AutoKeg Mini: The Future of Self-Serve Beer

Meet the AutoKeg Mini—a compact, plug-and-play self-serve beer system that flips the traditional model on its head. Connect your keg, set your price by the ounce, and accept all major cards and mobile wallets. It’s built for simplicity, transparency, and profit.

In this guide: how AutoKeg Mini works, where it shines, the features that matter, and how to evaluate fit for your venue—from bars and breweries to mobile operations and events.

Key Challenges with Traditional Self-Pour

Proprietary RFID/prepaid cards that slow lines and add cost.
High upfront investment (multi-tap walls, on-prem servers).
Complex installs, calibration, and professional servicing.
Limited payment options; no direct card/mobile acceptance.
Monthly subscription/software fees that erode margins.
Wired connectivity requirements; poor fit for mobile/outdoor.
Training overhead for staff and guests.
Regulatory friction and age-verification workflows.
Poor scalability for small venues, events, and pop-ups.

AutoKeg Mini solves these with plug-and-play simplicity, universal payments, and zero-friction operation.

Why AutoKeg Mini Changes the Game

Universal payments: Integrated Nayax VPOS Touch accepts Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay, and EMV—no prepaid cards or wristbands.
By-the-ounce billing: Precision flow sensor measures every ounce; you set the rate and get automatic weekly deposits (typ. processing ≈ 4.95% + $0.10/txn).
Plug-and-play: One keg in, one tap out, standard power. The unit maintains 38°F automatically.
Portable & affordable: Designed for single-unit deployments, mobile use, and small footprints—without subscriptions or proprietary lock-in.
Cloud visibility: Real-time dashboard for pours, volume, and transactions.

How It Works (Step-by-Step)

Order online: reyvend.com/products/autokeg-mini.
Shipping & lead time: In-stock units typically ship from Cleveland, OH in 2–4 business days. Current backorder is ~3 months; pre-order reserves your slot.
Activate & onboard: Connect your bank account to enable payouts and activate the reader; you’ll receive setup and tracking details via email.
Unbox & prepare: Connect power, attach keg lines, set your per-ounce price, and run a test pour.
Connect the keg: Use the included connectors; the flow sensor meters every ounce.
Power up & pour: Guests tap a card/mobile wallet, pour, and go. You receive weekly deposits.

Key Features That Matter

Accurate metering: Ounce-level precision for billing and inventory control.
Universal acceptance: Cards and mobile wallets—no accounts to preload.
True plug-and-play: Wireless connectivity; no complex wiring.
Operator control: Set prices and pour limits; monitor performance in the cloud.
Small-venue fit: Ideal for bars, food trucks, festivals, and mobile bars.

Ideal Use-Cases: Where It Shines

Mobile bars & beer trucks

Perfect for weddings, festivals, and pop-ups. Portable, fast, and no prepaid friction—set up, tap, pour, move.

Small-batch breweries & taprooms

By-the-ounce pricing encourages sampling; metering tightens yield and inventory.

Food trucks & concession stands

When space and staff are limited, self-serve keeps lines moving with minimal oversight.

Event venues & temporary bars

High-throughput service without a full build-out; quick teardown between events.

Satellite locations & hospitality lounges

Offer draft beer in hotel lobbies, corporate lounges, and VIP areas without a traditional bar.

Bars & taverns

Relieve peak-hour congestion; use as a quick-pour station to shorten main-bar lines.

Nightclubs

Low-friction payments and rapid service during rushes; deploy near dance floors and patios.

Casinos

Sportsbooks, poker rooms, slot banks, VIP lounges, and pool decks benefit from fast, card-first self-serve that reduces bar bottlenecks.

Festivals & mobile events

Rugged, tent-friendly footprint; shorter queues and simpler staff training across shifts.

Benefits You Can Expect

Lower labor overhead: Staff focus on service and oversight, not routine pouring.
Better keg yield: Metered pours reduce waste and over-pouring.
Higher revenue per keg: Sampling and sizes drive more paid ounces.
Faster service & happier guests: Shorter lines, more control.
Actionable data: Real-time pours and transactions for pricing and ops.
Scalable: Start with one unit and add more without infrastructure rebuilds.

Considerations Before Launch

Lead time: Plan around current ~3-month backorder for new production.
Processing fees: Typically ~4.95% + $0.10/transaction—price accordingly.
Connectivity: Ensure reliable Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.
Maintenance: Standard draft-line cleaning; sanitize tap and drip tray.
Space & power: Confirm footprint and outlet availability.
Compliance: Verify local self-serve alcohol rules and age-verification processes.
Guest education: Provide clear signage for “Tap • Pour • Enjoy.”

Practical Tips for Success

Post per-ounce pricing at the tap; add a minimum charge to offset per-transaction fees.
Give staff a quick primer to assist first-time users and monitor usage.
Use signage/table-tents and social posts to promote the self-pour station.
Monitor dashboard data for anomalies (waste/leaks) and peak-time pricing tests.
Rotate keg selection to keep interest high.
Keep the unit spotless—clean tap, tray, and visible surfaces.

ROI & Business Impact

Example math (illustrative): a 16-oz beer at $7 is ~$0.44/oz. A half-barrel keg is ~1,984 oz; if the keg costs ~$120, COGS is ~$0.06/oz. The spread per ounce (~$0.38 before fees) scales with volume—and metering reduces waste. Model your own numbers with the AutoKeg Profit Calculator.

Key Challenges with Traditional Self-Pour

Proprietary RFID/prepaid cards add cost, friction, and slower lines.
High upfront spend for multi-tap walls and server hardware.
Complex installs, calibration, and professional servicing.
Limited payment options; no direct card/mobile acceptance.
Ongoing software/subscription fees that erode margins.
Wired/local-server connectivity; poor fit for mobile/outdoor.
Training overhead for staff and guests.
Regulatory and age-verification complexities.
Poor scalability for smaller venues, events, and pop-ups.

AutoKeg Mini was designed to remove these barriers with plug-and-play setup, universal payments, and zero-friction operation.

Why AutoKeg Mini Changes the Game

Universal payments: Integrated Nayax VPOS Touch accepts Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay, and EMV—no prepaid cards or wristbands.
By-the-ounce billing: Precision flow sensor measures every ounce; you set the rate. Typical processing ≈ 4.95% + $0.10/transaction with weekly deposits.
True plug-and-play: One keg in, one tap out, standard power; the unit maintains 38°F automatically.
Portable & affordable: Single-unit flexibility without subscriptions or proprietary lock-in.
Cloud visibility: Real-time dashboard for pours, volume, and transactions.

How It Works

Order online: reyvend.com/products/autokeg-mini.
Shipping & lead time: In-stock units ship from Cleveland, OH in 2–4 business days. Current backorder is ~3 months; pre-order to reserve.
Activate & onboard: Connect your bank account and activate the reader; setup and tracking details arrive by email.
Unbox & prepare: Connect power and keg lines, set your per-ounce price, and run a test pour.
Go live: Guests tap a card or mobile wallet, pour, and go. Deposits are paid weekly.

Features That Matter

Accurate metering: Ounce-level precision for billing and inventory control.
Universal acceptance: Cards and mobile wallets—no accounts to preload.
Connectivity: Wireless (Wi-Fi or cellular) for fast deployment.
Operator control: Set prices and pour limits; monitor performance in the cloud.
Small-venue fit: Ideal for bars, food trucks, festivals, mobile bars, and pop-ups.

Ideal Use-Cases: Where It Shines

Mobile bars & beer trucks: Weddings, festivals, and pop-ups—set up, tap, pour, move.
Small-batch breweries & taprooms: Rotating kegs, tasting flights, tight yield control.
Food trucks & concession stands: Limited space/staff; keep lines moving.
Event venues & temporary bars: High throughput without a full build-out.
Satellite locations & hospitality lounges: Hotel lobbies, corporate lounges, VIP areas.
Bars & taverns: Quick-pour relief stations during peaks.
Nightclubs: Rapid service near dance floors and patios.
Casinos: Sportsbooks, poker rooms, slot banks, VIP lounges, pool decks.
Festivals & mobile events: Tent-friendly, fast training, shorter queues.

Benefits You Can Expect

Lower labor overhead: Staff focus on service and oversight, not routine pouring.
Better keg yield: Metered pours reduce waste and over-pouring.
Higher revenue per keg: Sampling and flexible sizes drive paid ounces.
Faster service & happier guests: Shorter lines and more control.
Actionable data: Real-time pours and transactions for pricing and ops.
Scalable: Start with one unit and add more without infrastructure rebuilds.

Before You Launch

Lead time: Plan around the current ~3-month backorder.
Processing fees: Price to cover ~4.95% + $0.10 per transaction.
Connectivity: Ensure reliable Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.
Maintenance: Standard draft-line cleaning; sanitize tap and drip tray.
Space & power: Confirm footprint and outlet availability.
Compliance: Verify local self-serve rules and age-verification processes.
Guest education: Clear “Tap • Pour • Enjoy” signage reduces friction.

Practical Tips

Post per-ounce pricing at the tap; consider a minimum charge to offset per-transaction fees.
Give staff a quick primer to assist first-time users and monitor usage.
Use signage and social posts to promote the self-pour station.
Watch dashboard data for anomalies (waste/leaks) and peak-time pricing tests.
Rotate keg selection to keep interest high.
Keep the unit spotless—clean tap, tray, and visible surfaces.

ROI & Business Impact

As an illustration: at $7 per 16-oz beer (~$0.44/oz) and a half-barrel keg (~1,984 oz) costing ~$120 (~$0.06/oz COGS), the gross spread is ~<$0.38/oz before fees. Scale with volume and reduced waste to see meaningful gains. Model your exact numbers with the AutoKeg Profit Calculator.

FAQs (Condensed)

Payments: Nayax VPOS Touch; major cards and mobile wallets; weekly deposits.
Setup: Unbox, connect keg, set per-ounce price, plug in, pour; holds 38°F.
Monitoring: Cloud dashboard for pour, volume, and transaction logs.
Lead time: In-stock ships in 2–4 business days; otherwise ~3-month backorder.
Fees: ~4.95% + $0.10/transaction; adjust pricing to cover.
Compliance: Check local self-serve regulations and licensing.

What is the AutoKeg Mini?: A compact, plug-and-play self-serve beer system. Connect your keg, set a per-ounce price, and start serving—no prepaid cards or apps required.
How does payment work?: Integrated Nayax VPOS Touch accepts major cards and mobile wallets. Each pour is billed by the ounce; deposits are made weekly after standard processing fees (~4.95% + $0.10/transaction).
What makes it different?: No prepaid cards, subscriptions, or multi-tap buildouts. It’s affordable, portable, and works almost anywhere.
How easy is setup?: Unbox, attach keg lines, set a per-ounce price, plug in, and pour. The system maintains 38°F automatically.
Where can I use it?: Bars, restaurants, breweries, nightclubs, hotels, festivals, mobile setups, and event spaces.
Do guests need a special card or app?: No—any major card or mobile wallet works: tap, pour, enjoy.
How is portion control handled?: A precision flow sensor measures every ounce for accurate billing and yield control.
Can I monitor sales and inventory?: Yes—view time, volume, and transaction details in the cloud dashboard.
What about maintenance?: Keep surfaces clean, sanitize the tap and drip tray, and follow standard draft-line cleaning.
What’s included?: AutoKeg Mini unit, integrated payment terminal, standard keg connectors, and a quick-start guide; onboarding instructions provided via email.
How long does it take to receive the unit?: In-stock units ship in 2–4 business days from Cleveland, OH; current backorder is ~3 months for new production runs.
How do payouts work?: Per-ounce transactions process instantly; deposits arrive weekly to your connected account with full reporting.
Processing fees?: Typically ~4.95% + $0.10 per transaction; most operators price to cover fees.
Is self-serve legal where I am?: Regulations vary. Verify local self-serve alcohol rules and licensing requirements.