[majorvices]

If disposable was really better, we'd all be eating on paper plates and drinking from plastic cups.

I'm just going to point out that I'm pretty sure everyone here has.  

The one other thing I would add is that compared to bottles and cans dropped in the land fills and recycle bins across the county, the plastic kegs would be a drop in the bucket.

Also +1 one to nicneufeld - hard to really determine the logic without the numbers. That's all I am saying. Not saying anyone is right or wrong one way or another. But there are a lot of factors not being considered. The extra man hours needed to clean kegs could equal more Happy Meal containers neeed to feed said brewers and those would end up in the land fill too. Just sayin'.  

[Mikey]

If you want to believe that cleaning kegs is more costly and less environmentally friendly than reproducing and discarding plastic kegs, then be my guest, Our landfills will love you.  

Also, since no one on the pro-disposable side is throwing out any numbers either, it's ALL based on our opinions, of course yours is wrong. 

[bluesman]

It's all about saving money and time in the long run.

"By creating a one-way packaging option, Rehrig has eliminated deposit costs, tracking, and paperwork for brewers who own or lease kegs."

We'll all be "old school" in due time.  I like SS for the durability and because I am use to using them.
Plastic kegs...well, I just can't seem to wrap my arms around it yet.

Time will tell...

[nicneufeld]

Whenever I see this thread title, I naturally hear john and paul echoing back and forth "yeah!" "yeah!" "yeah!" "yeah!".  The only one perhaps?

[majorvices]

It's all about saving money and time in the long run.

"By creating a one-way packaging option, Rehrig has eliminated deposit costs, tracking, and paperwork for brewers who own or lease kegs."

We'll all be "old school" in due time.  I like SS for the durability and because I am use to using them.
Plastic kegs...well, I just can't seem to wrap my arms around it yet.

Time will tell...

You have to factor in the time and money. As in the recent thread "Should BrewPubs serve BMC", some may have to to survive. Doesn't mean everyone will respect or appreciate that. Breweries are having a real problem getting used kegs right now - especially ones that are worth a damn. And new SS kegs are E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E! I have a few SS kegs but, in my case, needed plastic kegs to supplement the shortage. I have a homemade keg cleaner - I could not afford the 15K brand new Keg Cleaner (though, its on the agenda, I assure you! Cleaning kegs is rather time and man power intensive).

So I can totally see how disposable kegs would be an attractive option. I can also see how they could have more impact on the environment - but I don;t know how much more. My guess is, less that a lot of people expect. Also, as I mentioned before, draft packaged beer is only something like 20-30% of all beer sales. The rest is ALL disposable packaging! So the disposable kegs are really just a drop in the bucket. And, if more people would take the time to have draft beer at home, or if restaurants could cut back on the amount of  canned and bottled beers they serve and move to draft, and if disposable kegs helped to make this happen - then you may be talking about LESS landfill waste. Not more - especially if they are recyclable.

Like I said, there are all kinds of facts that are not being taken into consideration here. Even the weight of stainless steel kegs and the amount of energy it takes to transport them compared to the much, much lighter plastic. I haven't seen anyone who is opposed to the disposable kegs really give any facts, only opinions. Thats the only reason I said - someone figure it out.

[Mikey]

I've read that some of these disposable kegs are not UV protected and can be oxygen permeable. If I order a keg of craft beer, which I often times do, and it comes in plastic, it won't be going home with me. This beer costs too much to risk being skunked or oxidized.

[majorvices]

That might be a good reason to not store beers long term in plastic kegs. But for most styles it simply won't be an issue. I'm only using my plastic kegs (which, in case anyone wasn't paying attention - are not disposable  ) for quick turn around beers. Right now a White and an IPA, and soon an alt. These kegs are in no way penetrable by lighht (they are completely opaque) and are supposedly highly resistant to oxidation - but for the beers I plan on storing they will be going in stainless to avoid any concerns. I do not know about these issues with disposable kegs. Could be an important point to consider. But surely they would be UV resistant, at the very least.

[Mikey]

http://www.ibdafrica.co.za/Files/IBD%20proceedings/Papers/021%20Tippmann.pdf

I got that information here. If you go down into the document you can see the ones that would have UV problems.

[fightdman]

I bought a bunch of kegs from these guys http://www.plastickegsusa.com/ - so far so good.

Sorry about dredging up this old topic, but I wanted to find out how the plastic kegs are working for you.

[Thirsty_Monk]

I bought a bunch of kegs from these guys http://www.plastickegsusa.com/ - so far so good.

Sorry about dredging up this old topic, but I wanted to find out how the plastic kegs are working for you.

I have 77 1/2 BBL kegs and 6 1/4 BBL kegs.
I have one leaky keg so far.
I like the kegs but the customer service is horrible.

I need to buy more 1/4 BBL kegs and I am not sure if I buy more kegs from them.

[a10t2]

They're fine as long as you don't have to pull the stems. The threads are plastic, so they get torn up and won't hold a seal after a while.

[weithman5]

i noticed that plastic kegs usa now sells 1/12 bbl (2.56) gallon kegs.  i would love to have that size keg.  their site also says not for homebrewing.  anybody know why?  is it the sanke valve, is it overly difficult to remove and replace? or is there some other reason.  i don't know the price but boy if these could be had reasonably i could buy some