Does anyone know what this is for?

[Normski]

Hi Ciaran and welcome

As Chris says,They didnt work very well. I had one about 20 odd years ago, If I remember correctly, I think they had a tube that went from the inside of the lid to near the bottom to draw the beer. I never ever got it to work properly. But then I didnt have this forum to ask questions. Im guessing that my problem was, not putting vaseline around the lid to seal it. You should make sure you get a good seal before faffing around with the top tap, just use the bottom tap. Cheers Normski

[Tony01]

wow - weird... just had a flashback!

I had one of these too. I think I used it once... and as finer people than I have already expressed, it was crap!

I would use the barrel though! Cheers!

[silversurfer]

Well I would,nt put my beer in a disgusting old barrel like that.
Your beer must taste terrible if you think you can get a good pint out of that.
The plastic will be tainted after all this time.
My tip is to chuck it.

[Garth]

Well I would,nt put my beer in a disgusting old barrel like that.
Your beer must taste terrible if you think you can get a good pint out of that.
The plastic will be tainted after all this time.
My tip is to chuck it.

I'd disagree, plus you haven't seen the inside, it may be quite clean.

and even if it is dirty, it's nothing a good soak in bleach solution won't sort out.

Ciaran, take everything to bits remembering where it all goes, gives it a good long soak in a thin supermarket bleach and water solution, then rinse it really well in cold water. As long as the seals are still intact, it should make a good barrel.

[dcq1974]

Maybe replace the cap for a new 4" screw cap with S30 valve and a new bottom tap (and a good clean with Oxy Soda Crystals then bleach) and you will have a decent pressure barrel

[Stonechat]

Well I would,nt put my beer in a disgusting old barrel like that.
Your beer must taste terrible if you think you can get a good pint out of that.
The plastic will be tainted after all this time.
My tip is to chuck it.

I'd disagree, plus you haven't seen the inside, it may be quite clean.

and even if it is dirty, it's nothing a good soak in bleach solution won't sort out.

Ciaran, take everything to bits remembering where it all goes, gives it a good long soak in a thin supermarket bleach and water solution, then rinse it really well in cold water. As long as the seals are still intact, it should make a good barrel.

Garth might be right, but so might Silversurfer, even if his advice is a bit "direct". It's certainly worth trying to deep clean the inside as described, but be prepared for a taint to still be there due to some reaction on the inside surface after 19 years of use.
I had several of those Boots barrels in both white and brown and used them for beer kits, but once I started doing AG brews I could detect a taint, which would not go, even with bleach cleaning.
Having got hold of them cheaply in charity shops and boot sales I replaced them with new one from King Kegs and Hambleton Bard.
Not wanting to pass on the taint to anyone else I sawed them in half and skipped them.

As for the 4" cap, you might get a King Keg cap to fit, but although the Boots caps are a nominal 4" neck the thread is slightly different and a good seal will be impossible to achieve. This is why when original 4" Boots caps come up on E-Bay, they go for silly money.

If your Boots cap still seals OK just replace the current CO2 bulb fitting with an S30 brass valve, which can be obtained from most good HBSs.

Ciaran, I hope you do succeed with your deep clean. Best of luck.