San Francisco's Finest Keg Selection

Everything you need to know about ordering, tapping, and returning a keg from Mike's. We carry 140 kegs — beer, wine, cider, kombucha, and cold brew coffee — and we rent the couplers, pumps, jockey boxes, and gas to pour them. We've been doing this in San Francisco since 1959, so if anything below is unclear, just call 415-587-5000.

How keg ordering works

1. Choose your keg — browse all kegs: domestic, import, craft, lager, IPA, stout, wine, cider, kombucha, and cold brew coffee.
2. Add it to your cart — a $50 refundable keg deposit is added automatically. You'll see it as its own line at checkout.
3. Add equipment and gas — a coupler, keg pump, or jockey box can go on the same order, along with a CO₂, nitrogen, or beer-gas refill.
4. Pick a delivery date — choose a date that works for your zone, or select free pickup at 5084 Mission St.
5. We deliver — up to one flight of stairs (12 steps). Have someone available to receive the order.
6. Return the empty — call us to schedule a pickup and we refund your deposit.

Deposits and returns

A few brands ship in one-way plastic kegs — Health-Ade, Stumptown, and GT's among them — and those carry no keg deposit at all. Nothing to return.

Equipment outstanding 21 or more days after your order date may be subject to recovery fees. To return anything, call 415-587-5000 or bring it in during store hours.

Keg sizes

Not sure how much you need? Try the keg calculator.

Which coupler do I need?

The coupler connects your tap or pump to the keg, and the type depends on the brewery, not the beer style. We stock all five systems — rent for $25 (with a refundable $50 deposit) or buy for $50.

Tell us the brand you're tapping and we'll match it. Full breakdown in the keg coupler guide.

Which gas do I need?

Using the wrong gas won't hurt anyone, but it will ruin the drink. CO₂ pushed into still wine or cold brew carbonates it. Straight nitrogen on an ordinary beer lets it go flat, because nitrogen doesn't stay dissolved the way CO₂ does. We carry all three gases in 5 lb, 10 lb, and 20 lb tanks.

A nitro pour also needs a stout faucet — a standard one won't do it. Those pressures are starting points; line length and temperature move them. More detail on the CO₂ & nitrogen refills page.

How to tap a keg

Two things cause almost every bad first pour: a keg that is still warm, and a keg that was moved five minutes ago. Chill it to 36–40°F and let it settle an hour or two before you tap it.

1. Check the coupler matches the brewery.
2. Make sure the coupler handle is up before you attach it — a handle left down will not seat.
3. Set the coupler on the keg valve and turn clockwise about a quarter turn until it locks. (An A-system German coupler slides instead of turning.)
4. Connect the gas line to the gas inlet and the beer line to the beer outlet.
5. Open the tank valve all the way, then set the regulator to your serving pressure.
6. Push the coupler handle down. That opens the keg.
7. Pour with the faucet open all the way — never half open, that's what makes foam. Glass at 45°, straighten up halfway through.

How do I know when the gas is low?

A CO₂ gauge is not a fuel gauge. CO₂ is stored as a liquid, so the high-pressure gauge sits around 700–850 psi no matter how much is left, then drops fast once the liquid is gone. Weigh the tank instead: every cylinder is stamped TW followed by its empty weight, so the gas left is the scale reading minus that number. Nitrogen and beer-gas tanks behave differently — nitrogen never turns to liquid at these pressures, so the needle falls steadily from about 2000–2400 psi and genuinely tells you what's left. Refill as it nears 500 psi.

Losing gas faster than you should? That's almost always a leak. Brush soapy water over the coupler, regulator nut, and line clamps and watch for bubbles. Close the tank valve when nobody's pouring, and never store a CO₂ tank in a sealed closet or small unventilated room.

Equipment we rent

• Keg couplers — D, S, A, G, and U systems. $25 rent, $50 buy.
• Keg pumps (hand pump) — D, S, and A systems.
• Single jockey box — portable one-tap dispenser, good for outdoor events.
• Double jockey box — two taps, for larger events or two kegs.
• Regulators, faucets, beer and gas line — see all draft equipment & gas.

Rentals carry a 4-day return window. Deposit is forfeited if equipment isn't returned on time.

Delivery

We deliver Tuesday through Saturday in San Francisco — order by 9 AM and we can usually get it to you the same day. East Bay is Tuesdays, the Peninsula and South Bay are Wednesdays, and Marin is by arrangement. No deliveries on Sundays or Mondays. Kegs travel up one flight of stairs (12 steps) at most; tell us in advance if that's a problem. Pickup at the store is always free. Full zones, fees, and minimums are on the delivery info page.

Something's wrong with the pour

• Nothing comes out — tank valve closed or empty, coupler handle not pushed down, regulator at zero, or a kinked beer line.
• All foam — the keg is warm or was moved recently, pressure is too high, the faucet isn't fully open, or a nitro beer is being pushed with plain CO₂.
• Flat or lifeless — pressure too low, the wrong gas, or an empty tank.
• Cloudy or off-tasting — nearly always the lines, not the keg. Draft lines want cleaning about every two weeks. Book a cleaning.

Still stuck? Book a troubleshooting visit — $45 for keg customers — or call 415-587-5000, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.

Helpful keg tools

• Keg calculator — estimate how many kegs you need for your guest count and party length.
• Keg coupler guide — which coupler (A, D, G, S, U) your keg needs, and the brands that use each.
• CO₂ & nitrogen tank refills — sizes, pricing, and how refills work.
• Browse all kegs — beer, wine, cider, cold brew coffee, and kombucha.