Jockey Box & Keg Pump Rental in San Francisco

Mike's rents jockey boxes and keg pumps in San Francisco — a jockey box is $50 when you buy a keg from us, or $150 on its own, single or double. A keg pump (tap) is free with a keg, or $25 on its own. Rent the equipment on its own, or have it delivered with your keg. Rentals also carry a refundable deposit — $500 on a jockey box, $50 on a keg pump — added at checkout and returned to you in full when the equipment comes back. We've been the neighborhood keg shop at 5084 Mission St since 1959, and every rental comes back to us on a 4-day return window.

At a glance

What is a jockey box, and do I need one?

A jockey box is a cooler with chilled beer lines running through it. You push beer from the keg, through the ice-cold coils, and out a proper tap — so the pour is cold and settled even if the keg itself has been sitting in the sun. It's what you want for an outdoor party, a wedding, a street fair, or any event where you can't keep the keg in a fridge.

If your keg is going to stay cold — in a fridge, a kegerator, or a tub of ice indoors — you don't need a jockey box. A keg pump is enough: free with a keg, or $25 on its own, plus a $50 refundable deposit.

Single or double jockey box?

A single jockey box has one tap and serves one keg — right for most parties. A double jockey box has two taps, so you can pour two different kegs side by side, or serve a bigger crowd twice as fast without a queue at the tap.

Both sizes cost the same to rent: $50 if you're buying a keg from us, $150 on its own. Either size carries the same $500 refundable deposit, which you get back when the box is returned. So pick the size by how many taps you need, not by price.

Which keg pump do I need?

The pump has to match the keg's coupler, and the coupler depends on the brewery, not the beer style. Order the keg from us and we match the pump for you — the accessories panel on the keg's page offers the right one automatically:

• D-system — most American beer: Budweiser, Coors, Sierra Nevada, and the majority of US craft.
• S-system — many European imports, including Heineken and Stella.
• A-system (German slider) — German brands like Warsteiner and Paulaner.

Guinness and other nitro stouts are different. They use a U-system coupler and are poured with nitrogen rather than a hand pump, so there's no pump rental for them — you'll need the coupler and a gas setup. Call us on (415) 587-5000 and we'll put the right kit together.

Not sure which you need? Tell us the beer and we'll match the coupler for you — or read the keg coupler guide. If you'd rather own one outright, we sell keg pumps too.

Rent equipment with a keg

Most people rent the box or the pump along with the beer — and it's the cheaper way to do it: a jockey box is $50 with a keg instead of $150, and the pump is free instead of $25. Browse all kegs — beer, wine, cider, cold brew coffee and kombucha — then add the equipment from the accessories panel on the keg's own page, and we'll bring it all together at the with-keg price. Renting the gear on its own instead? Use event rentals. See keg delivery in San Francisco for how the drop works, or the keg calculator if you're not sure how much beer you need.

Deposits, returns, and delivery

Rented equipment comes back to us within 4 days, and carries a refundable deposit that is added at checkout and returned in full when the gear comes back: $500 on a jockey box (either size, and whether you rented it with a keg or on its own) and $50 on a keg pump (including the free one — the rental is free, the hardware is still ours). It is a security hold, not a fee — bring the equipment back inside the 4-day window and you get every cent of it back. Kegs carry a refundable $50 deposit of their own, returned when the empty comes back, and gas tanks a refundable $100. Our drivers can manage one flight of stairs (up to 12 steps) with a keg — tell us in advance if your venue needs more and we'll plan for it.

Delivery days, zones and minimums are on the delivery information page, and free in-store pickup at 5084 Mission St is always available. Don't want to haul empties back? Add our pick-up service and we'll come get them.

Running taps for an office or a venue?

We also service draft systems — beer-line replacement, troubleshooting calls, and CO₂ and nitrogen refills. For a standing tap program, see our office beverage program or corporate keg delivery.

Questions? Call the shop on (415) 587-5000 — we'll tell you exactly what you need for your setup.