Parts of a Draft Beer System & How They Work [Diagram]

By Dave Buchanan | 09 February, 2021

A kegerator or draft beer system is made up of a series of components that work together to provide you with a perfectly poured pint. Knowing these pieces of draft beer equipment and having a basic understanding of how they work will help with keeping your system running smoothly.

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Draft Beer System Diagrams

There are three standard systems for dispensing draft beer: direct draw, long draw glycol cooled and long draw air cooled. All three systems use similar pieces of draft beer equipment, but each also has its own unique components for delivering or cooling draft beer as it travels from keg to tap.

Direct Draw System (Kegerator)

Kegerators are the most common example of a direct draw draft system. This is a standard system for delivering draft beer from keg to tap across a short distance. Carbon dioxide or a mixture of nitrogen and CO2, known as beer gas, is used to push beer from the keg through the beer line up to the draft tower and faucet. Cold air from the refrigeration unit holding the keg travels up to the draft tower to assist in chilling beer. A tower cooler or fan can help push that air upwards.

Parts

CO2 Tank
Primary Regulator
Air Line
Secondary Regulator
Keg Coupler
Beer Line
Draft Tower
Draft Faucet
Tap Handle

Glycol Cooled Draft System

If the kegs cannot be kept refrigerated within close proximity to the draft tower and faucets, then a long draw draft system is required. A glycol cooled draft system is a long draw system that uses a glycol chiller or power pack to pump a mixture of glycol and water through a trunk line that keeps draft beer at a consistent temperature as it travels from keg to tap. Beer is pumped from the keg in the same manner as a direct draw system using CO2 or beer gas.

Parts

CO2 Tanks
Primary Regulator
Air Lines (In green & purple)
Gas Blender
Secondary Regulator
Keg Coupler
Beer Lines (in orange)
Glycol Trunk Line (in blue, red & black)
Glycol Chiller
Draft Tower
Draft Faucet
Drip Tray

Air Cooled Draft System

Long draw draft systems that have runs of less than 25 feet from keg to tap can use chilled air blown through a duct containing beer lines to keep it cooled. A forced air blower sends air from the keg cooler through the duct to the draft tower. An air cooled draft system can either use a single air duct or two ducts to carry air back and forth to the cooler. We’ve used a double duct system for the diagram.

Parts

CO2 Tanks
Primary Regulator
Air Lines (In green & purple)
Gas Blender
Secondary Regulator
Beer Lines (in orange)
Keg Coupler
Forced Air Blower
Return Air Duct
Chilled Air Duct
Draft Tower
Drip Tray

Draft System Parts & Components

CO2 or Mixed (CO2/Nitrogen) Tanks

Any draft system requires pressurized gas to propel beer from the keg to the faucet. When this pressurized gas is pushed into the keg through the coupler, it forces the beer out into the beer line where it eventually travels up to the tap so you can pour a pint on demand.

At KegWorks, we sell both 5 and 10-pound aluminum CO2 tanks and 10-pound aluminum nitrogen tanks (for Guinness dispensing). A 5-pound tank serves about 5-7 half kegs of beer. Don’t underestimate the importance of your CO2 or nitrogen tank to your draft system. Proper maintenance and use of your tank can make all the difference in having a properly balanced draft system.

Our tanks ship empty, but you can easily get them filled at any local welding supply company, fire extinguisher supply company, or gas dealer. Just check your local listings or do a quick Google search to find an appropriate vendor. Each tank is fully-inspected and displays all the correct US DOT and Transport Canada markings.

Please note that CO2 tanks and Nitrogen tanks are almost exactly the same. They are both made of aluminum, but have different valves (CO2: CGA 320 valve, Nitrogen: CGA 580 valve).

Primary Regulator

The contents of the gas inside your tank are under a tremendous amount of pressure. If you’re not careful about controlling this pressure, the beer dispensed will be a foamy mess that no one wants to drink. The regulator helps prevent this problem and ensures that your gas does its job. Typically, a primary regulator will have both a high-pressure and low-pressure gauge so you can quickly identify and troubleshoot any problems.

Air Lines

Air lines are food-grade vinyl lines with a 5/16” ID that help transport the gas from the tank to the rest of your draft system. Typically, they attach directly to a port on the regulator with a screw clamp. Kegerator users can use a simple 5’ line (or air line jumper) to connect a CO2 tank to their keg coupler. Commercial establishments or users with more complex systems will choose to use red tubing (or a different color) to help easily differentiate the air line from the beer line.

Secondary Regulator

When dispensing multiple kegs off of a single air tank, a secondary regulator helps ensure that each keg is dispensed at exactly the right pressure. The primary regulator attached directly to the tank is still necessary as a troubleshooting component at the point of dispense, but the secondary regulator allows for individual pressures. Similar to a gas blender, this helps you save space by not needing a separate tank at a separate pressure for each brew you want to dispense.

Keg Coupler

Your coupler attaches directly to the keg with an air-tight seal. The probe of the coupler pushes directly into the keg valve and acts as a critical junction point in your draft beer dispensing. The coupler has two ports: one for the air line to attach (so the gas gets pushed into the keg) and one for the beer line to attach (so the beer gets pushed out). Ensuring that your lines are connected tightly to those attachments is a quick thing to check if a given keg isn’t pouring the right way.

There are six different types of keg couplers that attach to different types of kegs. The most widely used coupler is the US Sankey (D System), but it’s possible (perhaps even likely) that you’ll need at least one or two other styles of couplers for your dispensing. Check out our list of beers to see which coupler you’ll need to dispense your chosen brew!

Beer Lines

The beer line is essentially the exact same thing as the air line, except it attaches directly to the coupler on one side and the shank or faucet on the other and carries beer instead of gas. It is typically 3/16” ID and made from food-grade vinyl. Beer line is purchased by the foot or you can opt for a pre-made jumper that comes complete with the hex nut connectors needed to secure the beer line to the shank and coupler.

Draft Beer Tower

A draft beer tower is where all of your beer lines are housed. Inside the beer tower, beer lines attach to the draft shank which carries the beer on the final leg of its journey to the draft faucet. They’re available in a variety of styles and can accommodate a range of draft beer faucets.

Where you mount your draft tower depends on the configuration of your draft system. Standard draft beer towers are perfect for mounting on the top of a kegerator as well as on a countertop. T-Towers and double pedestal towers are designed to be used with commercial draft systems, and can be installed on a bar top. There are also wall mounted and under bar mounted options for draft towers.

Shank

This very important part connects the beer line to the faucet. The shank is a chrome-plated brass tube with external threading. It runs through the hole in a draft tower (or in the side of your fridge if you built your own kegerator) where the faucet screws onto the front end and the beer line attaches to the back end with a hose barb.

The standard North American shank is a ⅞-inch x 14 straight pipe thread and will work with all North American faucets. If you’re using equipment from outside North America, you’ll need to source a specialty shank.

Draft Beer Faucet

The draft beer faucet is the tap that your beer is dispensed from. Draft faucets are available in a wide range of different quality levels and with a host of different features. It’s wise to know what level of performance and quality you expect from your draft beer faucet (and how much you’re willing to spend) before deciding to purchase one.

A standard economy faucet will certainly let you pull a basic pour, but premium options from Perlick (the market leader in draft beer faucets) give you more control over your pour by controlling the flow and offering a creamer option. Perlick faucets also have a unique forward-sealing design which provides for a more sanitary faucet because no beer gets trapped in the faucet where it can be exposed to oxygen. Keep in mind that if you’re trying to serve Guinness or other nitrogen-dispensed stouts you will need a nitro stout faucet.

All of the faucets sold at KegWorks have standardized North American attachment male threads for connection to standard shanks (1-⅛-18 UNES-2A).

Remember that regardless of which faucet you choose it should be disassembled and cleaned regularly for optimal performance.

Tap Handle

A tap handle (or faucet handle) is the lever that screws into your draft beer faucet to make it easier to open and close your faucet when pouring. When you want to dispense, pull it forward to pour your beer. It’s one piece of draft beer equipment that allows you to give your kegerator or other draft beer system a little bit of personality.

We carry a wide range of novelty tap handles including a variety of customizable options. There are North American industry standards for tap handle threads (⅜”-16 UNC) so virtually every handle screws into your faucet easily. Please note: If you have a European faucet, you’ll need a European handle.

Drip Tray

No one likes to constantly be wiping up drips or spills. A drip tray is a small detail that can make a big difference in the efficiency of your service and overall cleanliness of your establishment.

Drip trays can be placed on a counter or mounted to a wall depending on the location of your draft faucets. You also have the option of getting a drip tray with a built-in drain to expel liquids through a connected hose.

Glycol Trunk Line

For most commercial draft beer dispensing systems, and ANY system that has a considerable distance between the kegs and the faucets, a glycol cooling solution makes sense. A glycol system is powered by a power pack that contains a mixture of food-grade antifreeze and water. This mixture is powered through product lines that rest directly next to your beer lines inside of an insulated foam trunk line. With this setup, your beer can travel up to 500 feet and maintain a steady, perfectly chilled temperature so you can be confident that every pint you pour is up to the exacting specifications of even your most demanding customers. Glycol trunk line can be configured to provide chilling for virtually as many beer lines as you need (although you may require multiple trunk lines and/or chillers to get the job done correctly).

Glycol Chiller

A Glycol Chiller, also known as a glycol power pack, is specifically designed to accommodate long draw draft beer systems; or, when the kegs are stored in a cooler up to 500 feet from where the beer is being served. A glycol power pack features an air-cooled compressor, glycol bath, and a pump for glycol recirculation. KegWorks carries glycol chillers with a powerful condensing unit for efficient dispensing even in high ambient temperatures. A glycol chiller provides dependable chilling power that keeps your beer cold, and nothing is more important than that.

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Forced Air Blower

The forced air blower is an essential part of an air cooled draft system. It sends air through a duct containing beer lines, which goes to the draft tower. The cold air keeps beer in the lines chilled as well as the draft tower. The blower is attached inside a walk-in cooler or refrigeration unit, adjacent to the source of the cold air.

It is important to remember that, just like any other motorized device, the blower does generate heat when it is running. Make sure your refrigeration unit can withstand the heat generated by your blower. Many units are designed to cool the exact dimensions of the walk-in cooler they are installed in. Your blower could place a strain on your refrigeration unit.

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Air Ducts

Air ducts carry the beer lines and chilled air to and from the draft tower as part of an air cooled draft system. In a single-duct system a larger duct, typically 4” in outer diameter (O.D.), holds two smaller ducts (2 & 3” O.D.) inside of it. The chilled air and beer lines travel through the smallest duct from the cooler to the tower while the spent air returns to the cooler via the larger inner duct.

Be sure to use foam insulation to keep the cooled air and beer lines cold. Foam insulation should be a half-inch larger than the tubing it covers. It is imperative that your tubing is well insulated because they are vulnerable to temperature changes in the outside environment.

Gas Blender

Designed to be used with commercial draft systems, a gas blender allows you to pour regularly carbonated beers and nitrogenated beers from the same draft system without needing different mixes of gas. Instead of purchasing different tanks of blended gases, you can fill one CO2 tank and one nitrogen tank and the blender will mix them depending on the required blend needed for each beer.

Dave Buchanan

Dave Buchanan has been the Content Writer for Kegworks since June 2019. He has a fondness for craft beer that developed while working for a local beer distributor. Dave also worked for an area sports talk radio station for several years, and continues his broadcasting work as a motorsports announcer and indoor lacrosse reporter.

Comments

Nicolás
September 19, 2018, 9:42 am

Hello Im wondering what i would need to open a Tap Room with the refrigerated system for about 20- 25 taps on it and if I could get an estimate of how much it would be would be perfect

Chris
September 25, 2018, 1:53 pm

Hi Nicolas,

I would recommend you contact our draft experts at our Customer Care team, Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST, at 877-636-3673. You can also reach out here. They will be able to answer any questions you have about setting up your system.

Clay
November 28, 2018, 5:13 am

At what amount of run do you recommend using a glycol chiller?

Chris
November 28, 2018, 3:55 pm

Hi Clay,

While it depends on some of the specifics of your draft system, if you're running 6 or more beer lines, you should definitely consider using a glycol chiller. If your draft beer system is 15 feet or over, we would also recommend glycol. If there are any 90-degree turns in your system, we would recommend adding 5-feet to that estimate (example: if you have 15-foot run with two sharp turns, consider it a 25-foot run).

If you're interested in learning more about Glycol Cooling, feel free to request a call back via this form on our site, or give our draft beer specialists a call at 1.866.881.2337. Hope that helps, cheers!

Paul Quenneville
August 10, 2019, 12:04 pm

I am building a beer wall for a wedding reception in an outdoor tent in September.
I plan on having 5 kegs to the supply beer to the faucets. At, first I was only going to have 4 faucets, now I'm adding an additional faucet. Can I install a "tee" in one of the beer lines to serve to kegs instead of one? I am using a 10 lb CO2 tank.
This is my first attempt in beer despencing so any suggestions would be appreciated?

Katie Johnson
August 19, 2019, 8:30 pm

Hi Paul, yes, the lines can be split after the coupler. It is very important to make sure both of these taps are exactly the same(same faucet, shank, same size and length of beer line)
https://www.kegworks.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Beer+Y+Adapter+-+3%2F8"+Bore+-+Chrome+Plated+Brass

Lou
January 24, 2020, 10:37 am

I have a custom two tap system in my home but it had to be dissembled due to a flood in my home. I need about 20 feet of trunk line to span the distance from my converted refrigerator unit in my garage to the dual taphead upstairs in the kitchen. But I'm not sure what connectors I need. I believe the beer line is 3/8 inch. There is a glycol bath and lines in the freezer of the refrigerator. It is a custom system done for a restaurateur that we bought the house from.

Juleia
April 24, 2020, 2:24 pm

We are opening a restaurant. It has 48 brand newly installed dispensers. 24 on one side 24 on the other. All only used maybe tops 3 months. I need 24 removed. I had a draft company guy that installed them saying he would remove 24 and i let him keep them and he would pay me $1000 cash. I agreed. Well him meeting me and finding out Im a woman instead of the male employee that he met he said he would take them out but wouldnt pay $1000 but keep the 24 practically 24 dispensary unit. I told him he could go and not touch nothing. I really need some sound advice. HELP???

Michael Mallow
September 29, 2020, 7:39 pm

Thanks, that explains it clearly.

Manolito Villamiel
November 8, 2020, 11:17 pm

Good day is it possible not to let the beer product inter the glycol chiller beer coils. Because I was thinking that it may freezed (beer product) since it was expose to a much lower temperature of -1deg.C. glycol chiller seting. Thank you very much.

Medel Villamiel
Philippines

Forrest Roe
November 8, 2021, 4:36 pm

Hi,

My kegerator only has a single gas line bulkhead pass through opening. I want to mount a triple individually controlled regulator assembly outside the kegerator and run all 3 gas lines into it individually. Do you sell the bullhead gas line pass through fittings? If not, where can I find them??
Thanks. Forrest

David Buchanan
November 10, 2021, 10:13 pm

Hi, Forrest. We do carry a 3-Way Secondary Air Regulator that will allow you to control each line. https://www.kegworks.com/3-way-secondary-air-regulator-polycarbonate-bonnet/

Karen Devlin
January 17, 2022, 4:22 pm

Im looking for the connector part for the electric beer dispenser 24794171/F0960 studio I bought this for my husband for Christmas and I think this part has been broken due to trying to get it together

David Buchanan
January 18, 2022, 1:46 pm

Hi, Karen: I'm sorry but we do not carry that product or any replacement parts for it. You may have luck contacting the manufacturer directly. Cheers!

Morgan Williams
February 25, 2022, 4:27 pm

Hi, I'm the director of a new art space, we are opening in east London. We also have a licensed bar but we need all the supplies for three draught lines. We wanted to know if you can supply all the parts for this requirement? We don't open until mid-may but we would like to get everything together as soon as possible. Is there a price list for this or a plan of how to set it all up/ someone to come fit the bar with the tap lines?
My phone number is 07410985757, you can also email morgan.j.williams@icloud.com

David Buchanan
February 25, 2022, 4:53 pm

Hi, Morgan:

We do sell all the components needed to set up a draft system, however, we do not do installations (and we're located in the US). Our draft beer expert Chris can help you obtain the parts you need (email: cuniversal@kegworks.com).

As for installation, I would do a Google search for draft beer system installation in London to find someone located near you or Chris can help walk you through it to do it yourself.

Cheers!

Amy Thompson
May 2, 2022, 3:45 pm

We have a beer bar interested in our retail space. They plan to have MANY different beers on tap and all the kegs kept in a large cooler. The floor space is limited. Have you ever seen a walk-in cooler on a mezzanine and a hoist or dumb waiter to get the kegs up and down? There is enough ceiling height for a mezzanine but it will not be a comfortable height to add seating at that level...so thinking that all the "back of house" could happen on the mezzanine: office, storage, and walk-in cooler...all above the bar. Have you seen this type set up work?

David Buchanan
May 3, 2022, 8:23 pm

Hi, Amy. Our draft expert has not heard of this kind of setup done before, so we don't have much to offer in terms of advice. Sorry! Best of luck!

Lindsay Deal
July 19, 2022, 3:26 pm

Hi, I'm reading the Code of Federal Regulations, and they make reference to "dispensing accessories which include items such as standards, faucets, cold plates, rods, vents, taps, tap standards, hoses, washers, couplings, gas gauges, vent tongues, shanks, and check valves. Can you please help me understand the difference between standards vs tap standards vs taps. I'm trying to understand how/where/if tap handles fit under the regulations. Thank you!

Bernardo Escalante
December 22, 2022, 12:18 am

Good Day,

My name is Bernardo and I'm a Bar manager at Bier Markt in Montreal Canada, we have at the restaurant a Paulaner brass tower that has partcular pieces (shank,and the diameter of the piece that conects the tower to the faucet is huge compared to the "standard" ones.
I am wondering if you might be able to direct me to anyehre I could buy this pieces?
It has been needing maintenance and our technician has never seen a tower and pieces like this and suggeested me to buy 2-3 full faucets sets (shank etc.) but I am clueless as to where to find them.

I appreciate your time.

Sincerely
-Bernardo Escalante

David Buchanan
December 22, 2022, 3:56 pm

Hi Bernardo! Canadian Beverage Supply might be able to help you with that specialty tower. If you're looking to buy standard draft parts then contact our commercial draft beer rep Chris at cuniversal@kegworks.com. Cheers!

steve amorese
April 7, 2023, 12:51 pm

Can anyone help me?? I purchased a Vevor Kegerator almost new but when I got it home and opened up the cooler there were two bare wires on the right wall someone stole the part. Question what is this missing devise and where can I find a replacement? I don't believe its a thermostat control because it is led at the top.

mohammad altamari
April 27, 2023, 10:12 am

LOOKING FOR DRAFT SYSTEM FOR OUR COLD TEA

David Buchanan
April 27, 2023, 12:18 pm

Hello, Mohammad! If you need help with a commercial draft system then please contact us by using this form https://content.kegworks.com/commercial-sales/commercial-draft-systems Cheers!

Middleton Dand
December 7, 2023, 12:53 pm

we are opening a restaurant in Florida and are having a bar with 10 draught beers including a Guiness pump and would like to know the approximate cost of the equipment needed for a glycol cooled system the bar is approx 100 ft from the cooler, we work in the construction industry (and think though i would welcome your input) that we would be able to do the installation ourselves. I look forward to hearing from you with your comments and suggestions.

Yours sincerely Middleton Dand

David Buchanan
December 7, 2023, 1:41 pm

Hello! You're best option to get a quote for a system that size would be to talk to our draft beer rep Chris directly. His email is cuniversal@kegworks.com.

Norman Giddens
March 11, 2024, 6:50 am

At my age I am interested in a decent cold beer dispenser I live alone and I love my draught beer I do have some friends who like a beer

Ash Hamrahian
April 18, 2024, 8:08 am

I aqquired a venue 18 months ago, we have a Glycol Cooled Draft System installed which we want to have removed along with all of the beer equipment that we have remaining. I have manged to have the kegs collected but I am having difficult having the gas cylinders and Glycol Cooled Draft System and pumps removed. I have contacted RICHARD LLEWELLYN BREWERY SERVICE now known as RLBS Ltd as it would appear that they installed the equipment but they are not coming back to me. Any suggestoins or advice would be much appricated!

David Buchanan
April 18, 2024, 12:28 pm

Hello Ash:

We just sell equipment and do not install or remove systems. I would search for draft beer system installers in your area. You could contact welding supply companies or gas distributors in your area about the tanks as well.

Sihle cosmas Nzimande
May 5, 2024, 11:34 am

I will like to have the keg system on my tavern where can I buy it?

David Buchanan
July 18, 2024, 5:49 pm

Hi, Michael. You can contact our draft beer representative at cuniversal@kegworks.com for help with your project.

kristian Ramdhanie
April 29, 2025, 9:16 pm

i need a two tapsolution for a beer bike

Parts of a Draft Beer System & How They Work [Diagram]