KO Beer Blog
The Perfect Pour
The Perfect Pour If you worked hard to build yourself the best, most perfectly balanced draft system in town, and religiously maintain your system throughout the year it can be soul destroying to watch one of your staff serve a poorly poured beer. Last-mile training in the case of draft...

Glycol Chiller Maintenance
Glycol Chiller Maintenance Glycol chillers are key components in long-draw draft systems. Conducting regular maintenance on your glycol chiller is imperative to ensure the longevity of your investment and to ensure the continued running of your draft system. What maintenance should you conduct on glycol chillers and how often...

Air Cooled or Glycol Cooled Towers
Air Cooled or Glycol Cooled Towers At no point in its journey from keg to tap should the temperature of beer be allowed to fluctuate and this is why the towers that hold your faucets need be cooled. If the temperature of your beer goes above 38ºF it will foam...

Premixed Gas Blends or Gas Blenders
Premixed Gas Blends or Gas Blenders The gas used for draft beer is made up of carbon dioxide, CO2, and nitrogen, N2. Carbon dioxide is an essential element of beer and direct draw systems are pressurized with pure CO2. Long-draw draft systems, however, require more pressure than that which can...

Glass Rinsers
Glass Rinsers A glass rinser is a simple device which does exactly what it says on the tin; it rinses glasses! You may have seen them at bars across the country, and whilst they’re definitely more popular in some areas over others their use is slowly spreading. What do glass...

Beer Clean Glassware
Beer Clean Glassware You may have the country’s best craft beer on draft and you may clean your beer lines every morning, but if your glassware isn’t “beer clean” then you’re doing that beer, and your customers, a huge disservice. Beer clean glassware means using a properly cleaned glass, with...

Preferred Line Cleaning Method: Electric Re-circulation Pump
Preferred Line Cleaning Method: Electric Re-circulation Pump Cleaning your lines is the most important part of owning a draft system. Not cleaning your lines will result in disgustingly dirty tasting beer. Many breweries and suppliers will subcontract someone to clean their lines in different regions, but many restaurant and bar...

What are Foam On Beer Detectors? (FOBs)
What are Foam On Beer Detectors? (FOBs) Foam on Beer Detectors, FOBs for short, have also garnered the nicknames “beer savers” and “foam detectors”. These small yet effective devices have saved countless pints of beer, or foam, from being lost at the beer tap through draft beer systems around the...

“True to Style” Beer Carbonation and Secondary Regulators
You already have a beer gas regulator connected to your tank, which is there to ensure that there is the right amount of pressure in your system so that you can pour beer from your taps and keep all of your kegs well pressurized. If you’re looking at upgrading your...

Glycol Cooling vs Flash Chilling Your Beer System
Glycol Cooling vs Flash Chilling Your Beer System 99% of Draft beer must be served cold! There are various methods to undertake this cooling and the two most popular and accessible methods for chilling beer are glycol cooling and flash chilling. But when should you install a glycol system over...

What Makes Draft Beer Taste Bad? and How To Fix It.
What off Flavors are Making Your Draft Beer Taste Bad? (and How to Fix Them) Beer tastes better coming from a draft system, this is the general consensus that most of the general public hold. However, in some locations, the beer just doesn’t taste the same; in fact, the beer...

Receiving and Storing Beer
Receiving and Storing Beer Unlike wine, beer is meant to be consumed fresh. When beer is released from the brewery it is ready to drink and from there, time is beer’s enemy. Yes, there are some beers which can be cellared but these are very few and far between. These...

What is The Brewers Association Draught Beer Quality Manual?
What is The Brewers Association Draught Beer Quality Manual? In 2007 the Brewers Association set up a “Draught Beer Quality Working Group” in order to promote awareness of quality draft beer. The Draught Beer Quality Manual was created for just about anyone who works with or owns a draft beer...

Troubleshooting Guide: Draft Beer System
Draft Beer System Troubleshooting Guide Problem: BEER IS FOAMY Symptoms: 1. Partially opened faucet agitates the beer Diagnosis: Improper pour Treatment: Open faucet completely and quick. Hold glass at correct angle and distance. 2. Pouring into an un-rinsed glass Diagnosis: Frosted or frozen glasses Treatment: Rinse glass with fresh...

Underbar Cooler Undercounter Beer Cooler
All Can Enjoy Cold Beer Thanks to the Underbar Cooler. Those in the bar business may have heard the term undercounter beer cooler. Sometimes referred to as back bar coolers or underbar coolers. These coolers have a capacity to hold cases upon cases of beer bottles. A back bar beer...

Beer trunk lines part 2: beer line size calculation examples
Selecting the right trunk line, part 2: Calculation examples for long draw system balancing In the first part of this blog post we covered what should be considered when buying a trunk line for any long draw installation. In this blog post we cover some examples of possible long-draw beer...

Beer trunk lines: How to select the right beer line size for long draw beer system?
How to size the beer lines of your long-draw beer system? Sizing the trunk line is a fairly complicated question, as it depends on pretty much all the other parts of a long-draw system. However, there are some simplifications that can be made, and at the end of the day...

UBC Glycol power packs: only for beer line chilling?
We get often asked for "non-standard" uses for UBC glycol power packs: for example, can they be used in breweries? Here are some questions and answers!Can I use the UBC glycol power packs for other uses, like brewing tank cooling?Yes and no. The official manufacturer warranty is only valid for use in...

Receiving freight shipments - safe and easy!
If you haven't received freight shipments before, the process might feel complex. Don't worry! We make receiving freight shipments easy. This guide will walk you through the process. If you're unsure about the choices, you can still place the order without any extras: we'll contact you if extra delivery services...