A method of manufacturing and fillings kegs with beer in a keg filling plant, which keg filling plant is disposed within one sole building, said method comprising the steps of:
- inputting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, into a computer, a desired number of kegs to be produced in a first run of kegs, which kegs in said first run of kegs are of a first size;
- determining, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, when to begin production of spears for said kegs in said first run of kegs with said computer;
- beginning, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, production of a first run of spears for said kegs in said first run of kegs;
- providing, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, a first run of fittings for kegs in said first run of kegs;
- each fitting in said first run of fittings being configured to connect to a coupler, such as a coupler used in home bars, commercial bars, or restaurants, and which fitting is further configured to permit flow of beer from a keg to a coupler;
- cutting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, a first length of riser tube, from a stock of riser tube material, for each keg in said first run of kegs, which first length of riser tube corresponds to a keg of a first size;
- connecting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each fitting in said first run of fittings to a corresponding riser tube of said first length and producing spears in said first run of spears for kegs in said first run of kegs;
- producing, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, at least a portion of said spears for kegs of said first run of kegs during said first run of kegs;
- filling, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each keg in said first run of kegs;
- each keg in said first run of kegs comprising an opening configured to receive an assembled spear;
- inserting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each spear from said first run of spears into each filled keg in said first run of kegs;
- connecting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each spear from said first run of spears to each opening of each filled keg in said first run of kegs and closing said opening;
- inputting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, into a computer, a desired number of kegs to be produced in a second run of kegs, which kegs in said second run of kegs are of a second size;
- said second size of said kegs in said second run being different than said first size of said kegs in said first run;
- determining, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, prior to the conclusion of said first run of kegs, with said computer, when to stop production of spears in a first run of spears for said kegs in said first run of kegs and when to begin production of spears in a second run of spears for said kegs in said second run of kegs in order to minimize the amount of time between the conclusion of said first run of kegs and the commencement of said second run of kegs;
- stopping, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, production of spears for said kegs in said first run of kegs;
- stopping, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, filling of each keg in said first run of kegs;
- beginning, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, production of a second run of spears for said kegs in said second run of kegs;
- providing, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, a second run of fittings for kegs in said second run of kegs;
- each fitting in said second run of fittings being configured to connect to a coupler, such as a coupler used in home bars, commercial bars, or restaurants, and which fitting is further configured to permit flow of beer from a keg to a coupler;
- cutting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, a second length of riser tube, from a stock of riser tube material, for each keg in said second run of kegs, which second length of riser tube corresponds to a keg of a second size;
- said second length which corresponds to a keg of a second size being different from said first length which corresponds to a keg of a first size;
- connecting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each fitting in said second run of fittings to a corresponding riser tube of said second length and producing spears in said second run of spears for kegs in said second run of kegs;
- producing, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, at least a portion of said spears for kegs of said second run of kegs during said second run of kegs;
- filling, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each keg in said second run of kegs;
- each keg in said second run of kegs comprising an opening configured to receive an assembled spear;
- inserting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each spear from said second run of spears into each filled keg in said second run of kegs;
- connecting, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, each spear from said second run of spears to each opening of each filled keg in said second run of kegs and closing said opening;
- stopping, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, stopping production of spears for said kegs in said second run of kegs;
- and
- stopping, within said sole building of said keg filling plant, filling of each keg in said second run of kegs.