale itself so you can read the weight. The only problem is, they cost about $250. You will have it forever though.
As an alternative, we recommend simply buying a digital bathroom scale from Target or Walmart or other such similar store for around $20. It works just as well. Simply place the keg on the scale, remove it so you can see the weight (make sure to buy a digital scale that displays the weight for 3 – 4 seconds before disappearing), and then enter the pounds in the app.
KEG METRICS
Below are all the keg metrics you’ll need to ensure you can count and inventory your kegs correctly. What you’ll need mostly from these metrics are the full and empty weights of each size, although when setting up your products, you can also reference these metrics for how many gallons are in each size when entering Container Size.
