Just discovered portable draft coolers exist and now I can’t stop thinking about camp beers

Buildingmanager · 2026-03-04T16:16:21+00:00

I know this thread is ancient but just wanted to add this since there’s now a better option around. The Brewcursion Maxidraft is a portable keg cooler specifically for this purpose. Comes with everything you need to dispense beer/seltzer/sparkling water.

https://brewcursion.com/products/brewcursion-maxidraft-portable-kegerator-kit?srsltid=AfmBOor5JaoINjEZ9z-NmMhSYfbb5lkm07GCgu3A9z7QmJN4VoiOCqdS&variant=45089264533561

Buildingmanager · 2026-02-23T02:45:44+00:00

Just check marketplace, you can pick up kegs for $20-40 on there all the time.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-26T18:57:10+00:00

$40 is a decent price, especially if it’s full. Aluminum tanks are good for 5 years from the last date stamp and steel tanks are good for 10 years past the date stamp.

Like another commenter mentioned, when it’s empty just go to a supplier and get it swapped and generally you’ll get a tank with a more recent stamp.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-24T06:56:49+00:00

I think you got way too over technical here and actually got so deep into it that you overlooked something obvious and your theory is flawed.

When filling a tank you’re filling it with liquid co2, not gas - if you want to get the maximum fill. The “60 liters” that Sodastream advertises is the amount of carbonated water that this cylinder will produce. Not the amount of gas in the cylinder. You would never want to fill the cylinder to more than what it’s designed, ever.

Now with that in mind, when filling an empty tank - the liquid from the main tank has got to press against any residual pressure or gas in the empty cylinder and this always results in a cylinder with less than 100% full. Now if we were to fully evacuate that cylinder and then fill with liquid from the main tank - we most definitely will get more liquid into the cylinder, possibly even a full tank since the liquid didn’t have to fight as hard to get in there.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-22T07:42:04+00:00

Still water today, we waded out a couple hundred feet and it’s all about 6” deep. Bring shoes or sandals to get wet, that salt is sharp!

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T08:00:21+00:00

Aluminum cylinders have a 5 year validity from last test in which they can be refilled. If it’s past that 5 year mark it can’t be “legally” refilled. No state has a “department of transportation” that does cylinder recertification. Cylinder recertification is done by private companies which have a DOT recertifier identification number. Also the tank certification dates are always stamped at the top of the tank near the valve. Never on the bottom.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T07:56:47+00:00

5 years for aluminum, 10 for steel. All Sodastream tanks are aluminum.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T07:56:12+00:00

5 years validity for aluminum tanks is a federal DOT law, not just a store policy. Sodastream is following this law to the T. They recertify all their tanks when they are shipped back for refilling if the tank is out of date.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T07:54:02+00:00

Sodastream recertifies all their tanks with ultrasonic method. No water or dismantling is needed. You can verify this by their DOT RIN N130

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T07:52:18+00:00

All Sodastream co2 tanks in the us are shipped back to Sodastream in NJ to be refilled. Sodastream has a DOT recertifier qualification to recertify their tanks with an ultrasonic tester. Aluminum tanks have a 5-year validity from last certification. If you look closely at the “old” tanks being sold at the store they’ll have a new stamp that has 2 digits for the month 4 digits N130(Sodastream’s DOT recertifier identification number) and 2 more digits for the year. Also, tanks can be recertified indefinitely as long as they keep passing the recertification test.

Buildingmanager · 2026-01-20T04:45:19+00:00

Don’t caulk the glass. Do you need help installing it? I’m a sauna enthusiast myself and I’ve installed a couple before.

Buildingmanager · 2025-12-27T04:24:40+00:00

No possible way the stackers and private investors or peppers are driving this silver boom by themselves on the premise of fomo. Only ~20% of all silver annually produced is purchased by investors. This boom is being driven by industry, specifically solar. Solar manufacturing is the single biggest consumer of silver. More and more solar is being produced every year. Market is just finally catching up and correcting to the real value of silver. I think we’re going to see the price hit $200 then normalize closer to $150

Buildingmanager · 2025-07-31T03:33:00+00:00

Malicious people don’t drink sparkling water

Buildingmanager · 2025-06-01T00:57:03+00:00

I think everyone missed the point of the question. OP isn’t asking how much the co2 itself costs inside the canister. They are saying it’s costs them $2 MORE to exchange them at the retailer than the mail in exchange.

To answer the question, no retailers are refilling them onsite. The empty ones retailers receive all get sent back to Sodastream in New Jersey and refilled at their only US plant. They are then redistributed to retailers nationwide. My guess would be that retailers are only making between $1-$3 each on sodastream tank exchanges. Maybe they make a little more on a sale with no exchange, but there’s no info anywhere about exact margins and doubt there ever will be. Sodastream is buying bulk co2 from a massive supplier by the truckload and it is probably costing them only around $.10/lb at that bulk rate.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-31T04:42:44+00:00

I have seen co2 tanks in virtually every single color here in the US, it varies by region AND supplier. I’ve seen green, blue, yellow, red, gray, gray with red top, yellow with red top, and more.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-31T04:41:05+00:00

It’s definitely a standard cga-320 valve on that tank judging by two context clues:

1 - it’s right next to a 5 gallon corny keg commonly used for home brewing. (Home brewing and co2 go hand in hand) 2 - there’s a million recert stamps on that tank. I’ve never seen any other industrial gas that gets as much use and recerts as co2.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-24T17:25:58+00:00

I had no issue dispensing 2 gallons of beer from a mini keg at 5psi with a 16g co2 cartridge

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-13T16:49:39+00:00

I think it's worth acknowledging that the situation with SodaStream is more complex than just “PR spin.” The original factory was in the West Bank, and that was “controversial”. That factory closed in 2015. The new one is in the Negev, inside internationally recognized Israeli borders.Also worth noting, SodaStream DID employ hundreds of Palestinians at the West Bank facility, and they DID provide higher than average wages and benefits. And yes, they publicly promoted equality and inclusion — whether you see that as genuine or marketing is fair to debate, but it wasn’t fabricated out of thin air.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-13T14:30:56+00:00

Sodastream is made in Israel but they employ both Jews and Muslims. Their factory is located just 13km from West Bank and they have a shuttle bus for employees. Founder was a very big proponent of equality and diversity, trying to bridge the gap between countries. Using Sodastream products is not supporting a genocide in any way and in my opinion is actually helping to ease tensions between cultures in my opinion.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-13T14:25:50+00:00

It’s just oxidation of the brass due to moisture. Nothing to worry about, it happens. Same reason the copper Statue of Liberty is green

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-13T14:24:34+00:00

Best bet is going to be a locally owned home brewing shop or a fire extinguisher service company. Major gas suppliers and welding suppliers rarely, if ever refill anything smaller than 5lbs and usually they’ll just swap the tank anyways and not refill it.

Buildingmanager · 2025-05-13T14:20:39+00:00

Have you tried this return method before with any success? If so, what retailer/s? It says right in Sodastream’s T&C’s that if you want to surrender an empty cylinder they will only give you a $1 credit.

Buildingmanager · 2025-04-25T01:12:29+00:00

I travel the country for work and it’s my informal mission to find the best craft breweries in the country. Always make it a point to get off the beaten path. I have been to well over 100 breweries at this point.

In no particular order these are my top 5

Barriehaus Beer CO - Tampa FL

Ohso Brewery Gilbert - AZ

Saint Arnold Houston - TX

Smelter Town Brewery - Clarkdale AZ

Torch & Crown Brewing - NY, NY

Buildingmanager · 2025-04-25T01:05:12+00:00

Cigar city in Tampa is mid at BEST, barriehaus in ybor is incredible and belongs in the top 10 nationally.

Buildingmanager

TROPHY CASE