Stainless steel beer barrels

Polcho · Dec 16, 2024

I don't bottle my beer, its in barrels. I want to move away from plastic barrels if I can.

Does anybody know of a stainless steel version of a barrrel.
The same sort of thing as a 5 Gallon Pressure Barrel with an S30 Valve.

Not a Corny keg.

Thank you.

Bitter_Dave · Dec 16, 2024

Alas, no metal pressure barrels are made these days. Boots used to make an aluminium pressure barrel, but that must have been a long time ago because Boots had already stopped selling home stuff when I started being in the mid 2000s. You occasionally see them coming up for sale second hand, but I have no clue whether they use the s30 system.

fury_tea · Dec 16, 2024

Polcho said:
I don't bottle my beer, its in barrels. I want to move away from plastic barrels if I can.

Does anybody know of a stainless steel version of a barrrel.
The same sort of thing as a 5 Gallon Pressure Barrel with an S30 Valve.

Not a Corny keg.

Thank you.

I know you said not a corny keg, but can I ask why?

If it is because you don't want ball locks you can probably get a converter for an S30 valve. Quick search shows this:

https://brew2bottle.co.uk/products/...zc9g5Nmv0NMjdz0y4haJkX2bzwu4OfjhoC1AkQAvD_BwE

(out of stock though so you might need to shop around).

jambop · Dec 16, 2024

Bitter_Dave said:
Alas, no metal pressure barrels are made these days. Boots used to make an aluminium pressure barrel, but that must have been a long time ago because Boots had already stopped selling home stuff when I started being in the mid 2000s. You occasionally see them coming up for sale second hand, but I have no clue whether they use the s30 system.

Do you have a time machine ? The mid 2000's is 2050

MashBag · Dec 16, 2024

Why no corny's?

Polcho · Dec 16, 2024

fury_tea said:
I know you said not a corny keg, but can I ask why?

If it is because you don't want ball locks you can probably get a converter for an S30 valve. Quick search shows this:

https://brew2bottle.co.uk/products/keg-s30-valve-adapter-with-disconnect?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNzoBRBOEiwAr2V27S41Rny1ypn725PIUXjA2Hzc9g5Nmv0NMjdz0y4haJkX2bzwu4OfjhoC1AkQAvD_BwE

(out of stock though so you might need to shop around).

This is interesting

MashBag said:
Why no corny's?

Well, I'm happy with the simple barrel system, would just prefer to move away from plastic, if at all possible.
I just think the Corny kegs look like more to go wrong, and more to faff with.
I'm not diametrically opposed to the idea though.

Polcho · Dec 16, 2024

By the way, I would like to store wine in a barrel/keg, but how would this be achieved without making it fizzy?

Polcho · Dec 16, 2024

Also, I did look at them a few years ago, but couldnt find one that would hold a whole brew.

peterpiper · Dec 16, 2024

Polcho said:
This is interesting

Well, I'm happy with the simple barrel system, would just prefer to move away from plastic, if at all possible.
I just think the Corny kegs look like more to go wrong, and more to faff with.
I'm not diametrically opposed to the idea though.

Likewise, but not diameter-or-electrically.
I use barrels + S30 for simplicity. And because places round here, won't do CO2 refills anymore. Unless refilled every 6 months, or re-tested.

MashBag · Dec 16, 2024

Polcho said:
By the way, I would like to store wine in a barrel/keg, but how would this be achieved without making it fizzy?

This is definitely right up my avenue. Did this for years.

After filling (don't flush) pump them up a bit to say 30psi get everything sealed. Then vent it down to about 10 for storage. Run 5psi mixed gas for dispense.

MashBag · Dec 16, 2024

Polcho said:
Also, I did look at them a few years ago, but couldnt find one that would hold a whole brew.

They work better if you leave a bit of room for some gas. Filling them up to the gunnels prolly isn't best. So 2 per brew.

fury_tea · Dec 16, 2024

Polcho said:
This is interesting

Well, I'm happy with the simple barrel system, would just prefer to move away from plastic, if at all possible.
I just think the Corny kegs look like more to go wrong, and more to faff with.
I'm not diametrically opposed to the idea though.

Touch wood but I have never had anything go massively wrong with corny kegs. There's a few moving parts and a bit to set up and you have to watch for leaks etc, but once you get the hang of it there's very little maintenance. I sometimes I don't even take them apart to clean them properly between brews, just wash and sanitise and put the next beer in. With any stainless system you get you would have the same parts if not more.

I brew all my beers to 20 litres so they fit in the keg, otherwise if you are used to 23L you can either get another smaller keg like a 4 litre oxebar (very cheap) or another stainless keg (these can be expensive) for the rest of the brew or you can just bottle whatever is left.

I think you are shooting yourself in the foot by not considering them because it's basically the homebrewer's standard, with many retailers offering products/replacement parts for them and they're basically bulletproof.

Clint · Dec 16, 2024

I've just bought Oxebar (plastic) kegs to get into kegging on the cheap...
Apart from the obvious...they're plastic...they operate very much like corny kegs. I used one of mine for the first time the other day. What a doddle compared to bottling!
I have used the standard plastic PBs in the past but had endless palaver with getting them to seal properly and then gassing them with the bulbs.
I was a bit nervous setting up my first keg and leaving it with the gas on to carbonate it but I got loads of advice on here and prepped everything and treble checked everything.
I've got a couple of days of drama to deal with at home then I'm going to keg my second brew. Can't wait!

Rodcx500z · Dec 16, 2024

And with corny's you will always get back what you paid, if not more

lancon · Dec 17, 2024

jambop said:
Do you have a time machine ? The mid 2000's is 2050

Shurely 2500!!??

Laner · Dec 17, 2024

Polcho said:
By the way, I would like to store wine in a barrel/keg, but how would this be achieved without making it fizzy?

20ltr Oxebar can be stored upside down and still have a party tap fitted..

So without the diptube you would be able to serve wine with gravity alone.

Graz · Dec 17, 2024

Regarding the volume difference between a 5 gallon beer kit and a 19 litre corny keg I just fill a few bottles first, primed with sugar, and stick them away for a rainy day. Means you can revisit an old brew or if having fallen behind on brewing you'll have a stash of bottles to fall back on.

That said I might invest in some of the 4L oxbar kegs at some point to handle the excess. As I've got the gas, regulators and all the other gubbins it isn't much additional outlay.

Moving to cornys from plastic pressure barrels was a revelation for me.

MashBag · Dec 17, 2024

Laner said:
20ltr Oxebar can be stored upside down and still have a party tap fitted..

So without the diptube you would be able to serve wine with gravity alone.

No. You can't, the gas is there for cover too.

Air destroys wine, much faster than beer.

Laner · Dec 17, 2024

MashBag said:
No. You can't, the gas is there for cover too.

Air destroys wine, much faster than beer.

Ah yeah didn’t consider that

Justin Dean · Dec 17, 2024

I do 40l brews two cornies and the job is done

Stainless steel beer barrels

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