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Will a keg go bad without co2?

2 min read

Asked by: Zayne Weaver

Since a picnic pump uses oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, a tapped keg will only last about 12-24 hours depending on the type of beer and how much oxygen was pumped into it. The oxygen will cause the beer to go flat and spoil quickly if you don’t finish the keg within that time frame.

How long will a keg last without CO2?

How Long Does A Keg Last Once Tapped Without Co2? With a picnic pump, oxygen instead of carbon dioxide is used in the keg, so it will only last for 12-24 hours, depending on the type of beer and the amount of oxygen pumped in.

How long does a keg last without being tapped?

Keg beer will remain fresh if dispensing with CO2, while maintaining the proper temperature and pressure: For non-pasteurized draft beer about 45-60 days. For pasteurized draft beer about 90-120 days.

How long does a keg last with CO2?

45-60 days

How Long Does a Keg Stay Fresh? For most beers on tap, dispensed with CO2, the rule of thumb is that non-pasteurized beer will retain its freshness for 45-60 days, if proper pressure and temperature are maintained. If you are serving up pasteurized draft beer, the shelf life is around 90-120 days.

Can I keep a keg unrefrigerated?

Yes, most beers brewed in the US need to be refrigerated.



To store a keg of beer at room temperature it needs to be pasteurized so it will not spoil and most beer brewed in the US is not pasteurized. A typical keg needs to be kept between 36 and 38 degrees to maintain freshness and flavor.

Can you Retap a keg?

Home > Beers > Can You Retap A Keg Of Beer? The keg doesn’t go flat as a result. The keg should be able to be tapped and re-tapped as desired if you use a true system that uses CO2 as the gas. This is due to not introducing an unfamiliar gas into the keg.

How do you keep a keg from going flat?


Always let your keg sit overnight before tapping to allow it to reach serving temperature temperature.

Will a keg freeze overnight?

Depending on the temperature outside, it could take days to fully freeze a keg of beer. It can, however, take less time for it to partially freeze (potentially overnight).

Can a keg freeze and explode?

It is important to keep the keg above zero degrees to prevent beer leakage and packaging damage. As soon as your keg is frozen, you can no longer use it. Kegs should not be frozen, because they may explode if they do.