As increasing numbers of professionals return to the office, many companies are renovating their space to create more attractive work environments for their staff. Among these rebuilds, some companies are installing new amenities, such as new coffee machines or kegerators, to offer free beverages to their in-office employees.
While an exciting addition to the office, kegerators can also be a daunting piece of equipment. Due to the variety of parts needed to connect kegs to your machine, the many keg options to choose from, and the large spectrum of beverages you can serve on tap, it can be tricky to know how to best utilize your kegerator as an amenity to your employees.
In this article we will walk through some beverages (other than beer) that you can offer on your new kegerator, and some companies that you can purchase the kegs through!
Commonwealth Joe is a turnkey solution for anyone looking for great beverages in their office. We provide kegerator rentals, keg delivery, machine maintenance, line-cleanings, and nitrogen tanks, all for one, low monthly price. Start pouring today with CWJ beverages on tap!
1. Cold Brew
Some offices seeking coffee with more flare than a drip coffee machine are turning to cold brew coffee on tap as their kegerator beverage of choice. There’s little surprise here, as Nitro Cold Brew, the cold coffee drink that exploded in popularity in 2016, is made to be served on tap; requiring kegs and nitrogen to create its signature flavor.
Nitro Cold Brew is a great choice for companies with a lot of coffee drinkers looking to drive more staff into the office. Purchasing kegged cold brew for your office can save your staff money on their daily coffee run and save you money in the long run - most kegged coffee options cost half of what you’d pay for cold brew at your local cafe. Cold brew is also often more caffeinated and less acidic than a standard cup of coffee, helping your office save money on coffee costs, stay productive, and stay healthy!
The largest barrier to serving cold brew in your kegerator is simply finding the right vendor for you. With most coffee companies now offering some sort of kegged cold brew program, it can be difficult to find the cold brew companies that give you the best flavor for the lowest price. That said, once you find the right cold brew for you, nitro cold brew on tap is sure to be a hit for your office!
Commonwealth Joe offers award-winning Nitro Cold Brew on tap. With competitive pricing and an all-inclusive service model, CWJ is the leading specialty coffee company in the U.S.
2. Soda
Soda on tap is a great option for offices with plenty of soda drinkers looking to lower their carbon footprint. Because kegs are reusable and can hold anywhere from 5 to 15.5 gallons of soda, you will save roughly 56 to 168 aluminum cans for every keg you tap!
Soda is also an excellent option if you’re looking for a non-caffeinated beverage option that can serve as an afternoon pick-me-up. Companies like Tractor and Stewart’s are exceptional craft soda options for those seeking organic or naturally flavored sodas.
The one downside to soda on tap is ease of kegging. There aren’t many companies that offer pre-kegged sodas, as soda dispensers are generally their own machine. That said, Tractor does sell 2.5 gallon bags of their soda syrup, which can be mixed with water in 5-gallon corny kegs relatively easily. So, if your company loves soda and you don’t mind prepping the beverage kegs yourself, soda on tap could be a great option for you!
3. Seltzer
From relative new-comers, like La Croix, to old staples, like Perrier, seltzer water came back strong in 2015 and hasn’t looked back since. This blossomed into the popularity of hard seltzers soon after, with brands like Truly and White Claw. Seltzer is a great beverage to consider as it’s versatile, well-liked, non-caffeinated, and available in a variety of flavors!
Non-alcoholic seltzer is a beverage to consider for more health conscious offices, as it has no sugar, no calories, and few non-organic additives. Seltzer is also non-caffeinated, which makes it a perfect afternoon beverage for those needing a post-lunch coffee alternative.
Seltzer’s one flaw is its seasonality. Studies show that seltzer becomes much more popular in warmer months then decreases in consumption during the Fall and Winter. That said, if your company operates from a warmer city or is looking for a summer beverage offering in your kegerator, seltzer could fill this role well. Whether you like your seltzer spiked or not, seltzer is a great option to consider for your kegerator offering.
Commonwealth Joe delivers seltzer to office spaces across the country. Try our cool-lime seltzer in your office today!
4. Hard Cider
Looking for a happy hour beverage for your office? Hard cider could be a great choice for your kegerator! Hard cider has a sweeter flavor profile than most beers, making it an accessible and exciting option for post-work gatherings.
Similar to seltzer, the choices for hard cider kegs are endless, with most cideries offering deals on keg deposits and deliveries. Depending on your office’s preferences, there are options available from more craft cideries - Farnum Hill - to your more standard cider offering - Angry Orchard.
The biggest factor to consider with any alcohol on tap for your kegerator, Hard Cider included, is price. On average, alcohol will be more expensive than most non-alcoholic beverages. For example, the going rate for hard cider kegs in NYC is roughly $180 / keg, which is ten to twenty percent more than the standard cold brew or seltzer keg. However, if you’re willing to pay the additional cost, hard cider could be a great beverage for office social events or Fall gatherings!
5. Kombucha
Last but not least, kombucha is an increasingly popular choice for kegerator owners looking to serve a non-alcoholic beverage with the flavor complexity of a cocktail or beer. Kombucha acts as an excellent non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic offering for offices seeking a standout beverage offering for their new kegerator.
The most exciting aspect of kombucha on tap is the vast range of flavor options available. Because of the complex fermentation process involved with brewing kombucha, your typical lemon-lime or orange flavors are replaced by options like elderberry, mango-peach, or gingerberry. Kombucha brewers like Wild Bay, GT’s, and Health-Ade have extensive menus of flavors you can choose from when deciding on your ideal kombucha.
Kombucha’s weakness is usually people’s unfamiliarity with the beverage. Because of its relatively new arrival into pop culture, some have never heard of or tried kombucha before, which could make it a tougher sell to your office when deciding your beverage offerings. That said, if you’re looking for an adventurous drink option for your kegerator, kombucha will happily fill that role!
Commonwealth Joe is proud to partner with Mobtown Fermentation, offering Wild Bay Kombucha on tap to all our East Coast customers. Be adventurous! Start pouring Elderberry or Mango Peach kombucha in your kegerator.
Start Pouring!
There are more options than ever for kegerator owners. Whether it’s kombucha or cold brew, don’t feel resigned to beer when it comes to what you’re serving. No matter what you choose, when your staff returns to the office, ensure they’re excited for what’s on-tap!
By: Christian Hall