A Cornelius keg (commonly known as a Corny keg or soda keg) is a stainless steel canister originally manufactured for the soft drink industry to hold premix soda. These kegs became virtually obsolete for the major beverage companies with the introduction of Bag-in-Box Beverages. At one point in time, Corny Kegs were plentiful and dirt cheap. Corny Kegs experienced a resurrection as they became the industry standard for home brewers, coffee shops dispensing nitro cold brew, and restaurants serving batched cocktails. Unlike standard commercial Sanke kegs, Corny kegs are highly favored for small batches because they feature a wide, completely removable lid that allows you to easily reach inside to scrub, clean, and replace individual parts without specialized commercial equipment. As a result, Corny Kegs are now in high demand combined with decreased availability, the prices have increased substantially due to supply and demand. New-production kegs are now replacing retired soda-industry inventory.

Ball Lock vs. Pin Lock Kegs
Corny kegs come in two distinct styles depending on the connection posts at the top.

• Ball Lock Kegs: Originally used by Pepsi, these are the most popular style among modern homebrewers. The gas-in and liquid-out posts use a spring-loaded ring mechanism to snap the quick disconnect lines into place.
• Pin Lock Kegs: Originally used by Coca-Cola, these use small pins protruding from the sides of the posts. The disconnect lines slide down and twist onto these pins to lock into place. They are slightly shorter and wider than ball lock models.

Typical System Anatomy
Every standard Corny keg is split into a few basic components that make it easy to tinker with and service:

• The Removable Lid: Features a large rubber O-ring to hold a tight pressure seal and an integrated pull-ring Pressure Relief Valve (PRV) to safely depressurize the tank.
• Gas-In Post: The shorter internal metal or plastic dip tube where carbon dioxide (CO2) enters to pressurize the headspace.
• Liquid-Out Post: Connected to a long metal dip tube that extends all the way to the bottom of the keg to draw up clear beverage. Some modern variants feature a flexible floating dip tube to pull clear liquid from the top instead.

IPS offers repair parts and replacement parts for Corny Kegs in this category.