Today in 1877, US Patent 189795 A was issued, an invention of Freidrich Schtultz, for his “Improvement In Vent Attachments For Beer-Barrels.” There’s no Abstract, but according to the description, the “invention relates to a device for admitting air into beer-barrels, in order that the beer may be drawn therefrom, and at the same time prevent the escape of any of the gases arising from the beer.”

Today in 1969, US Patent 3438553 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Tapping Device for Beer Kegs and the Like.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states the following. “This invention relates to a new and improved tapping device for drawing liquids such as beer from containers such as beer kegs or barrels, using a gas to drive the fluid from the container. In particular, the invention relates to a new improved tapping device usable with conventional beer kegs such as the so-called peerless and golden gate systems, and comprises a sub-unit called a keg adapter which constantly seals the keg, and another sub-unit called a coupler which it attached to the beer dispensing apparatus in a restaurant or tavern and is readily connected to the keg adapter so that the tapping device is automatically in operating condition.”

Today in 1958, US Patent 2830611 A was issued, an invention of Harry Stelma, assigned to the Champion Safe Tap Co., for his “Container Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states it’s an “invention [that] relates, as indicated, to container tapping devices and, more particularly, to an improved device of this nature adapted to be used safely and efficiently to tap containers in which fluid is maintained under pressure,” which continues in greater detail:

My improved tap is intended principally for use in withdrawing beer from the usual kegs in which the beverage is transported and stored and will, accordingly, be considered and described in detail in connection with such an application thereof. As is well-known, considerable care must be exercised in the common practice of tapping a beer keg by using the draft tube to force the bung into the keg, since the resultant release of pressure may tear the tube from the users hands and cause body injury. The tapping device of my invention includes means preventative of such blowing of the draft tube.

Today in 1937, US Patent 2076893 A was issued, an invention of Aron E Johnson, for his “Beer Dispenser.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention relat[ing] to improvements in beer dispensers and aims primarily to provide a beer dispenser especially designed and constructed to avoid the defects previously existent in devices of this type.” Here’s the full story:

The beer dispensers heretofore in use have been defective in that no cushioning means was provided between their outer casings and their fragile beer containers, which in consequence resulted in 1o frequent breakage of the latter. Further, no provision was made heretofore for insulating the covers of such dispensers, hence the contents of the latter became warm and flat in a comparatively short time. Furthermore, no provision was made heretofore for sealing the covers and faucets of these beer dispensers, which fact resulted in the tampering with the contents of the same during the transportation thereof from the producing plants to the consumers.

The present invention, therefore, has for its purpose to obviate the above described defects. This has been primarily attained by providing cushioning means between the lower end of the outer casing and the fragile beer container, thus minimizing breakage of the latter, also by providing the present dispenser with an insulated cover which `protects the beer from becoming warm and at, and also by providing sealing means for the cover and faucet of the instant dispenser which effectively and positively prevents tampering with its contents during transportation, all of which features are to be correlated in the broad aim of enhancing the efficiency of the device for the uses and purposes for which it is primarily designed and intended.

Today in 1949, US Patent 2466892 A was issued, an invention of Stanley B. Holmes, for his “Beer Tap.” There’s no Abstract, but the description says simply it’s an “invention relat[ing] to beer taps:

First: To provide a beer tap which is adapted to interlock with the conventional latching means provided on beer kegs in a manner to form a sealing connection between the keg and a delivery tube.

Second: To provide a beertap which may be readily and quickly connected or disconnected with a minimum of effort without the aid of tools but which, when connected, cannot read– ily be accidentally loosened.

Third: To provide a beer tap which is particularly simple in its construction and readily cleaned.

Fourth: To provide a beer tap which includes a mounting structure which may be installed or removed without the delivery tube in place, and wherein the delivery tube may be inserted or removed without disturbing the connection between the mounting structure and the beer keg, or, if desired, both may be removed or installed simultaneously, the delivery tube remaining fixed in its position.

Today in 1950, US Patent 2503339 A was issued, an invention of Herbert S. Jandus, for his “Metallic Beer Barrel.” There’s no Abstract, but there’s this description. “This invention relates to double walled containers and more particularly to double walled beer barrels made from sheet metal stampings and provided with a removable or permanent liner made of a material suitable as a container for beer,” and then a few more specific reasons for the metal keg design.

By constructing such a barrel with double walls, a number of advantages are gained thereby. A sturdy construction of sufficient rigidity to withstand the hard usage to which these barrels are ordinarily subjected can be formed of relatively thin sheet material by’ stamping methods, portions of the total structure being made in sections which are subsequently secured together, and yet the total weight can be kept within satisfactory limits. To accompany the advantage of using sheet metal suitable for stamping, provision is made for the lining of the inner shell so that the metal itself need not be one that is especially adapted because of its inertness for the reception of beer or other edible Products.

A double walled construction is readily adapted for the provisions of an opening into the interior shell, larger than the usual filling opening or tap rod opening such as are usually provided in wooden barrels, for example. Such an enlarged opening can be used to facilitate the cleaning and the inspection of the barrel, and may also be used for the insertion and removal of a separate removable liner.

Today in 1945, US Patent 2373294 A was issued, an invention of Richard T. Cornelius, for his “Beer Dispensing Device.” There’s no Abstract for his tapping device, and it’s almost impossible to find a simple description because the OCR did such a bad job reading the application.

Today in 1894, US Patent 518137 A was issued, an invention of James P. Day, for his “Apparatus for Dispensing Beer.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states that the “invention has reference to [an] apparatus for dispensing liquids, particularly those which are charged with an effervescent gas, and is designed more especially for the dispensing of beer.” Here was the goal:

It has primarily for its object to preserve the freshness of the beer and to keep it palatable and wholesome whereby the reputation of the brewery where the beer, is made is maintained for brewing a high grade of beer and the sales of the retailer are increased so far as the same can be done by establishing a reputation for furnishing fresh and palatable beer to the consumer.

Today in 1907, US Patent 850070 A was issued, an invention of Richard B Spikes, for his “Beer-Tapper.” There’s no Abstract, but here’s what the description claims. “My invention relates to that class of devices known ‘beer-tappers,’ which in the nature of appliances for opening and dispensing beer from the keg or barrel. Such devices have heretofore been employed which simultaneously opened an outlet for beer and an interior air.”