Barrel vs. Keg — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
Barrel generally refers to a cylindrical container traditionally made of wooden staves, used for storing and aging various liquids, while a keg is typically a small barrel specifically made of metal, often used for storing, transporting, and serving beer.
Difference Between Barrel and Keg
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A barrel is a versatile container used for aging and storing a variety of liquids including wine, whiskey, and oil, often crafted from wood which can impart additional flavors to its contents. On the other hand, a keg is usually made of stainless steel and is primarily associated with the storage and dispensation of beer, ensuring durability and maintaining the beverage’s quality.
Barrels are traditionally made using wooden staves bound by metal hoops without nails or glue, a method that allows subtle air exchange which is crucial for the aging process of spirits and wine. Whereas kegs are constructed to be airtight with the use of pressurized gas like CO2 to dispense beer, preventing oxidation and spoilage.
The capacity of barrels can vary significantly, commonly from 10 to over 200 liters, making them suitable for a range of uses from small-scale craft distilleries to large wine producers. In contrast, kegs typically come in standardized sizes such as the U.S. half-barrel keg of 15.5 gallons (about 59 liters), which is a standard for beer serving in many pubs and breweries.
Barrels often play a critical role in the flavor development of beverages, as the type of wood and its treatment (like charring) can add complex flavors. On the other hand, kegs do not influence the flavor of beer, as their primary function is to protect the beer from light and air, preserving its original brewery-conditioned taste.
While barrels are reused multiple times for aging, each use may impart different subtle flavors to the stored liquid, a cherished characteristic in wine and whiskey production. Kegs, meanwhile, are valued for their ability to maintain consistency and quality of the beer from batch to batch, highlighting their role in ensuring optimal storage conditions.
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Comparison Chart
Material
Usually wood
Typically stainless steel or aluminum
Usage
Aging and storing various liquids
Storing and serving primarily beer
Capacity
Varies widely (10 to 200+ liters)
Standard sizes (e.g., U.S. half-barrel)
Influence on Taste
Imparts flavors through wood
Does not alter flavor, preserves original
Construction
Wooden staves bound by metal hoops
Airtight, metal construction
Compare with Definitions
Barrel
A hollow cylindrical shape or component.
The barrel of the gun was finely crafted.
Keg
Refers to the shape similar to barrels, small and compact.
The keg of nails was ready for shipment.
Barrel
A unit of measurement for oil and other commodities.
Oil prices fluctuated by $10 per barrel.
Keg
A small barrel typically used to store and serve beer.
They tapped a new keg at the party last night.
Barrel
A cylindrical container made of wooden staves for storing liquids.
The winery stored their finest vintage in oak barrels.
Keg
Used to store small quantities of other liquids.
He bought a keg of cider for the event.
Barrel
Used figuratively to mean a large quantity.
They bought a barrel of laughs at the comedy show.
Keg
Informally, to party, especially in college contexts.
They planned to keg all night after finals.
Barrel
To move very fast in a particular direction.
The car barreled down the highway.
Keg
A unit of measurement in breweries.
The brewery produced 500 kegs this month.
Barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wood or metal hoops.
Keg
A keg is a small barrel. Traditionally, a wooden keg is made by a cooper and used to transport items such as nails, gunpowder, and a variety of liquids.
Barrel
A cylindrical container bulging out in the middle, traditionally made of wooden staves with metal hoops round them
The wine is then matured in old barrels
Keg
A small cask or barrel with a capacity of about 30 gallons (114 liters).
Barrel
A tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen
A gun barrel
Keg
Such a container and its contents.
Barrel
The belly and loins of a four-legged animal such as a horse
A Welsh mountain pony with a barrel like a butt of wine
Keg
A unit of weight used for nails, equal to 100 pounds (45.5 kilograms).
Barrel
Drive or move in a way that is so fast as to almost be out of control
We barrelled across the Everglades
Keg
To put or store in a small cask or barrel.
Barrel
Put into a barrel or barrels
When the young spirit is barrelled, it absorbs some of this flavour
Keg
A round, traditionally wooden container of lesser capacity than a barrel, often used to store beer.
Barrel
A large cylindrical container, usually made of staves bound together with hoops, with a flat top and bottom of equal diameter.
Keg
(transitive) To store in a keg.
Barrel
The quantity that a barrel with a given or standard capacity will hold.
Keg
A small cask or barrel.
Barrel
Abbr. bar. or bbl. or bl. Any of various units of volume or capacity. In the US Customary System it varies, as a liquid measure, from 31 to 42 gallons (117 to 159 liters) as established by law or usage.
Keg
The quantity contained in a keg
Barrel
The thicker portion of a baseball bat, from which the most powerful hits are struck.
Keg
Small cask or barrel
Barrel
The cylindrical part of a firearm through which the bullet travels.
Barrel
A cylinder that contains a movable piston.
Barrel
The drum of a capstan.
Barrel
The cylinder within the mechanism of a timepiece that contains the mainspring.
Barrel
The trunk of a quadruped animal, such as a horse or cow.
Barrel
The tubular space inside a wave when it is breaking.
Barrel
(Informal) A large quantity
A barrel of fun.
Barrel
(Slang) An act or instance of moving rapidly, often recklessly, in a motor vehicle.
Barrel
Resembling or similar to a barrel, as in shape
A barrel chest.
Barrel hips.
Barrel
To put or pack in a barrel.
Barrel
To move or progress rapidly
"That the European Union barreled ahead was not surprising" (Richard W. Stevenson).
Barrel
(countable) A round (cylindrical) vessel, such as a cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends (head). Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
A cracker barrel
Barrel
Such a cask of a certain size, holding one-eighth of what a tun#Noun holds. (See a diagram comparing cask sizes.)
Barrel
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel: the volume or weight this represents varies by local law and custom.
Barrel
A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case
The barrel of a windlass;
The barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.
Barrel
A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged.
Barrel
(television) A ceiling-mounted tube from which lights are suspended.
Barrel
(archaic) A tube.
Barrel
(zoology) The hollow basal part of a feather.
Barrel
(music) The part of a clarinet which connects the mouthpiece and upper joint, and looks rather like a barrel (1).
Barrel
(surfing) A wave that breaks with a hollow compartment.
Barrel
A waste receptacle.
Throw it into the trash barrel.
Barrel
The ribs and belly of a horse or pony.
Barrel
(obsolete) A jar.
Barrel
(biology) Any of the dark-staining regions in the somatosensory cortex of rodents, etc., where somatosensory inputs from the contralateral side of the body come in from the thalamus.
Barrel
(baseball) A statistic derived from launch angle and exit velocity of a ball hit in play.
Barrel
(transitive) To put or to pack in a barrel or barrels.
Barrel
(intransitive) To move quickly or in an uncontrolled manner.
He came barrelling around the corner and I almost hit him.
Barrel
(intransitive) To assume the shape of a barrel; specifically, of the image on a computer display, television, etc., to exhibit barrel distortion, where the sides bulge outwards.
Barrel
A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads; as, a cracker barrel. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.
Barrel
The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31½ gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds.
Barrel
A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.
Barrel
A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged.
Barrel
A jar.
Barrel
The hollow basal part of a feather.
Barrel
To put or to pack in a barrel or barrels.
Barrel
A tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
Barrel
A cylindrical container that holds liquids
Barrel
A bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
Barrel
The quantity that a barrel (of any size) will hold
Barrel
Any of various units of capacity;
A barrel of beer is 31 gallons and a barrel of oil is 42 gallons
Barrel
Put in barrels
Common Curiosities
Do barrels affect the taste of stored beverages?
Yes, wooden barrels can impart additional flavors and aid in the aging process of beverages like wine and whiskey.
Can you use a barrel for beer?
Yes, barrels can be used for beer, especially for specialty brews that benefit from the wood’s flavor characteristics.
How are kegs designed to preserve beer?
Kegs are designed to be airtight and are often used with pressurized gases like CO2 to keep beer fresh and prevent spoilage.
What materials are barrels and kegs made of?
Barrels are typically made from wood, while kegs are usually made from metals like stainless steel or aluminum.
What is the capacity range of a typical barrel?
Barrels can range widely in capacity from about 10 liters to over 200 liters.
Can you use a keg for beverages other than beer?
While uncommon, kegs can also be used for storing and serving other beverages like cider and soft drinks.
Why might a brewery choose to use a keg over a barrel?
Breweries may choose kegs for their durability, ease of transport, and ability to maintain the beer's condition as it was when brewed.
Are barrels reusable?
Yes, barrels are often reused, which can provide additional flavors to beverages.
What is the typical use of a keg?
Kegs are primarily used for storing, transporting, and dispensing beer.
What are some common sizes of kegs?
Common keg sizes include the U.S. half-barrel (15.5 gallons or about 59 liters) and quarter-barrel.
How do barrels and kegs differ in construction?
Barrels are made with wooden staves and metal hoops without using nails, whereas kegs are made from metal and are completely airtight.
Can barrels be used for water storage?
Yes, barrels, particularly those made of materials like plastic, are also used for water storage.
What are the environmental impacts of using barrels and kegs?
Wooden barrels often have a limited lifespan and can be difficult to recycle, whereas metal kegs can be reused many times and are more easily recycled.
What does "kegging" mean in brewing?
Kegging refers to the process of transferring brewed beer into kegs for carbonation and storage.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
