AEB has been manufacturing chrome steel drums, tanks and… kegs of their facility in Andalo Valtellino, Italy for over 30 years.
AEB leans arduous into their Italian roots… “THE MADE IN ITALY IS OUR IDENTITY” will be seen plastered on their web site in all caps. If I have been to take a learn on homebrewing, my learn is that the final sentiment is that AEB kegs are among the many highest high quality kegs out there to homebrewers. Only a guess and definitely a generalization.
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Fingers on Assessment AEB Ball Lock Kegs
A take a look at the fieldA.E.B. Made in Italy. AEB leans closely on their Italian identification. That is smart to me as I typically assume Italian made = top quality. That’s a broad stroke, however my espresso machine was made in Italy and it’s superb. So, truthful or unfair, that’s the place I’m at.Shut up of the keg imprint. NSF P/N 29744PS, Max Capability 5 GAL, Yr 2020, A.E.B. Made in Italy, N 004420, Warning, By no means Exceed Most Working Strain of 130 PSI.
Tip: If you happen to’re searching for substitute elements search for your keg’s imprint. It ought to present the producer and mannequin quantity.
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Nearer take a look at the deal with. Very nice trying stainless and rubber right here.
Single Deal with vs Double Deal with: There are two most important types of keg handles – double rubber handles and single strap handles. I favor double handles as a result of… you’ve obtained two handles 🙂 and, extra importantly, the even prime means you may invert a keg to empty or dry and probably stack kegs. Single strap deal with kegs are harder to invert, however they’re additionally typically rather less costly.Associated: DuoTight Ball Lock QDs – decrease clearance to permit double deal with kegs to stackA take a look at the bottom. Once more… appears nice. These notches are designed to permit for airflow.A take a look at the underside of the keg. So shiny you may see the reflection of my ring mild.Prime down viewThis has some imprints on the highest of the keg designating IN and out posts.A take a look at the IN/fuel submit. See the notches on the backside. That’s a sign this can be a fuel submit.Out submit imprintA take a look at the OUT/beer submit – see… no notches. I’ve an improve I do to all my kegs to simply and shortly inform which submit is which. Hold studying for extra on that.Like different AEB kegs I’ve, this one has 7/8″ x 6 level posts. See: Fingers on Assessment: Craftsman Deep Nicely Sockets for Ball Lock Keg Posts – for extra about keg posts and instrumentsA take a look at the fuel submit & dip tube. Not like a variety of the newer kegs this keg doesn’t characteristic common poppets. Associated: Common Poppet Suggestions & Methods. The poppets are additionally… non-removable
AEB Poppets and Guarantee
Many of the AEB kegs I’ve seen have completely put in/non-removable poppets. There was a basic perception on the message boards that eradicating poppets voids AEB’s guarantee.
Right here’s what I discovered from AEB’s Keg Working Directions:
A.E.B. srl declines any legal responsibility for any harm brought on by any change within the product or in elements of it made exterior A.E.B. plant.
It doesn’t particularly discuss poppets, however I may certain match these in that assertion if I attempted. I believe that eradicating completely put in poppets in all probability does void the guarantee… of the poppets.
Completely put in/non-removable poppets should not my favourite. I prefer to take away the innards for cleansing and sanitizing. However, take a look at the upside. AEB is making these industrial high quality kegs to allow them to be used for soda distribution. Pepsi doesn’t want detachable poppets and, frankly, I’m guessing they don’t need them. They’ve a machine that cleans and sanitizes kegs and would, in all probability, quite not lose poppets. Pre-mix soda doesn’t have hop and yeast trub.
So, the upside right here is that this is a sign (at the least to me) that these are supposed to be heavy obligation, industrial kegs meant for years of use.
Some Choices:
- Wait till the guarantee interval is up (normally 1 12 months) to switch OEM poppets you gained’t be shedding something.
- Use Mark’s Keg and Carboy Washer – That means that you can clear in place and will have the ability to totally clear and sanitize non-removeable poppets.
- Substitute poppets with top quality replacements anyway!
Does all of this matter? For my part, not likely. I simply don’t assume it’s an issue, the remainder of the keg ought to nonetheless be below guarantee and, I’m guessing, the overwhelming majority of persons are by no means ever going to file a guaranty declare on these kegs. I personally can have no drawback swapping these poppets out for top quality replacements within the close to future.
Associated: Eradicating Arduous to Take away Poppets – Common Poppet Suggestions & Methods – Fingers On Assessment: Mark’s Keg and Carboy Washer
A take a look at the keg lid.
Extra About Keg Lids: One distinction between Pin Lock and Ball Lock kegs is the kind of lids that include every. Ball Locks, typically, have a guide PRV valve, whereas Pin Locks don’t. Ball Lock fashion lids are, in my view, superior as a result of the guide PRV means that you can simply vent your keg as wanted. The excellent news is that, for normal kegs, the lids are the identical measurement and will be interchanged. Which means you should utilize a Ball Lock fashion lid in a Pin Lock Keg. See: What’s the Distinction Between Ball Lock Kegs and Pin Lock Kegs?Nearer Have a look at the PRV. Seems to be to be largely steel, I’m guessing chrome steel. The imprint says most working strain 130 PSI. Reminder: By no means exceed rated strain.This lid has a big sufficient bale which you could grasp it from a submit when not put in.Since doing my submit on reconditioning kegs, I’ve gotten into the behavior of instantly changing all o-rings with Valuebrew Meals Grade Gaskets. I exploit inexperienced and blue for the posts to make identification fast and straightforward… inexperienced = fuel, blue = beer. It’s price noting that this isn’t one thing you must do, I favor meals grade silicone and the color-coding and I’ve these available since I picked them up in bulk. Little or no price on a per o-ring foundation making these upgrades.Excessive visibility blue for beer.Excessive visibility inexperienced for fuel.Changed lid o-ring. Whammo!A glance contained in the keg. That is at all times a tough image for me to take as regards to lightning, however this one turned out fairly effectively. The within appears stunning.Nice trying welds
AEB’s Laser Welds
From MoreBeer’s 2.5 Gallon AEB Keg Description:
The standard of those Italian-made cornelius kegs is simple. They’re welded by laser below inert fuel which implies there aren’t any nooks or crannies the place micro organism can cover. They might price greater than kegs made in China however the high quality distinction is an ideal batch versus a ruined one. High quality is vital as a result of your beer might sit in these kegs for months. If micro organism will get into a nasty weld they will very arduous to kill.
Finishing a Strain Take a look at with a DuoTight Gauge – Fingers on DuoTight FittingsA take a look at this stunning keg
Dimensions
The scale of this explicit keg are 25″ Tall X 8.5″ Extensive. Weighs 7.6 LBS empty
So far as the remainder of the homebrew lineup listed here are the final dimensions and specs for AEB’s line of Ball Lock Kegs through Keg Outlet
Industrial High quality
The containers we name Ball Lock and Pin Lock Kegs come from the soda business. Additionally referred to as Cornelius Kegs, Corny Kegs and Corney Kegs, they have been initially meant to retailer and distribute soda pre-mix. The massive soda firms selected totally different fashion containers for his or her pre-mix. Pepsi landed on the Ball Lock fashion whereas Coke makes use of the Pin Lock fashion.
That’s an excerpt from my Ball Lock vs Pin Locks Publish. The rationale that I convey up this historical past is that AEB… nonetheless manufactures tanks for the soda business. Loads of the kegs we use right now, are manufactured for homebrewers to homebrewer requirements. That’s nice, that’s what we’d like. My level is that AEB is cranking this stuff out for industrial use. Which means one thing.
Conclusions!
I’m guessing I’ve had 25 kegs undergo my residence brewery. Not that I’ve 25 now, I in all probability have a dozen. I’ve had shoddy kegs that wanted bunches of elements, I’ve had kegs with a lot of potential that wanted to be rebuilt and I’ve had very good kegs.
After taking a detailed take a look at a model new AEB keg, I believe what I’d name the final consensus is appropriate. AEB is making the best high quality kegs on the market.
This isn’t to say that a few of the manufacturers that we all know and love aren’t nice. There are some homebrew particular makers which are making excellent kegs.
Closing selections usually contain a steadiness of worth, high quality and options. If a barely decrease high quality possibility is on the market for considerably much less, it’s in all probability price it. As I write this, there are now not any choices for $60 to $70 new kegs. So, in the case of making your alternative, the worth distinction could also be minimal or non-existent.
AEB is making top quality kegs that meet industrial necessities and deserve a tough look when your contemplating new kegs.
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Rebuild Your Kegs
A keg that I reconditioned (Left) subsequent to this model new AEB keg (Proper)
Ought to I purchase a New Keg or a Used Keg?
Used kegs are typically sourced from soda bottlers. They’re constructed with industrial use in thoughts and designed to final for a few years of tough obligation service.
Model new ball locks might not be made to the identical requirements. Nevertheless… We additionally don’t typically put our kegs by way of the identical abuse {that a} soda distributor would.
Not withstanding worth. I believe each choices are legitimate. If you happen to’re up for slightly elbow grease and changing just a few elements, used stands out as the strategy to go, when you’re extra eager about comfort model new is an effective alternative. Virtually, at the least as of this posting, I believe worth will trigger many to go the used route.
Rebuild Your Used Kegs
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Particular due to Keg Outlet for offering the keg used for analysis on this assessment.
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