Confirmed but confidential: brand-locked refills by dispenser system

The best beer keg and capsule refills for 2026

Refill kegs are entirely locked to the dispenser system they are made for — a capsule built for one brand's compact dispenser will not fit another's coupler, mirroring the compatibility question that decides the dispenser itself. We treat availability here as something to verify at the point of purchase: the beer style range each system offers changes with the manufacturer's own catalog, and this hub reports what is confirmed for sale rather than presenting the market as static.

By Jean-Benoit Buisson

What we recommend

TrailKeg L16GCO26

Six 16-gram threaded food-grade CO2 cartridges with a 3/8-24 connection, for growlers and mini kegs.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
Thread
Standard 3/8-24 pitch
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz)
Quantity
6
Price per cartridge
$2.67, on the published price and count
Gas
Food grade and beverage grade, non-lubricated
Stated uses
Cocktails, seltzers, kombucha, carbonated growlers; also most CO2 bike tire inflators
Pressure
Not stated by the maker
Shelf life
Not stated by the maker
Warranty
Not stated by the maker
Amazon reference
B07TPB1Y8W
EAN
0853402008033
- The lowest entry price on this shelf at $15.99, which is the right way to test whether your dispenser takes threaded cartridges at all
- Non-lubricated gas, stated — a detail that matters because lubricant in the charge is what puts a taste in the drink
- Two dollars sixty-seven a cartridge: the Asura 30-pack on this shelf is $1.05 and the ICO 50-pack $1.18
Best for: Finding out whether your dispenser is threaded, for sixteen dollars

≈ $16
Check price on Amazon
PerfectDraft Leffe Blonde 6L

A 6-liter Leffe Blonde keg built for Philips PerfectDraft dispensers, with a 5-euro deposit included in the price. Confirmed live with a real price on Amazon.de; present on the French listing without a confirmed live price at the time of checking.

Volume
6 L
Beer
Leffe Blonde
Compatibility
Philips PerfectDraft dispensers only
Deposit
5 € included in the price, per the listing
- Directly compatible with the Philips PerfectDraft dispenser reviewed on this site, confirmed by the shared keg system name
- Leffe is a well-known, established beer brand within the PerfectDraft catalog
- Only fits PerfectDraft dispensers — not compatible with Krups Beertender, H.Koenig BW1880 or any other dispenser reviewed on this site
Search Amazon for this model
ICO ICOC1610NT

Ten unthreaded 16-gram food-grade CO2 cartridges at about 900 psi, guaranteed for two years.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — UNTHREADED
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz) of CO2 at approximately 60 bar / 900 psi
Quantity
10
Price per cartridge
$1.80, on the published price and count
Purity
100% pure carbon dioxide — odorless, colourless, non-flammable; no minerals, salts or solids
Material
High-quality recyclable steel
Named compatible
GrowlerWerks uKeg 128, Biermaxx, Mini Keg Party Star Deluxe System and others
Also for
Beer machines, air dusters, CO2 tire inflators and other 16 g (0.6 oz) unthreaded devices
No tank needed
Replaces a tank and regulator for portable dispensing
Guarantee
Two years
Amazon reference
B006JQ3ET8
EAN
0880651000266
- The only cartridge on this shelf that publishes its pressure — approximately 60 bar, 900 psi — which is what a dispenser is actually being given
- Names three real appliances it fits: the GrowlerWerks uKeg 128, the Biermaxx and the Mini Keg Party Star Deluxe, where every other listing says "universal"
- A dollar eighty a cartridge, the most expensive of the two unthreaded options — RedRock’s 30-pack is $1.17
Best for: A uKeg, a Biermaxx or a Party Star — the appliances this listing names, with a pressure figure attached

≈ $18
Check price on Amazon
Heineken 5L Keg, Pack of 2

A pack of two 5-liter Heineken kegs built for the Krups Beertender system, with the listing noting they can also be used without a dispensing machine. Confirmed present on Amazon.fr; not confirmed present on the German listing checked, and no live price was found on either.

Volume
2 × 5 L
Compatibility
Krups Beertender dispensers; also usable standalone per the listing
- Directly compatible with the Krups Beertender Loft Edition reviewed on this site
- Sold as a pack of two, useful for stocking ahead rather than ordering single kegs repeatedly
- No live price found on the listing checked at the time of research
Search Amazon for this model
Asura AC16-20

Twenty threaded 16-gram food-grade CO2 cartridges on a 3/8-inch 24-TPI thread.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
Thread
3/8 inch with 24 threads per inch
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz)
Quantity
20
Price per cartridge
$1.35, on the published price and count
Gas
Pure food grade
Neck
Standard size and threads
Compatibility
All 16 g (0.6 oz) threaded CO2 bike inflators, per the maker
Pressure
Not stated by the maker
Shelf life
Not stated by the maker
Warranty
Not stated by the maker
Amazon reference
B079ZRRG9W
EAN
0755717532671
- Publishes the thread properly — 3/8 inch, 24 threads per inch — rather than calling it universal
- Five short bullets that are a specification and nothing else: weight, thread, count, use, fit
- The same maker sells thirty for $31.50, which is $1.05 a cartridge — this box is thirty cents a cartridge dearer
Best for: Nothing the 30-count box of the same cartridge does not do better

≈ $27
Check price on Amazon
Asura AC16-30

Thirty threaded 16-gram food-grade CO2 cartridges — the lowest price per cartridge on this shelf.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
Thread
3/8 inch with 24 threads per inch
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz)
Quantity
30
Price per cartridge
$1.05, on the published price and count — the lowest here
Gas
Pure food grade
Neck
Standard size
Compatibility
All 16 g (0.6 oz) threaded CO2 bike inflators, per the maker
Pressure
Not stated by the maker
Shelf life
Not stated by the maker
Warranty
Not stated by the maker
Amazon reference
B01AB3DQEW
EAN
0755717532510
- A dollar and five cents a cartridge, the cheapest CO2 on this shelf and 61% of what the six-pack charges
- The full thread specification — 3/8 inch, 24 TPI — on a five-line listing with no filler
- No pressure, no shelf life, no certification and no warranty, where the ICO 50-pack publishes all four for 13 cents more each
Best for: The cheapest threaded CO2 on this shelf, bought by the box

≈ $32
Check price on Amazon
REDROCK Not stated by the maker

Thirty individually sealed unthreaded 16-gram food-grade CO2 cartridges for mini kegs and soda siphons.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — UNTHREADED
Neck
Smooth, unthreaded
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz)
Quantity
30
Price per cartridge
$1.17, on the published price and count
Gas
100% pure food-grade CO2
Sealing
Each cartridge individually sealed, leak-proof, stated zero CO2 loss in storage
Stated uses
Homebrew beer, soda makers, seltzers, beer keg chargers, keg taps, compact draft setups
Pressure
Not stated by the maker
Named compatible appliances
None — "a wide range of dispensers"
Warranty
Not stated by the maker
Amazon reference
B076NTQ1NS
EAN
0799632090861
- The cheapest unthreaded cartridge on this shelf at $1.17 — 63 cents a cartridge less than the ten-pack alternative
- Individually sealed, with a stated claim of no CO2 loss during storage, which is the thing that goes wrong with a box of cartridges in a cupboard
- No pressure figure and no named compatible appliance, where the other unthreaded box on this shelf publishes 900 psi and names three machines
Best for: Thirty unthreaded cartridges at the lowest unthreaded price on this shelf, for a dispenser you already know fits

≈ $35
Check price on Amazon
JaylyHala 12g set — Original type

A refillable 304 stainless 12-gram CO2 cartridge with a bottom fill valve, rated 2200 psi and 500-plus cycles.

Type
REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
Charge
12 g (0.4 oz)
Thread
3/8"-24UNF, with an 8 mm (0.31 in) male plug
Fill valve
Bottom valve, for gas storage tank refills or pagoda-head inflation
Maximum pressure
15 MPa / 2200 psi
Material
304 stainless steel
Cycles
500 or more
Required equipment
A high-pressure inflation pump — stated by the maker as the premise
Gases
CO2, green gas or soda gas, per the maker
Size
88 × 18 × 88 mm (3.46 × 0.71 × 3.46 in)
Listing note
The five bullets describe BOTH JaylyHala models; only the title says which arrives
Amazon reference
B0FGWB8HCF
EAN
0749243430303
- Five hundred refills against disposable cartridges at $1.05 each — on the published figures that is $525 of gas through one steel body
- Publishes its maximum pressure, 15 MPa / 2200 psi, which only one disposable cartridge on this shelf does in any form
- Twelve grams against the 16 g (0.6 oz) of every disposable here: a quarter less gas per fill
Best for: Someone who already owns a high-pressure pump and will refill five hundred times

≈ $36
Check price on Amazon
JaylyHala 12g set — New type

The dual-seal version of JaylyHala’s refillable 12-gram stainless cartridge, with no bottom valve.

Type
REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
Charge
12 g (0.4 oz)
Seal
Double sealing design, stated to minimize air leakage risk
Bottom valve
None — this is the difference from the Original type
Thread
3/8"-24UNF, with an 8 mm (0.31 in) male plug
Maximum pressure
15 MPa / 2200 psi
Material
304 stainless steel
Cycles
500 or more
Required equipment
A high-pressure inflation pump — stated by the maker as the premise
Filling
Pagoda head with a high-pressure pump
Size
88 × 18 × 88 mm (3.46 × 0.71 × 3.46 in)
Listing note
The five bullets are identical to the Original listing and describe both models
Amazon reference
B0FGX84VVF
EAN
0745526639708
- A double seal, which on a vessel refilled five hundred times is where the failure would be — and the only stated reason this version exists
- The same 2200 psi rating, the same 304 stainless and the same 500 cycles as the cheaper version
- A dollar ninety over the Original, with five bullets that are word for word the same — nothing on the page explains the price
Best for: The refillable for anyone who will fill by pump and would rather have two seals than a valve

≈ $38
Check price on Amazon
ICO Not stated by the maker

Fifty threaded 16-gram CO2 cartridges made in Europe to EU food standards, TÜV certified, with a five-year shelf life.

Type
Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
Thread
3/8"-24 TPI, precision engineered
Neck length
11 mm (0.43 in), stated to seal without jamming or leaking
Charge
16 g (0.6 oz)
Quantity
50
Price per cartridge
$1.18, on the published price and count
Purity
100% pure CO2 manufactured to EU food standards; stated safe for kitchen use with no metallic aftertaste
Certification
TÜV certified, manufactured in Europe in a specialized facility
Testing
Each canister tested for pressure consistency
Sealing surface
Flat, to prevent damage to an inflator’s O-rings
Size and weight
3.5 in long, 2 oz
Shelf life
5 years
Tire figures
A road tire to 100 psi or an MTB tire to 40 psi, per the maker
Amazon reference
B0CFYFZDVR
EAN
0880651005674
- The only cartridge on this shelf with a certification: TÜV, made in Europe, to EU food standards, with each canister tested for pressure consistency
- The only one that publishes a neck length (11 mm (0.43 in)), a shelf life (5 years), a length (3.5 in) and a weight (2 oz)
- Titled and written for cyclists, with the beverage use confined to one bullet
Best for: The best-documented CO2 on this shelf, for a kitchen and a bike both

≈ $59
Check price on Amazon
NPASDHOIW Not stated by the maker

A refillable 32-gram stainless steel CO2 cartridge on a 3/8-24UNF thread for cocktail machines and beer kegs.

Type
REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
Charge
32 g (1.1 oz) — the largest on this shelf
Thread
3/8-24UNF
Material
SS304 stainless steel
Stated sizes
Compatible with 8 g (0.3 oz), 12 g (0.4 oz) and 32 g (1.1 oz) cartridges, per the maker
Stated uses
Cocktail machines, seltzer makers, beer kegs
Refilling
With the maker’s Refill Charger A, B, C and D — not described further
Maximum pressure
Not stated by the maker
Refill cycles
Not stated by the maker
Dimensions
Not stated by the maker
Weight
Not stated by the maker
Amazon reference
B0GQXTTR24
EAN
9499392736283
- Thirty-two grams, double the 16 g (0.6 oz) of every disposable on this shelf and nearly three times the JaylyHala refillables
- SS304 stainless on the standard 3/8-24UNF thread, so it screws into the same dispensers as the threaded cartridges here
- No maximum pressure published, on a refillable pressure vessel — the JaylyHala refillables publish 15 MPa / 2200 psi
Best for: The largest refillable charge here, for someone willing to ask the seller four questions first

≈ $59
Check price on Amazon

The need before the model, across beer keg & capsule refills

Lasting a whole evening

The keg volume decides how many glasses are served before a change. Changing keg mid-service breaks the rhythm.

PerfectDraft Leffe Blonde 6L

Costing less than the same beer in bottles

A proprietary five-liter keg often costs more than the same volume in bottles. The price per liter, worked out from the stated volume, is this aisle's only honest comparison.

TrailKeg L16GCO26

Who buys what, across beer keg & capsule refills

Compact dispenser: Proprietary mini-kegs are convenient and cost a lot per liter. That is the format's business model.
Standard-keg dispenser: The cost per liter drops considerably with a commercially available keg. That is what makes a full installation pay.
Discovering beers: The available catalog depends entirely on the keg system. That is what limits things most in practice.

Nothing is free: the trade-offs of beer keg & capsule refills

Proprietary format against cost per liter: Mini-kegs are easy to handle and cost several times the price of a standard keg per liter. That is a compact dispenser's real cost.
Volume against keeping: A large keg lasts longer and has to be drunk within the system's window. Oversizing leads to throwing beer away.
Deposit against outright purchase: Deposit kegs are taken back and tie up money; disposable ones are recycled and cost more per liter.

Buyers’ questions on beer keg & capsule refills

Are kegs compatible across appliances?

Rarely: each system has its own format. That determines the catalog of beers you can reach.

How long does an opened keg keep?

From a few days to several weeks depending on whether pressure is maintained. The appliance's instructions give the figure.

Does the keg need chilling first?

Absolutely, and several hours in advance. A warm keg put under pressure foams enormously.

What do I do with an empty keg?

Depending on the system, it goes back for the deposit or into recycling. The instructions say which.

Does an unopened keg keep for long?

It has a best-before date like any beer. Storing it cool and out of the light preserves the quality.

Can a keg be shaken?

Never before serving: the beer will foam heavily. Let it rest for several hours after transport.

Why does the beer come out flat?

Insufficient pressure, a keg at the end of its life, or an exhausted gas system. The first thing to check.

Should a keg be stored upright or on its side?

Upright and cool: on its side, the draw tube ends up out of the liquid and the first pull comes out foam. It is the most common cause of a failed first serve.

What to take away from beer keg & capsule refills

The keg format decides the catalog of beers and the cost per liter: the aisle's main constraint. Chill for several hours before serving, let it rest after transport, and oversizing a keg means throwing the end of it away.

The gist of beer keg & capsule refills, at a glance

Quantity: 6 to 50, on 6 of the 11 models.
Highest figure for charge: NPASDHOIW Not stated by the maker (32 g (1.1 oz) — the largest on this shelf).

A comparison of beer keg & capsule refills

A column is kept only when four references in five publish the figure. A gappy column suggests a comparison that does not exist.

Model	Price	Charge	Type
TrailKeg L16GCO26	$16	16 g (0.6 oz)	Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
ICOC1610NT	$18	16 g (0.6 oz) of CO2 at approximately 60 bar / 900 psi	Disposable CO2 cartridge — UNTHREADED
Asura AC16-20	$27	16 g (0.6 oz)	Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
Asura AC16-30	$32	16 g (0.6 oz)	Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
REDROCK Not stated by the maker	$35	16 g (0.6 oz)	Disposable CO2 cartridge — UNTHREADED
JaylyHala 12g set — Original type	$36	12 g (0.4 oz)	REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
JaylyHala 12g set — New type	$38	12 g (0.4 oz)	REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
ICO Not stated by the maker	$59	16 g (0.6 oz)	Disposable CO2 cartridge — THREADED
NPASDHOIW Not stated by the maker	$59	32 g (1.1 oz) — the largest on this shelf	REFILLABLE cartridge — not disposable
Heineken 5L Keg, Pack of 2	—	—	—
PerfectDraft Leffe Blonde 6L	—	—	—

Where each budget lands on this shelf

Lower range

$16 – $27

3 models

TrailKeg L16GCO26, ICOC1610NT, Asura AC16-20

Mid range

$32 – $36

3 models

Asura AC16-30, REDROCK Not stated by the maker, JaylyHala 12g set — Original type

Upper range

$38 – $59

3 models

JaylyHala 12g set — New type, ICO Not stated by the maker, NPASDHOIW Not stated by the maker

Sources, and how we work

Specifications: manufacturer sheets for bar and wine appliances and the matching Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa. Every figure in this table names its source.

Most recent revision in this category: October 4, 2026.

What we look at on beer keg & capsule refills

Prices quoted in these summaries are dated readings. The live price is shown next to each product.