Is there a such as the best pony keg for intimate parties? Wait, what’s a pony keg?
Is all pony keg the same? Anyone looking for a kegerator should know that when purchasing, it is not only the design that has to be considered.
More important is the size. That is to make sure that (1) it fits into space it is to occupy, and (2) the keg fits into it perfectly.
Now, just like kegerators, kegs come in various sizes, shapes, and dimensions. To enumerate:
- Mini Keg (a.k.a. Bubba Keg)
- Cornelius Keg (a.k.a. Corny Keg, Homebrew Keg, Soda Keg)
- Sixth Barrel (a.k.a. Sixtel, Torpedo, Log, ⅙ Barrel)
- Quarter Barrel (a.k.a. Pony Keg, Stubby Quarter)
- Slim Quarter (a.k.a. Tall Quarter, The Slim)
- Half Barrel (a.k.a. Full Size Keg, Barrel of Beer, Full Keg)
- Rubber Barrel
- Beveled Barrel
The differences mostly depend on their capacity to hold gallons of beer.
The Pony Keg
When it comes to kegs, the smaller versions are actually the more popular ones. And among the smaller ones, the pony keg is arguably the most-preferred by beer-drinkers and kegerator owners.
To get this out of the way first, the term “pony keg” does not only refer to the quarter barrel keg alone.
“In 1976, we reported in this very magazine that, to the rest of the world, a pony keg for parties is a mini beer keg. But in our somewhat contrary community, a pony keg is a place to buy a mini beer keg. The meaning gets even more muddled, as most of the city’s pony kegs are informally known for one thing: drive in, point to a six-pack, and someone will chuck it in your trunk. To confuse matters further, few of these spots self-identify as ‘pony kegs’; most call themselves ‘drive-thrus.’ But they do share a common denominator: a wall of cold beer, plenty of beef jerky, and stacks upon stacks of cigarettes and lottery tickets behind the register.” (Cincinnati Magazine)
Here, the focus is on the barrel keg itself.
A quarter keg is associated with such an animal because, despite the small feature, like a pony, it can still hold a considerable amount of weight. That certainly makes sense. One can’t expect it to hold more than its capacity and yet, it can still reliably carry enough weight.
And so, a pony keg for small gatherings cannot fully provide for a large party, but it is perfect for small parties that are actually more intimate occasions for friends and families. That is why the pony keg is most commonly used for such occasions.
The pony keg is short and stubby. A small-sized pony keg is suitable for small parties. Although it is as wide as the full barrel (the standard beer keg for small parties), it is ten inches shorter. These are its details:
- Dimensions: 16⅛” x 13⅞”
- Capacity: 7.75 gallons / 992 ounces / 30 liters
- Pints of beer per keg: Approx. 62
- Cans / Bottles (12oz) per keg: Approx. 82
The Mini and Corny
The pony keg can be compared to the other smaller kegs. For instance, the mini keg.
As mentioned in the Cincinnati Magazine, “to the rest of the world, a pony keg is a mini beer keg” and that in the US, it has become synonymous to the term that defines a place from where to buy mini kegs.
The mini keg is designed for mini kegerators, able to hold 5 liters of beer. Given the amount, it’s obviously best-suited for one-time use and/or portable purposes. Therefore, it is even much smaller than a pony keg. It is 1/10 the size of a full-sized keg.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to find a mini keg with a specific beer in mind. It is disposable and made of aluminum.
These are its details:
- Dimensions: 9⅞” x 6¾”
- Capacity: 1.32 gallons / 169 ounces
- Cups per keg: 14 cups of 12 ounces, 10.6 cups of 16 ounces,
- 8.5 cups of 20 ounces
Just do the math.
What about the corny kegs? The corny keg was originally developed by the soft drink industry. So bet your bottom dollar that Pepsi and Coke use or used them. This is also the canister that servers change at fast-food joints.
This old soda keg is characterized by two types of connectors. The ball-lock kegs were manufactured for Pepsi Co. (and most corny kegs utilize this), the pin-lock kegs for Coca-Cola. The differences are in the dimensions, the posts on the top (pin lock or ball lock style), and the lid relief valves. The large removable lid makes it is easier to clean the canister and to transfer homebrew into it.
The corny keg is commonly used for homebrewing, wine, coffee, and kombucha.
These are its details:
- Dimensions: 23″ x 9″
- Capacity: 5.0 gallons / 640 ounces / 18 liters
- Pints (16 oz) of beer per keg: Approx. 40
- Cans / Bottles (12oz) per keg: Approx. 53
Remember, buying a kegerator depends on the keg size, which is dependent on the intended purpose. For small parties, pony keg from Keg Fridge would be ideal. In any case, there is a kegerator for any keg size. Just ask KegFridge.com.
Keg Fridge kegerators come in various sizes as well. Check them all out and see which kegerators would be perfect for which keg size. That is a well-informed decision one would be proud to make.
Feel free to contact Keg Fridge. They’ll be happy to fit you with the right kegerator.