Putting a keg on for the office is one of the easiest ways to make a Friday feel like an event — but only if you order the right one. A keg that runs dry an hour in, or shows up with a tap that doesn't fit, turns a perk into a scramble. Here's how to pick an office party keg the right way, step by step, whether you're hosting ten people or a hundred.
1. Start with your headcount
Everything flows from how many people are drinking and for how long. A good planning rule is two drinks per person for the first hour, then one per hour after that. So a 3-hour party for 30 people is roughly 30 × (2 + 1 + 1) = 120 servings. Now match that to a keg size:
- Half barrel (15.5 gallons) — about 124 pints / 165 twelve-ounce pours. The classic full-size keg; best for 40+ people or an all-afternoon event.
- Quarter barrel (7.75 gallons) — about 62 pints / 82 pours. A shorter, wider "pony" keg; good for a mid-size team.
- Sixtel / sixth barrel (5.16 gallons) — about 41 pints / 55 pours. Tall and slim, fits most kegerators; perfect for a small office or for offering two styles at once.
For our 120-serving example, one half barrel covers it with a little to spare. Hosting a bigger crowd or want variety? Two sixtels of different beers often beats one big keg.
2. Build a lineup for a mixed crowd
Not everyone wants the same thing, and not everyone's drinking. The smart move for an office is to split your taps:
- A crowd-pleasing beer — a local lager, pale ale, or IPA covers most of the room. Browse our beer kegs for Bay Area names your team will recognize.
- A non-alcoholic option on tap — this is what separates a thoughtful office party from a college one. Nitro cold brew or tea kegs and kombucha keep non-drinkers and the afternoon-coffee crowd happy, and they pour from the same setup.
- A lighter alternative — wine, cider, or a hard seltzer on tap rounds things out for folks who'd rather not drink beer.
Two or three sixtels across these categories almost always lands better at an office than a single giant keg of one beer.
3. Match the coupler to the keg
The coupler is the tap fitting that connects to the keg — and they are not all the same. Using the wrong one means no beer. The good news: most of what you'll order takes one type.
- D System (American Sankey) — by far the most common in the U.S. It fits all the major domestic brewers and nearly every American craft brewery. If you're ordering local beer, this is almost certainly your coupler.
- S System (European Sankey) — for popular imports like Heineken, Beck's, and Amstel.
- U System — the one you need for Guinness, Harp, and similar stouts.
- A System (German slider) — for German imports like Warsteiner, Paulaner, and Spaten.
When in doubt, tell us what beer you're getting and we'll send the matching coupler with it. We carry taps and couplers in our equipment and rentals section.
4. CO₂ or nitrogen?
Gas is what pushes the drink out of the keg and keeps it carbonated. Which one depends on what you're pouring:
- CO₂ (carbon dioxide) — the standard for almost all beer, cider, seltzer, and wine. If you're pouring lagers, ales, and IPAs, you want CO₂.
- Nitrogen (or a nitrogen blend, "beer gas") — used for stouts like Guinness and for nitro cold brew, giving that smooth, cascading, creamy pour. If your lineup includes a stout or nitro coffee, you'll need a nitrogen tank for that tap.
A typical office setup runs CO₂ for the beer and a separate nitrogen tank only if you've added a nitro pour. We rent both, and you swap the empty tank back when you return the keg.
5. Mind the space (and the stairs)
A full half barrel weighs around 160 pounds, so think about where it's going and how it gets there. A few practical notes for an office:
- Plan for a kegerator or a tub of ice — a keg needs to stay cold to pour cleanly.
- Have a spot near a wall and an outlet if you're using a kegerator.
- Heads up on delivery: we deliver kegs up one flight of stairs (max 12 steps), so a ground-floor or elevator-accessible room makes life easier.
Let Mike's handle the heavy part
Mike's Liquors has been San Francisco's keg headquarters since 1959, and we set up office parties across the city every week. Tell us your headcount and your vibe, and we'll match the keg size, the beer, the right coupler, and the gas — then deliver it. We offer same-day delivery on SF orders placed by 9 AM ($8 flat, $125 minimum), with East Bay on Tuesdays and South Bay on Wednesdays. Browse all our kegs to start your order, or call the shop and we'll build the lineup with you.
How far in advance should I order a keg for an office party?
Two to three days is comfortable, especially if you want a specific beer or need equipment. For same-day SF delivery, get your order in by 9 AM. Popular kegs around holidays and big game days can sell out, so earlier is always safer.
Do I need to rent a tap and gas, or just the keg?
You'll need a way to pour and chill it. We rent kegerators, taps, couplers, and CO₂ / nitrogen tanks alongside the keg, so you can get everything in one order. Just tell us you're starting from scratch.
What happens to the empty keg and deposit?
Kegs carry a refundable deposit that comes back when you return the empty (along with any rented tap or gas tank). Our team will walk you through the return window when you order.