Stop Overcarbonating Your Keg! How to Store It After Using a Jockey Box
At Coldbreak, we get a lot of questions from customers after they've poured beer at an event using a jockey box. One of the most common?
“How do I store my keg properly after the event if I want to use it again tomorrow?”
Let’s break it down with a simple explanation, a bit of draft system science, and a step-by-step walkthrough that will save your beer from turning into foam.
The Problem: Overcarbonation After the Event
When you get a keg from a brewery or liquor store, it’s typically carbonated to a specific pressure—usually between 10–12 PSI. That’s perfect for storing and serving in a balanced draft system, like a kegerator or taproom setup.
But here’s the twist: Jockey boxes work differently.
They’re essentially long-draw draft systems packed into a cooler, and to push beer through 50 feet of stainless coil, you need more pressure—usually around 25–30 PSI.
That’s more than double the normal keg pressure.
So what happens if you pour beer all day long with that high PSI and then simply disconnect your beer coupler?
You’re leaving your keg pressurized at 30 PSI. And guess what? That beer will absorb the extra CO₂ overnight. Tomorrow, your pour will be nothing but foam.
The Fix: How to Store Your Keg Properly After an Event
To avoid foamy pours and overcarbonation, you need to depressurize the keg and reset it to a safe storage pressure. Here’s how to do it:
Step-by-Step: Dropping the PSI Back to Storage Levels
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Shut off the CO₂ tank and turn the regulator all the way down to 0 PSI.
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Relieve the pressure from the keg by pulling the pressure relief valve.
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Set the regulator to 10 PSI. This is the proper storage pressure for most beers.
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Reconnect the CO₂ tank and re-couple the keg. Let it pressurize to 10 PSI.
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Disconnect and store the keg. It's now sitting safely at the right PSI.
Why This Matters
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Avoid foamy beer the next day
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Keep carbonation levels stable
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Protect the flavor and mouthfeel of your beer
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Save time and product at your next event
This process is especially helpful for mobile bar operators, caterers, event staff, or homebrewers who reuse kegs over consecutive days.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’re curious about how pressure, temperature, and beer styles affect serving and storage, check out our Draft Beer Workshop — a free, in-depth video available on our YouTube channel.
