Advice on what I have been given

[shutter_speed]

hello

I have a 5 gallon barrell of beer from a brewery. On transporting it home the beer started to froth out of the top of the Vented Cap.

I am guessing this has happened as it was shaken slightly in transport.

Id this the case? also would this have effected the beer? also how long should beer last in one of these containers?

thanks for looking, I have little to no knowledge of brewing beer but I love drinking it and I want to ensure this barrel will last me :)

Thanks in advance

Al

 

[loady]

You will need to leave it for 24 hours for the beer to 'drop' then start drinking it..those barrells are more intended for use in a beer cellar unless you have the equioment to serve it

 

[shutter_speed]

Thanks for the reply loady.

the barrel is like this....

http://www.hopshopuk.com/products/view/ ... lief-valve

it has a tap

and the cap is like this

http://www.hopshopuk.com/products/view/ ... ith-washer

(sorry just confirming)

From what I have read I will be ok until the pressure drops and air starts glugging in....however, I am planning to have this drunk over the period of the jubilee weekend so should be done in a couple of days (not just me I might add lol)

Will I be alright with this? thanks

 

[Darcey]

Well thats a new one on me! What brewery was it?

Hopefully they filled it with Co2 before filling or pruged the oxygen out. If its been shaken up with oxygen present then it wont last very long.

It looks like a pretty standard budget homebrew keg. With a blanket of co2 it will last a long time but if its been oxidised then really not very long. did they not advise when you bought it?

D

 

[shutter_speed]

I got it from a friend of a friend, didnt buy it.

I think the staff are allocated so much thats given away???

anyhow I poured some this morning to see what it was like and bubbles starting flying into the barrel fromthe tap, doesnt seem to be any pressure in the barrel at all, i guess it needs drinking now...



Sorry to be vague, I am not sure what the deal is from my friend of a friend...

so now I guess depending when the beer was put into the barrel, it might be useless already?

 

[boozy_shoes]

Have you tasted it? If bubbles are being sucked into it then it will start to oxidise the beer. Are you loosening the top tap just before you pour the beer so you don't get a vacuum?

You could buy one of these:

http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/ind ... cts_id=109

and put it on in the place of the cap there currently and inject the CO2, then you would will be able to slow down the oxidation of the beer. It all depends i guess on whether you want to spend the money and if you can see yourself getting a similar beery gift again to make it worth while. if not i'd say have an impromptu gathering / party ASAP.

 

[Hawks]

If air went in via the tap I'd get it drunk... :

 

[Baz Chaz]

have an impromptu gathering / party ASAP.

I'd get some pals round quick and get it supped just in case :drunk:

 

[shutter_speed]

Thanks again everyone....

Thankfully I have a family party tonight and im over a friends tomorrow so ill transfer a load to containers and take with me where I go lol, dont think i'll get through all of it though...

after running a few pints off last night it was tasting good once the sediments had stopped pouring with it.

guess its a boozey weekend for me.

I have since found out it is left overs from what they fill bottles with. It makes me think that it needs to be drunk straight away as they must transfer it to this barrel I have. the advice I was given by the person that gave it to me was to unscrew the top to allow the beer to flow and that it would be ok for a few weeks?, this says to me basically when you start drinking it dont stop, there didnt seem to be any knowlegde of the whole air/bad times situation .

Boozy_shoes you mentioned about adding a new cap and CO2 to add into it, how will that effect the beer if I take the cap off and replace it? surely letting air in from the top isnt going to do it any favours?

Thanks again guys, I just dont want to waste this beer, especially as I have so much of it...lol

 

[boozy_shoes]

Boozy_shoes you mentioned about adding a new cap and CO2 to add into it, how will that effect the beer if I take the cap off and replace it? surely letting air in from the top isnt going to do it any favours?

Well the dead space in the top as you drink it will oxidise the beer. But if this is replaced with the cap that allows you to put CO2 in under pressure, this "dead space" will be CO2 that will stop the beer oxidising and it will keep your beer livelier to the bottom of the barrel. Yes, a negligable bit of air would get in while you were changing the caps over but the extra C02 would definitely make the 2nd half of the barrel better.

Just make sure the new cap is sterile to stop and infection.

 

[shutter_speed]

Thanks again, hopefully i'll get my grubby mitts on anotherone in time for the jubilee weekend and my first port of call will be the local homebrew shop to pick up one of these kits....

Thanks again....

Glugs away!