Your beer’s journey is only really starting once it leave your brewery. And ensuring your beer reaches the consumer in the way you intended requires high-quality packaging and distribution to match.

The term keg, barrels that protect and help transport beer, has been present in beer, parlance for centuries. And when it comes to the broader idea of wooden barrels, this invention is widely attributed to the Celts around 350 BC.

Closer to the modern day there are records of a patent application for a sheet metal beer keg or barrel submitted by Joseph C. Roth in 1897 while regarded beer writer Gary Gillman notes that Whitbread used ‘keg’ to describe draught beer in 1936, some two decades before the term gained real traction.

The form, and capacity of these vessels and changed and evolved in that time. Breweries can operate their own fleets of kegs or employ leasing, inventory and tracking firms to handle that side of business.

While on the other side of the spectrum one-way kegs came to market nearly 30 years ago in 1996 and growing greatly in capacity some 10 years later when the craft beer movement started to take hold.

And when it comes to handling, distributing and delivering your brewery’s beers, there are a number of highly regarded options to ensure your product reaches the customer in the condition and timeframe you intended.

In this article we shine the spotlight on the latest developments across this spectrum and then showcase some leading companies in these spaces, too.

Creative Containers

In spring, a new keg supply business offering a ‘one stop keg supply shop’ was launched.The Keg Warehouse, which is the brainchild of Darren Duncan, has been founded to offer a raft of keg choices to drinks industry customers.

With a wealth of industry experience Duncan is sourcing, storing and supply a range of keg solutions and accessories from global suppliers to make the keg filling process simple. 

This includes traditional steels, economy single use plus multi-use as well as long-term reusable “bag in keg” systems.

Duncan tells us that The Keg Warehouse is working Inoxcva, which he described as a world leading steel keg manufacturer. 

The have been at the forefront of cryogenic containers for CO2, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Hydrogen, and have expanded into manufacturing stainless steel kegs for beverage companies. 

The company’s kegs range from 5L to 1/2 bbl, and they meet EURO, DIN, and US standards. What sets them apart is their ability to customize kegs to your specific needs—whether it’s sturdiness, ease of handling, or personalized branding, they explained.

And last month Loughran Brewers Select announced the addition of 30L UniKeg to their full lineup of KeyKeg products – providing UK brewers with another convenient choice for their keg dispense options.

From the same OneCircle family as KeyKeg, UniKeg shares many of the same proven technology and components as the KeyKeg – and so are equally as sturdy and reliable, but also come with the additional convenience of a universal Sankey fitting. These features are all contained in a slimline, low weight package available at a competitive price point.

UniKegs utilise a unique Double Wall design as well as an extruded spear. Two PET cylinders form two walls, and this Double Wall works together to allow UniKegs to withstand not only very high internal pressures, but also the rough and tumble of the supply chain whilst remaining safe, sturdy and intact. With a universal Sankey (S-Type) coupler, UniKeg fits any CO2, nitrogen or mixed-gas dispensing system.

The product is 65% recyclable when empty, and are made from 45% circular materials. UniKegs can be recycled just like KeyKegs, with recycling options throughout the UK via the KeyKeg UK Return Partner network.

Natalie Maestri, KeyKeg sales manager for UK & Ireland explains: “We’ve been working with the team at Loughran Brewers Select for several years—first in Ireland, then in the UK—and have been blown away by the growing demand for KeyKegs.

“It’s great to see brewers and beverage producers embracing their convenience. Now that UK brewers can source not just the full KeyKeg range but also UniKegs from Loughran Brewers Select, we’re looking forward to seeing even more people enjoying great beer at festivals, pubs, and bars across the UK and beyond.”

Logistics and Distribution

At Kammac, which offers Third Party Logistics, Emma Jones, senior sales manager tells us that the business has just launched BevLink – a dedicated service built specifically for breweries and drinks brands who want “a smarter, more tailored way to manage their logistics”.

She says: “BevLink is designed as a true all-in-one logistics partner, helping drinks brands streamline every stage of their supply chain. Whether you’re an ambitious start-up or an established brewery, BevLink offers a smarter, more flexible approach to moving and managing beverages, so you can focus on what you do best: making great drinks.”

Central to this new offering is the company’s experience in offering services such as specialist transport and storage, bonded warehousing, keg sorting as well as B2B and B2C fulfilment. But taking a wider industry viewpoint, Jones is keen to highlight some trends the company is noticing, too.

“Breweries are seeing bigger and sharper peaks in demand, driven by weather patterns, sporting events, and national celebrations. Flexibility is key here. We’ve built systems that allow us to scale operations quickly when needed, whether that’s by adding shifts, expanding temporary storage, or adapting transport plans at short notice,” she explains.

“Sustainability is becoming a real priority rather than just a nice-to-have. Many breweries are looking at ways to reduce their environmental footprint.

“We’ve been working on making our logistics operations greener too, including partnering with Encirc to cut plastic use through initiatives like de-shrouding pallets and using tension banding guns – improving both product stability and sustainability.”

And looking ahead, Jones says brewing businesses should pa careful attention to important upcoming changes regarding alcohol labelling changes in the Republic of Ireland. These new regulations are expected to impact how alcoholic beverages are labelled, and breweries will need to update their labels to ensure compliance.

“There are practical solutions available – from re-labelling stock to co-packing new product lines – and we are already set up to help with this if needed.

“Our certifications, including FHDDS and AEO, also mean we can support exports efficiently, helping brands navigate any knock-on effects in European markets,” she explains.

“Whether breweries decide to handle changes independently or work with partners, being proactive will make all the difference in staying ahead.”

Also in the drinks logistics space are Tap’in, which offer specialist drinks logistics solutions tailored specifically for the drinks industry.

“Tap’in is an efficient, cost-effective and sustainable logistics solution for breweries that want to grow their business in London, whilst streamlining their operations without the complexities of managing the logistics themselves,” explains Kieron Summerhayes, sales director at the business.

“While we may not be the right fit for everyone, particularly those without sales teams or those that don’t meet our MOQ, our service does put an alternative option for breweries on the table.”

And further into 2025 and beyond Summerhayes says the business is making great strides to further cater for its brewing clients.

“One key development is our ongoing effort to integrate with Breww software, the platform most of our brewery customers already use,” he says.

“This integration will enable seamless data transfer between systems, reducing manual input and minimising the potential for errors. By streamlining this process, we aim to save breweries valuable time, improve accuracy, and enhance operational efficiency.”

He adds: “Furthermore, we continue to innovate within our own systems to increase efficiency across all stages of the supply chain. This includes optimising delivery routes, improving warehouse management, and expanding our scalable storage solutions to help breweries handle increasing demand.

“Our commitment to sustainability remains at the forefront, as we look for ways to further reduce emissions and consolidate deliveries, benefiting both the environment and your bottom line.”