Dumb keg question

dmclone

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Oct 20, 2006
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It's going to be -2 tomorrow. Would it be ok to leave a keg of beer outside for 5 or 6 hours or will it freeze?
 
There is no such thing as a dumb keg question.

I think it would be alright, although it might slush up a bit. It takes a long time for that volume to cool off. Remember the alcohol content makes it so it freezes at a lower temp than 32F.
 
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Depends on the type of beer also, the higher the alcohol the colder it has to be to freeze. If you can put some blankets around it, it should be fine.
 
I would no recommend leaving it outside. When i was in College we did that and it got all slushy and nasty. Completely ruins it, and once the slush melts it taste like ****
 
There is no such thing as a dumb keg question.

I think it would be alright, although it might slush up a bit. It takes a long time for that volume to cool off. Remember the alcohol content makes it so it freezes at a lower temp than 32F.
I'd usually agree with this, but in -2 degree temps, it doesn't take long for things to freeze, especially in a metal container.

Where are you keeping it? Like, outside in the garage or outside in the elements? You might be fine in the garage, but outside exposed I think it will freeze.
 
I'd usually agree with this, but in -2 degree temps, it doesn't take long for things to freeze, especially in a metal container.

Where are you keeping it? Like, outside in the garage or outside in the elements? You might be fine in the garage, but outside exposed I think it will freeze.

Good point.

If its outside outside, put blankets around it or roll it into a snowbank and it will be fine.
 
I think I'll just keep it in the house to be safe. I could leave it in the garage but i don't think my garage will be over 20 with this weather.
 
Is the keg half gone? If so it will more than likely freeze. A full keg of beer has a better chance depending on how long it is out there, but at -2 it will freeze at some point. Beer will freeze at 28 degrees. The alcohol content of most american light beers is only 3.5 to 4 percent, so it doesn't take the freezing temperature down much. Either way I'd bring it in or it will taste like ****
 
I think I'll just keep it in the house to be safe. I could leave it in the garage but i don't think my garage will be over 20 with this weather.

I would almost guarantee it will be fine in a garage, especially an attached garage.

I left cases of beer in the trunk of my car for overnight + a ride home from Dubuque a few weeks ago and they did not freeze. They were Belgian 6%+ beers though, and it was about this cold.

You gotta remember the beer is under pressure, so that drops the freezing point even further.
 
It will likely freeze, and if it does, that will ruin the beer.
Though it's debatable if that's really possible with most adjunct lagers :jimlad:

Even Coors light is only good at 34 degrees, haven't you seen the commercials?
 
I say we all just come over and drink it and then you won't need to worry about it freezing. I would pay of course.
 
I just checked my homebrew in the garage ( under the house) it froze in the secondary. I'll keg and drink it asap.
 
If your garage is 10-20 degrees and it is a full keg it will be fine for 5-6 hours. Put the keg next to the entry door to the house and the heat from the home will help out. I have drank many a frozen slushy beer and it was fine. Although I am kind of a lush so that may have to do with me not caring.
 
Sometimes my address is hard to find. Just look for these cars out front.

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