Study Guide
Read the full study guide: Complete Guide to Draft Beer Systems
Exam Focus
- Jockey boxes are portable draft dispense units.
- Cold plates suit lower-volume dispensing; coils suit higher-volume dispensing.
- Beer should run through the faucet before ice is added in setup.
- Clean jockey boxes after every use.
What to know
A jockey box is a temporary draft system that runs beer through a cold plate or coil packed in ice before the faucet.
How it applies
Cold kegs, correct gas, good ice contact, clean lines, and cleaning after use are essential because the box cannot rescue warm or dirty beer by itself.
- Jockey boxes are portable draft dispense units.
- Cold plates suit lower-volume dispensing; coils suit higher-volume dispensing.
- Beer should run through the faucet before ice is added in setup.
- Clean jockey boxes after every use.
Why It Matters
- A properly iced jockey box keeps event pours cold enough to control foam.
- Cleaning immediately after use prevents old beer from contaminating the next event.
Practical Sensory Exercises
Temporary Draft Systems - Jockey Boxes practice drill
Sketch a jockey-box setup from cold keg through coil or cold plate to faucet, then list ice, pressure, sanitation, and post-event cleaning checks in order.
Key Terms
- Jockey box
- A portable draft system that chills beer through an ice-packed cold plate or coil.
- Cold plate
- A metal chilling block inside some jockey boxes.
- Coil
- A length of tubing inside a jockey box that chills beer as it passes through ice.