Home of the BrewNosers

Every year on the May long weekend, I go on a canoe trip. This year, I thought, why not bring a homebrew keg with me?! I did some research and my goal was to be able to easily:

- Fit a corny, ball-lock keg into a cooler (48 quart/45L)
- Use a single 20 or 24 ounce C02 tank (paintball) as it should get me through a single keg for pouring
- Keep the beer/gas lines inside the cooler.
- Make it handy/re-usable for other outings

Other thoughts:

- I would pre/force carb and pressurize the keg with my 5 pound C02 tank.
- Pack any remaining space with ice.
- Possibly port the beer line.
- Bungie / secure it like mad

The canoe run I do isn't overly difficult and always a fun time. After some thought, I decided it would be best to try and keep the keg upright. Gentlemen, I give you my solution:


It's about 4 to 5 inches short, but I'm making it work. I picked one up at Kent. I'd like to note that the bin itself sits nice and snug in a standard milk crate. Might be good for stabilizing in the canoe.

I spray foamed in the deepest part of the bin and also added some flat packing foam at the very bottom. The picnic tap and lines I ordered arrived in the mail. I also acquired a paintball c02 tank adaptor so it fits onto the regulator. The tank fits well in both back corners of the bin even with the keg in place. I think I will add a shelf/container to raise it up a little from the bottom of the bin, keep it separated from the ice and to prevent the tank from tipping over.

Before the hardware arrived, I had made a cap with the bottom of a bucket and Styrofoam which I then spray painted to an almost matched green. Once the ball locks and lines were put on the keg, however, I found I did not have quite enough clearance so I may try to find some more scrap Styrofoam and double up the thickness, unless I can think of something better.

I also decided it was easier to widen the hole on the top and use the lid with the keg in place (Lines are a pain). Since the pics were taken below, I borrowed jigsaw and angle grinder to clean up the rough edges. Apologies for the crappy cell phone quality images.


Not quite finished, but getting there. Also, a small note, a bungee cord works well over the top between the handle and lid lock.

there is a thread on HBT where a guy built on of these for his neighbourhood street parties.

Good idea. I use one of those bins to store my charcoal on the balcony.

This is brilliant. Who needs a beer gun when you can just bring the whole keg?

I really like this.

I use my jacpac and a keg for camping already.
But everything is packed in the car separate and I assemble on site.
I like the handiness of this and the ability to move it around much more then dragging a bin full of ice and the keg like i have been doing.

thanks for the share
this is great

Jimmy wrote:Good idea. I use one of those bins to store my charcoal on the balcony.

I've got one for charcoal and one for woods for smoking on my deck as well

I've been lazy, but here's a small update. I purchased a roll of 5-1/2" x 82' "Sill Gasket Insulation" to line the inside of the bin. I figured having a small layer of insulation, although small, would be better than nothing. I used 3M Spray Adhesive that I already had handy to quickly apply and stick it to the inside.



I'm ready to rack a batch of brew over to my keg and also recently filled a 24oz CO2 tank, so I'll be able to test it soon.

when its done is this thing going to be rent-able? i wouldnt mind having that for a couple days in july

2Hands-1Mouth wrote:when its done is this thing going to be rent-able? i wouldnt mind having that for a couple days in july

Hey Duff,

How has this thing worked out for you since creating?
I'm about to build one I think and wondered if there was any update on things to avoid or make sure you do?