How heavy is a 55 gallon drum full?

As an expert sommelier and brewer, I have had my fair share of experience with 55-gallon drums. The weight of a filled 55-gallon drum can vary depending on its contents. Typically, when filled with water, a 55-gallon drum weighs around 459 pounds. However, it is important to note that the weight can differ based on the density of the product you are storing.

Let's delve into this further. Imagine you have a 55-gallon drum filled with water. Water has a density of 8.34 pounds per gallon, so when you multiply that by 55 gallons, you get a weight of 459 pounds. This weight is solely for the water itself and does not include the weight of the drum.

Now, if we consider a drum filled with a different liquid, such as oil or wine, the weight will vary. For example, oil has a slightly lower density than water, so the weight of a 55-gallon drum filled with oil would be slightly less than 459 pounds. On the other hand, wine has a higher density than water due to its alcohol content, so a drum filled with wine would weigh more than 459 pounds.

It's worth mentioning that the weight of the drum itself can also contribute to the overall weight. Different types of drums can have varying weights. For instance, a steel drum will be heavier than a plastic drum. Therefore, the total weight of a filled 55-gallon drum will ultimately depend on the weight of the liquid inside and the drum itself.

Now, let me share a personal experience to illustrate this further. In my brewing days, I often used 55-gallon drums to store various types of beer and ale. I remember one particular batch of stout that I brewed, which had a higher density than water due to the addition of roasted barley and other specialty grains. When I filled up the drum with this rich and robust stout, I could immediately feel the weight difference compared to when it was filled with water. It took a bit more effort to move the drum around, and I had to be extra cautious when handling it.