Mini kegs- Why 5 Litres?
We sometimes get asked whether we supply larger or smaller mini kegs. The 5 litre Huber mini keg was developed following significant investment into research and development. The market was analysed and the different sized kegs have been produced.
10 Litre mini keg:
After a thorough investigation it was found that the 5 litre size is the most appropriate size for the consumer and the brewer. To summarise, the 10 litre size mini keg was found to be too large to fit into a household fridge to cool down, therefore it is not suitable for most consumers, secondly mini kegs are made from tin plated steel with a protective food grade lacquer so the metal does not change the taste of the beer. In order for the kegs to withstand the pressure of live beer and to allow for some changes in temperature and also in some cases small secondary fermentation, the 10 litre keg required much thicker tin plated steel. This resulted in the package becoming too expensive and not economically viable for the brewer and in turn the consumer. After all, the Huber mini keg is designed to be recycled so it is better to keep the cost of the packaging as low as possible. You can find more about sustainable packaging here: http://metalpackagingeurope.org/sustainability/metal-a-permanent-material
3.1 Litre mini keg:
Now onto the smaller size. Experiments were conducted with a smaller 3.1 litre mini keg. Interestingly the raw materials and costs to produce the 3.1 litre mini keg are similar to the 5 litre mini keg so the first reason this size of mini keg was rejected is because the package is too expensive for nearly 2 litres less beer for the consumer.
This size is not economically viable.The consumer and brewer would be wasting money on packaging.
Secondly the mini keg has been developed for social drinking to be shared with a friend or two. As most beer drinkers will find, 3.1 litres is not really enough to share. The 3.1 litre mini keg was market tested but was not popular with drinkers. The 5 litre size enjoys greater popularity and the economies of scale allow for the larger size to be supplied at no more cost than the smaller keg.
Millions of 5 litre mini kegs are successfully sold worldwide. Being sealed to light and air it is the perfect package for brewery fresh beer to take home and enjoy.
So there you have it. 5 litres is fridge friendly, financially friendly and sharing with friends friendly!
Posted by Jayne Swann UK and Ireland representative for Huber Packaging Group Beverage
https://www.huber-packaging.com/en/beverage