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Alcoholic Drinks
Beer and Cider
How to Tap a Keg Download ArticleExplore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Get a “D” tap for a domestic beer keg. 2 Chill the keg for 1 hour before tapping it. 3 Lift the handle of the tap. 4 Line up the tap with the mouth of the keg. 5 Turn the tap clockwise. 6 Pull the handle out and down. 7 Pour your first beer. 8 Pump the tap when the flow is slow. 9 Lift the handle and turn the tap to untap the keg. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Nathan Taylor and Hannah Madden
Last Updated: February 19, 2026 Fact Checked
Download Article X
This article was co-authored by Nathan Taylor and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Nathan Taylor is a Mixologist and Owner of Cocktails Done Right based in Houston, TX. With over 25 years of experience, Nathan is passionate about providing first-class service and drinks, and training newer bartenders. Cocktails Done Right provides professional bartending services for special events, weddings, corporate events, and more. Their motto is “We mix the drinks, you mix the people”. His specialty is Vegas-style bartending with mind-blowing tricks and drinks. Nathan has 3 World Titles in Flair Bartending competitions, including one First Place Gold Shaker that he received while representing the US in Warsaw, Poland. He went to the Bartending School in 1993 and now works as an instructor at the Bartending and Mixology Academy. He is also a member of the United States Bartenders Guild. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 351,415 times.
You have the keg, you have the cups, and you have a bunch of thirsty friends. But before you can pass out any drinks, you gotta tap the keg. Fortunately, it’s a fairly simple process that won’t take more than a couple of minutes. To successfully tap your first keg, read through this article and get the party started!
Steps
1
Get a “D” tap for a domestic beer keg.
Download Article
In America, most kegs require a “D” tap. Quickly check that the grooves in the tap line up with the grooves in the top of the keg. You can also double check with the person you bought it from, because some imports will need a different tap. Other possible systems include:[1]XResearch source
European "S" system
Grundy "G" system
Advertisement 2
Chill the keg for 1 hour before tapping it.
Download Article
Use an ice bucket to keep your keg cold. Grab a large, plastic bucket and fill up the bottom half with ice. Place your keg into the bucket, then pour ice all around it to keep the entire thing cool. As beer warms up, it tends to get foamy, so chilling it will help stop it from going to waste as it foams up and out of your cups.[2]XResearch source
When it comes to kegs, the colder they are, the better. Start chilling it as soon as you bring it home, no matter when your party is.
Some beer experts swear by chilling your tap, too. This is optional, but if you want to make extra sure that your beer is cold, put the tap on ice for about 1 hour as well.
3
Lift the handle of the tap.
Download Article
Avoid spraying beer in your face by disengaging the tap. It’s a small step, but many people forget it—and it can lead to a huge mess! Before you start tapping your keg, grab your tap and make sure the handle is lifted up. Otherwise, beer will start spraying out right away.
Advertisement 4
Line up the tap with the mouth of the keg.
Download Article
Situate the tap over the keg to get started. If your keg has a plastic or cardboard cover on the mouth, take that off first. Then, insert the bottom of the tap into the keg.[3]XResearch source
5
Turn the tap clockwise.
Download Article
Lock the tap onto the keg by twisting it into place. Push down on the tap lightly to keep the grooves centered. As you push, turn the tap clockwise about 90 degrees. You don’t have to twist very hard—once you feel the tap lock into place, you can stop.
Advertisement 6
Pull the handle out and down.
Download Article
Engage the tap by putting the handle in the “on” position. Grab the handle and pull it out toward yourself, then gently push it down. Now your keg is officially tapped!
Do a quick check near the base of the tap to make sure it’s seated properly. If you see foamy bubbles escaping, take the tap off and try again.
7
Pour your first beer.
Download Article
Push the nozzle down on the tap to pour a beer. As you pour, keep the nozzle pushed down all the way to avoid adding any more foam. Your first beer will probably be a little foamy, so be prepared to pour some foam off the top.[4]XResearch source
Contrary to popular belief, you actually don’t need to pump the tap before you pour your first beer. In fact, pumping too much too early can lead to extra foam, which just means more wasted beer.
Advertisement 8
Pump the tap when the flow is slow.
Download Article
Pumping the tap creates more pressure and a stronger flow. As you pour beers throughout the night, keep an eye on how strong the stream is from the nozzle. If it turns into a trickle, grab the top of the tap and pump it 5 to 6 times.[5]XResearch source
Pumping the keg too much can lead to—you guessed it—too much foam. Stick to 5 or 6 pumps at a time to avoid wasting any of your beer.
9
Lift the handle and turn the tap to untap the keg.
Download Article
Untap the keg when it’s empty to tap a new keg. Pull the handle upwards on the tap to the “off” position. Then, twist the tap counterclockwise to unscrew it. You’ve now successfully untapped your keg![6]XResearch source
If you have a new keg, simply repeat the process on the full one to get the beer flowing again.
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Question What can I do if my system has no pump? Community Answer In that case, you would just have to tip the keg so the tap is at a point below the level of the drink. Be aware, however, that beer or lager in kegs is usually carbonated by the pumping system, so expect your drink to be flat (or invest in a cheap tap with mini CO2 cylinders). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question Do I need to make a hole in the bung a day before taping the ale? Gareth Wills Community Answer It's best to leave the keg to settle for at least 24 hours, then tap it and wait another 24 hours. This will let the ale settle nicely. For the best results, consider buying a spring rack which slowly tilts the barrel as it gets emptier. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Co-authored by: Nathan Taylor Mixologist This article was co-authored by Nathan Taylor and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Nathan Taylor is a Mixologist and Owner of Cocktails Done Right based in Houston, TX. With over 25 years of experience, Nathan is passionate about providing first-class service and drinks, and training newer bartenders. Cocktails Done Right provides professional bartending services for special events, weddings, corporate events, and more. Their motto is “We mix the drinks, you mix the people”. His specialty is Vegas-style bartending with mind-blowing tricks and drinks. Nathan has 3 World Titles in Flair Bartending competitions, including one First Place Gold Shaker that he received while representing the US in Warsaw, Poland. He went to the Bartending School in 1993 and now works as an instructor at the Bartending and Mixology Academy. He is also a member of the United States Bartenders Guild. This article has been viewed 351,415 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 15Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 351,415 Categories: Beer and CiderArticle SummaryX
To tap a keg with the American D, European S, or U systems, remove the plastic or cardboard cap from the top of the keg. Ensure the lever on the pump is pulled up, then seat the pump into the opening on the keg valve. Push the tap system down on the keg valve, then twist the tap clockwise about 90 degrees. Pull the pump lever out and push it down to engage the tap. If you see bubbles or foam escaping around the tap, disengage the pump and reseat it. If you need to learn how to tap a German A & M system or a Grundy G keg, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Reader Success Stories
Winni Ginni
Jan 8, 2017
"This was my first time tapping with a G. Easy peasey using your guide. Thanks so much!"
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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Nathan Taylor Mixologist Click a star to vote Co-authors: 15Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 351,415
Winni Ginni
Jan 8, 2017
"This was my first time tapping with a G. Easy peasey using your guide. Thanks so much!" Share yours!
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Download Article Explore this Article IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Get a “D” tap for a domestic beer keg. 2 Chill the keg for 1 hour before tapping it. 3 Lift the handle of the tap. 4 Line up the tap with the mouth of the keg. 5 Turn the tap clockwise. 6 Pull the handle out and down. 7 Pour your first beer. 8 Pump the tap when the flow is slow. 9 Lift the handle and turn the tap to untap the keg. + Show 6 more... - Show less... Other Sections Questions & Answers Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Nathan Taylor and Hannah Madden 
How toOpen a Beer Bottle 
Advertisement 
Co-authored by: Nathan Taylor Mixologist This article was co-authored by Nathan Taylor and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Nathan Taylor is a Mixologist and Owner of Cocktails Done Right based in Houston, TX. With over 25 years of experience, Nathan is passionate about providing first-class service and drinks, and training newer bartenders. Cocktails Done Right provides professional bartending services for special events, weddings, corporate events, and more. Their motto is “We mix the drinks, you mix the people”. His specialty is Vegas-style bartending with mind-blowing tricks and drinks. Nathan has 3 World Titles in Flair Bartending competitions, including one First Place Gold Shaker that he received while representing the US in Warsaw, Poland. He went to the Bartending School in 1993 and now works as an instructor at the Bartending and Mixology Academy. He is also a member of the United States Bartenders Guild. This article has been viewed 351,415 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 15 Updated: February 19, 2026 Views: 351,415 Categories: Beer and Cider Article SummaryX
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In America, most kegs require a “D” tap. Quickly check that the grooves in the tap line up with the grooves in the top of the keg. You can also double check with the person you bought it from, because some imports will need a different tap. Other possible systems include:[1] 
Use an ice bucket to keep your keg cold. Grab a large, plastic bucket and fill up the bottom half with ice. Place your keg into the bucket, then pour ice all around it to keep the entire thing cool. As beer warms up, it tends to get foamy, so chilling it will help stop it from going to waste as it foams up and out of your cups.[2] 
Avoid spraying beer in your face by disengaging the tap. It’s a small step, but many people forget it—and it can lead to a huge mess! Before you start tapping your keg, grab your tap and make sure the handle is lifted up. Otherwise, beer will start spraying out right away. Advertisement 
Situate the tap over the keg to get started. If your keg has a plastic or cardboard cover on the mouth, take that off first. Then, insert the bottom of the tap into the keg.[3] 
Lock the tap onto the keg by twisting it into place. Push down on the tap lightly to keep the grooves centered. As you push, turn the tap clockwise about 90 degrees. You don’t have to twist very hard—once you feel the tap lock into place, you can stop. Advertisement 
Engage the tap by putting the handle in the “on” position. Grab the handle and pull it out toward yourself, then gently push it down. Now your keg is officially tapped! 
Push the nozzle down on the tap to pour a beer. As you pour, keep the nozzle pushed down all the way to avoid adding any more foam. Your first beer will probably be a little foamy, so be prepared to pour some foam off the top.[4] 
Pumping the tap creates more pressure and a stronger flow. As you pour beers throughout the night, keep an eye on how strong the stream is from the nozzle. If it turns into a trickle, grab the top of the tap and pump it 5 to 6 times.[5] 
Untap the keg when it’s empty to tap a new keg. Pull the handle upwards on the tap to the “off” position. Then, twist the tap counterclockwise to unscrew it. You’ve now successfully untapped your keg![6] 
Community Answer In that case, you would just have to tip the keg so the tap is at a point below the level of the drink. Be aware, however, that beer or lager in kegs is usually carbonated by the pumping system, so expect your drink to be flat (or invest in a cheap tap with mini CO2 cylinders). Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0 
Gareth Wills Community Answer It's best to leave the keg to settle for at least 24 hours, then tap it and wait another 24 hours. This will let the ale settle nicely. For the best results, consider buying a spring rack which slowly tilts the barrel as it gets emptier. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1 