UKEG ™ Pressurized Growler Owner’s Manual 64 & 128
WELCOME TO YOUR UKEG Hello from the founders of GrowlerWerks. 2 We’d like to personally welcome you to your new uKeg. Thank you for making GrowlerWerks your choice in keeping beverages fresh and carbonated for more than two weeks. The uKeg is a unique product that gives you the functionality of a full-bar system, letting you be your own bartender wherever you go.
Visit growlerwerks.com/howto for a full instructional video. 1. 2. Install cartridge 4. 5. Charge cap Fill uKeg • First, rinse with cold water. • Fill from the bottom with fill-tube. Cap uKeg Pour and enjoy • Tighten sleeve quickly and firmly. • Sleeve does not need to bottom out. • Turn pressure up to desired setting. • Tilt glass, hold close to the spout. • Open tap completely, let go. CARBONATION SETTINGS Beverage Type Do not open sleeve when cartridge contains pressure.
The uKeg is a complete beverage dispensing system to contain your beverage and keep it cold. Here’s a handy map to your uKeg’s parts, to help you find your way around. VPR Cap Variable Pressure Regulation Cap Pressure Dial Pressure Dial VPR Cap Tap Handle Cap O-ring Sleeve Seal Tap Body Carry Handle Tap Lock Gooseneck Upper Fitting Cartridge Seal * Other gases may be used: Argon can be used for non-carbonated beverages. N2O cream chargers won’t carbonate but can yield a smoother character.
Make sure retaining nut is tight. Sleeve doesn’t need to bottom out. Correct sleeve seal orientation means ridges point down. Cap O-ring tight, smooth Pressure off is counterclockwise. Cartridge seal rounded, smooth, clean Removing a cartridge: What to expect from your cap: • Before installing cartridge, do these things. • You can turn off the cap and remove it at any time. • Cartridge will last for one growler fill, with some left over that can be used during cleaning (see page 7).
USING YOUR UKEG LIKE A PRO 6 Filling your uKeg • • • • • Rinse with cold water. • Fill from the bottom up with a fill tube with the tap open. • Put cap on yourself, to avoid overtightening. • Perfect in your • Secure upright. • Can turn sideways. refrigerator door. • Lower pressure. • Turn to transport or • May vent with elevation • Keep out of direct dispense sideways. sunlight to prevent increase. • Sometimes nut will be fittings from getting hot.
Hand Wash Only Remove cap and rinse uKeg with hot water (< 120° F). • R epeat 3 times. 2. Rinse cap and sleeve with hot water (< 120° F). Install cap, charge briefly, flow a little water through tap, close tap. • Let sit for 10 minutes. • Then open tap until uKeg is empty or pressure runs out. Shake with tap open, facing downward. •W ater may or may not come out of tap. • Repeat until water runs clean. Do not clean with basic cleaners like ammonia. 5. 3. 6.
The uKeg is a complete beverage dispensing system, and it will experience some wear and tear as it ages. As with a commercial system, you can expect to replace a few seals and components but the uKeg is designed to make this simple. Here are a few of the most common procedures you may encounter. For more information on these and other aspects, plus videos of maintaining your uKeg, please visit or contact technical support. MAINTAINING YOUR UKEG www.growlerwerks.
Copper and Black Chrome uKegs: The color of your uKeg is actually a metal coating that is electroplated onto the stainless steel bottle in a thin layer and then covered with a protective lacquer finish. Your copper uKeg should not corrode or turn green, but it can be expected to darken slightly over time. • To remove spots, discoloration, or minor blemishes, gentle rubbing with a soft cloth and water is recommended.
Force carbonating homebrew: 1 Fill the uKeg to the fill line with your beer after fermentation. •• Do not add priming sugar. •• lf you bottle, add the priming sugar to the bottling bucket after filling the uKeg. •• Remember to adjust your sugar addition for actual volume of beer you’ll be bottling. FORCE CARBONATING 2 Install CO2 into cap and install cap onto uKeg. 10 3 Purge oxygen from uKegs: •• •• •• •• Turn on cap to 1-2 psi then turn off again. Loosen cap slightly to vent pressure.
Red Brut Eastside Mule Ingredients: Ingredients: •1 uKeg™ 128 • 1 Bottle – Wild Roots Raspberry Infused Vodka (or any vodka + raspberries) • 3 Liters – Torre Oria Brut (champagne, moscato, or prosecco) • 1 Lemon • 1 Box Raspberries • 1 Bundle Mint Leaves Pour entire bottle of Wild Roots Raspberry Infused Vodka & 3 liters (four 750 ML bottles) Torre Oria Brut into uKeg 128. Charge the cap with CO2 (using a 16-gram cartridge ensures you’ll have enough CO2 to carbonate and dispense). Grab your flute.
TROUBLESHOOTING 12 TROUBLESHOOTING SOLUTION Leaks gas as soon as the cartridge is installed. • Make sure regulator dial is off, turned all the way counter clockwise. • Tighten the cartridge seal retaining nut. • Replace cartridge seal if it is damaged. The tap is open, but no beer comes out. • Make sure a CO2 cartridge is installed, the cap is turned on, and pressure is indicated on the pressure gauge. • Turn off cap and remove from uKeg. Turn on dial slightly until hissing is heard.
SOLUTION Pressure gauge only reads 0 psi or never changes. • Dial may be temporarily stuck. Tap on face of gauge while under pressure. • Beer may be dried in the gauge. Follow pressure gauge cleaning procedure. • Gauge may be damaged. Contact technical support for assistance. Pressure gauge stuck above 0 psi when off. • Beer may be dried in the gauge. Follow pressure gauge cleaning procedure. • Gauge may have been overpressurized or developed an internal defect. Contact technical support for assistance.
Tap assembly VPR Cap bottom assembly Tap Handle Cap O-ring Tap Handle Set Screw Rocker Seal Gooseneck Lower Gooseneck Seal Sight Tube Riser Tube O-ring (x2) Piecer Cartridge Seal Lock Pin Upper Gooseneck Seal Sight Tube O-ring (x2) Piercer O-ring Rocker INSIDE YOUR UKEG Size -224 Pin Seat High Side Pin Pin Spring Rocker Nut 14 Sight tube assembly Tap Assembly Riser Tube Reatining Nut Tap Body Upper Fitting Shuttle Sight Guard Shuttle O-ring Riser Socket Lower Fitting O-ring Lower F
Warranty and Returns The uKeg comes with a limited one-year warranty from date of receipt of a new purchase from an authorized retailer. Please read the full warranty at: www.growlerwerks.com/warranty. TM Questions or concerns? Contact us at info@growlerwerks.com or call 971-266-1477. Register your uKeg Registering your uKeg gains you access to customer service. It also ensures that your one-year warranty is properly applied. www.growlerwerks.
Visit GrowlerWerks.com for more helpful uKeg products. TM Bar mats Maintenance kits Wooden carrying case Cleaning tablets Wooden tap handles Version 2.
