A jockey box is a must-have tool for any outdoor event where cold drinks are served. It helps keep beverages like beer icy cold and ready to pour, even when you’re far from a refrigerator. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, tailgating at a football game, or setting up a booth at a festival, a jockey box can be your best friend for serving cold, refreshing drinks on the spot.
What Is a Jockey Box, Really?
A jockey box is a portable drink dispensing system designed to chill and serve beverages—usually beer—without needing electricity or a refrigerator. It looks like a regular cooler from the outside, but inside, it has a special setup that cools drinks as they’re poured.
Unlike traditional coolers, a jockey box doesn’t just keep drinks cold in bottles or cans. Instead, it connects to a keg and uses ice and metal coils or cold plates to chill the liquid as it flows through. That means every pour is crisp, cold, and fresh—just like it came from a bar tap!
Jockey boxes are commonly used in the United States at events like tailgate parties, beer festivals, weddings, and even backyard parties. If you’ve ever had a perfectly chilled draft beer at an outdoor event, there’s a good chance it came from a jockey box.
How Does a Jockey Box Work?
The way a jockey box works is actually pretty clever. It takes warm (room-temperature) beer or another beverage from a keg, runs it through a chilled metal coil or cold plate inside the cooler, and then pours it out cold through a tap on the outside. The ice inside the cooler chills the coils, and by the time the drink travels through, it’s been cooled down and is ready to enjoy.
The key thing to remember is that the jockey box doesn’t cool the keg—it only cools the drink as it flows through the system. That’s why people often keep the keg on ice too, just to help out.
What’s Inside a Jockey Box?
Let’s break down the main parts that make up a jockey box:
Cooling Coil
The cooling coil is usually made of stainless steel and looks like a long metal tube twisted into a coil. The drink from the keg flows through this coil. Since it’s surrounded by ice, the drink gets super cold as it travels through. These coils can be 50 to 120 feet long, depending on the setup. The longer the coil, the more time the drink spends in the ice, which means a colder pour.
Ice Bath
Inside the jockey box is a big ice bath. This isn’t just to keep things generally cool—it’s the secret to making the drink ice-cold. The metal coils sit in this ice, so when the beer or soda flows through the coil, it chills instantly. The better packed the ice, the colder the drink.
Keg Connection
The jockey box connects to a keg using tubes and a CO2 tank (for carbonated drinks like beer). The CO2 pushes the drink from the keg through the tubes and into the jockey box. It’s kind of like how soda machines work in restaurants. The connection must be tight and clean so you don’t lose pressure or get leaks.
Why People Love Using Jockey Boxes
People love jockey boxes for one main reason: they keep drinks cold and flowing, no matter where you are.
Here are a few more reasons:
- Portability: You can take them anywhere—no electricity needed.
- Professional presentation: Instead of handing out cans or bottles, you’re pouring from a real tap.
- Versatility: Great for beer, but also works with wine, cocktails, cold brew coffee, and even water.
- Saves space: Instead of bringing a bunch of bottles, you can bring one keg and a jockey box.
Whether you’re a casual party host or a professional caterer, jockey boxes are a smart and easy way to serve cold drinks that look and taste great.
Different Types of Jockey Boxes
Not all jockey boxes are the same. They come in different styles to suit different needs. Here are the main types:
- Coil jockey boxes: These use long metal coils inside the cooler. Best for large events with lots of people because they chill drinks quickly and effectively.
- Cold plate jockey boxes: These have a flat cold plate instead of coils. They’re lighter and easier to set up but not as effective for very warm drinks or large crowds.
- Single-tap jockey boxes: Best for small events or home use where only one kind of drink is being served.
- Multi-tap jockey boxes: Great for offering different drinks at the same time, like multiple beer flavors or wine options.
Choosing the right jockey box depends on what kind of event you’re hosting, how many people will be there, and what drinks you plan to serve.
Jockey Box vs. Kegerator: What’s the Difference?
A lot of people confuse jockey boxes with kegerators, but they’re quite different tools.
A kegerator is like a fridge that holds a keg inside and keeps it cold 24/7. It’s great for home use but not practical to move around. On the other hand, a jockey box is designed to be portable and used anywhere.
Let’s break down a few key differences:
Which Is Easier to Move?
Hands down, the jockey box is easier to move. A kegerator is heavy, bulky, and needs power. A jockey box is basically a cooler with coils, and it doesn’t need electricity. Just pack some ice and you’re good to go.
Which Stays Cold Longer?
A kegerator can keep drinks cold forever—because it’s a fridge. But a jockey box only stays cold as long as there’s ice. So for long events or hot days, you’ll need to refill the ice.
Can You Make a Jockey Box at Home?
Yes, you can definitely make your own jockey box at home. All you need is:
- A cooler
- Stainless steel coil or cold plate
- Beverage lines
- Shank and faucet
- Ice
- CO2 system (if you’re using beer)
DIY jockey boxes are popular with homebrewers and party planners because they’re customizable. You can build a setup that fits your budget and your needs.
How to Keep Drinks Cold in a Jockey Box
The key to keeping drinks cold is all about managing the ice. Pack the cooler with plenty of ice and make sure it fully covers the coils or cold plate. Crushed ice works better than big cubes because it surrounds the metal better and cools faster.
Also, keep your keg in the shade or in its own ice bath. While the jockey box chills the liquid, having a warm keg can make it work harder and use up your ice faster.
Some pros even pre-chill their kegs before events to make sure the jockey box isn’t overloaded. That way, every pour stays cold and perfect.
The Bottom Line
A jockey box is one of the smartest and coolest tools for serving cold drinks anywhere, anytime. Whether you’re hosting a big wedding, a small family picnic, or setting up a booth at a street fair, a jockey box makes it easy to serve crisp, cold beverages that people will love.
It’s easy to set up, doesn’t need electricity, and looks great at any event. Plus, you can use it for more than just beer—wine, cocktails, cold brew, soda, and even water all work great with a jockey box setup.
And the best part? You don’t have to be an expert to use one. If a 10-year-old asked, “What’s a jockey box?”, now you can explain it simply: It’s a cooler that helps pour cold drinks on tap, anywhere you go.
