When it comes to planning for a taproom, one of the important factors to consider is how many kegs you will need. The number of kegs required depends on the number of tap handles you have within a certain radius of your brewery. Generally, it is recommended to have 4 1/2 bbl (barrel) kegs and 8 1/6 bbl kegs for every tap handle within 200 miles of your brewery.
Let me break it down for you. A 1/2 bbl keg, also known as a half-barrel keg, holds approximately 15.5 gallons or 124 pints of beer. On the other hand, a 1/6 bbl keg, also called a sixth-barrel keg, holds around 5.16 gallons or 41 pints of beer. These keg sizes are commonly used in the industry and provide a good balance between quantity and variety.
Now, let’s talk about the number of kegs you’ll need per tap handle. The general guideline of 4 1/2 bbl kegs and 8 1/6 bbl kegs per tap handle within a 200-mile radius is based on the assumption that you’ll have a diverse selection of beers on tap. This allows you to offer a wide range of options to your customers while ensuring you have enough supply to meet the demand.
However, it’s worth noting that this guideline may vary depending on your specific circumstances. Smaller breweries that self-distribute their beer locally might be able to get away with fewer kegs. In such cases, 3 1/2 bbl kegs and 5 1/6 bbl kegs per tap handle could be sufficient. This is because they have more control over the distribution and can easily restock their kegs whenever needed.
It’s crucial to consider factors like your production capacity, customer preferences, and the frequency of keg rotation when determining the number of kegs you’ll need. If you’re starting out or have limited storage space, you might want to start with a smaller number of kegs and adjust accordingly based on demand.
In my personal experience, I’ve seen breweries struggle when they underestimated the number of kegs needed for their taproom. This led to frequent out-of-stock situations, disappointed customers, and missed revenue opportunities. On the other hand, having excess kegs can tie up valuable resources and lead to wastage if the beer doesn’t sell as expected. It’s a delicate balance that requires careful planning and monitoring.
To sum it up, the ideal number of kegs for a taproom depends on the number of tap handles you have and your distribution range. The general guideline is 4 1/2 bbl kegs and 8 1/6 bbl kegs per tap handle within a 200-mile radius, but smaller, locally self-distributing breweries can get by with 3 1/2 bbl and 5 1/6 bbl kegs per tap. Ultimately, it’s crucial to analyze your specific circumstances and adjust the numbers accordingly to ensure you have enough supply to meet customer demand without excess waste.