What’s a Jockey Box?

Published on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, by CHOW Video Team / Edit Post

What’s a Jockey Box?

Marzio Cuomo of Mike’s Liquors in San Francisco has delivered and set up many kegs in his day. He recommends that customers rent a jockey box when they buy a keg. It’ll probably cost a little bit more, but you’ll get longer-lasting beer that needs no special pumps. It’s basically like having your own bar set-up in your house.

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  • Well, actually it does add carbonation (CO2) into the keg, rather than air, not adding carbonation but keeping it from losing carbonation as it would in an air filled keg. There is no need for a pump if you are pushing the beer through the system with CO2. Beer will stay fresher in this system. less escape of carbonation, as it is closed and tighter than a hand pump. So most of your not list is...+READ

    Well, actually it does add carbonation (CO2) into the keg, rather than air, not adding carbonation but keeping it from losing carbonation as it would in an air filled keg. There is no need for a pump if you are pushing the beer through the system with CO2. Beer will stay fresher in this system. less escape of carbonation, as it is closed and tighter than a hand pump. So most of your not list is actually an "is" list.-COLLAPSE

  • A jockey box is :

    -A very convenient heat exchanger that uses ice to cool the beer coming from an unrefrigerated keg. Nothing more, really.

    A jockey box is NOT:

    -a device that preserves the freshness of beer
    -designed to add carbonation to beer
    -something that precludes the use of one of those "special pumps"

    Whether or not you use a jockey box, you should consider pushing your beer with CO2...+READ

    A jockey box is :

    -A very convenient heat exchanger that uses ice to cool the beer coming from an unrefrigerated keg. Nothing more, really.

    A jockey box is NOT:

    -a device that preserves the freshness of beer
    -designed to add carbonation to beer
    -something that precludes the use of one of those "special pumps"

    Whether or not you use a jockey box, you should consider pushing your beer with CO2 gas instead of an air pump. That, and not the box is the factor that will help maintain beer freshness and carbonation. For maximum stability, unpasteurized beer should always be refrigerated, so a jockey box is just a convenient compromise.-COLLAPSE