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Antiques & Collectibles

Restoring old wooden beer keg

10 years ago

I recently acquired an old wooden beer keg that I would like to cleanup and display. The keg spent many years in an old barn so it is quite dirty. The wood appears to be unfinished oak. I know I should balance between cleaning it up and keeping the 'patina' but I think the wood does need a good cleaning.

Any recommendations on what I can use?

Featured Answer

Thunderstick
Original Author

10 years ago

I used warm water with dish washing liquid and a brush and was able to wash away decades of dirt successfully. I modified a couple nails to attach one of the loose bands. The nails were modified to match the originals.

I used 6" pine to make the base and I used some things around the shop to 'distress' the wood. I think I may try to make the base a bit darker. I'm working on buying a 'Country Club' tap handle. Country Club was a Goetz beer. If I can buy it, I'll rig up a simple looking tap to attach to the keg. I know that's not authentic but I haven't found much info on the keg anyway other than it is a 7 3/4 gallon keg and figured the tap handle will add to my display. I talked to the author of a book on Kansas City/St Joseph area beers and he had little additional information other than the size. What you can't see on the other end of the keg is that it has a hole drilled in it for a tap.

I'm not really a breweriana collector but I thought this old beer keg makes a nice additional to my man cave!

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Comments (9)

jemdandy
10 years ago
Don't know what you should do for cleaning. You do need to retain the patina.

Your keg is wonderfully marked on the bottom. No guess work needed here. Both the business name and city shows.
lazy_gardens
10 years ago
I'd scrub it with a soft brush and mild detergent soap to get the barn crud off. That will not change thge color or remove any finish.

Let it dry in a shady spot and see how it looks.

Wax the hoops with a paste wax to keep them from rusting any further.
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Thunderstick
Original Author
10 years ago
I have already tried a brush and water but will definitely try some mild detergent. I'll keep in mind the idea of paste waxing the hoops. The hoops and nails are in remarkably good condition at this time. One of the hoops is missing 2 nails but I've lined up somebody to make a couple replica replacements.

Here is another view of the keg. I talked to the author or a book on Kansas City beer history (Goetz was in KC also) and he said it was a 7 3/4 gal keg.
Thunderstick
Original Author
10 years ago
Both ends of the barrel are well marked with this end having a tap connecting device that was patented in 1921. The keg also has 2 holes in the side; one obviously for filling the keg and I believe the other was an original location for the spigot. 1921 was in the middle of prohibition so I'm guessing that the tapping device could have been added to the keg later.
lazy_gardens
10 years ago
Keep in mind that these were not intended to be anything more than a beer holder, made as cheaply as possible.
partst
10 years ago
Be careful with the detergent it may fade the lettering..ask me how I know
Thunderstick
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, but I'm sure it won't fade this lettering. It's actually cut into the keg.
Thunderstick
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks, but I'm sure it won't fade this lettering. It's actually cut into the keg.

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