A couple of novice questions

[Jeltz]

I've successfully done one cider kit and bought a brewbuddy bitter tin earlier today and a 5 gallon pressure barrel.

I picked up both 1kg of youngs brewing sugar and 1kg of muntons brewkit enhancer, I assume that its best to use the brewkit enhancer with this kit and that its a direct substitution i.e. 1kg of enhancer = 1kg sugar.

Also the barrel, currently it seems to have a pressure vent but I see that I can get a CO2 injector valve what do they do? Does it prolong the life of the beer or is it for carbonation?

 

[RobWalker]

Most kits require 1kg enhancer. Kits asking for 1kg sugar are, well, awful. In all grain brewing there is no sugar added most of the time, so you get an idea of what a loss of quality that is :p

Co2 valves are useful. You can purge oxygen instantly, although sugar priming has basically the same effect, and its good in case you run out of gas. A valve and sugar priming have exactly the same effect carbonation wise :)

 

[Jeltz]

Thanks for the answer.

I must say I'm struggling to see the point of those valve caps then.

 

[RobWalker]

aQuick and reliable pressure basically. Sugar is a little more rustic, you can run out of gas at low temps, and you can potentially have beer ready on kegging day, which is ace.

 

[jonnymorris]

I must say I'm struggling to see the point of those valve caps then.

You'll need CO2 to get your beer out of the keg as the pressure inside drops with drinking. I usually make it half way through a barrel before needing to inject some CO2.

 

[Jeltz]

OK I think I'll get one then.

So how do they work then? Is it a case that you screw them in and they are spent or is there some control over how much you inject?

How many bulbs would you expect to go through?

Do people still prime as well?

 

[Dave1970]

Yes you still need to prime. In a plastic keg you're not going to get the pressure high enough to carbonate the beer.

1. You prime the keg and leave to carbonate as you would with bottled beer.
2. When ready you start to drink :drink:
3. When the flow starts to slow down and before you glug some air in through the tap use your CO2 bottle to pressure the barrel up again

The small bulbs are a one shot thing, probably 2 will get you to the bottom of the barrel

 

[RobWalker]

As for the large s30 fittings, I can use anywhere between a whole one for a cool keg, to one lasting 3-4 kegs worth if they're not too cold...

 

[oldstout]

I use the s30 for my KingKeg toptap barrell :thumb: better than the small bulbs IMO :geek:

Initial hit was £20 then I get it refilled for £4 at my LHBS :thumb: