Any tips for a nervous first time barrel

[Jago]

Hi
Well I am almost finished the fermentation of my wilko golden ale thanks to the many helpful Stickies and comments.
This Sunday I it's time to put it in the barrel I have got the wilko barrel and syphoning tube also from wilko ( sounds like I am sponsored by wilkos now)
From what I've read it's important not to splash it about when I do this.
Anyways I am try to stem my excitement and have a serious head on, so was wondering if there was any tips that help you guys on the first time.
Sorry if this question has been asked many times I have read the stickies etc, but thought it would be good to get opinions
:

 

[droche]

I would fill it with water to check you have no leaks on the tap. Speaking from experience it is a pain mending a leak after you have added the beer and make sure you have turned the barrel tap off after sterilizing it before syphoning the beer in :lol: experience again

:

 

[DanT]

Use boiling water to sterilise. fill a large bowl and put all removeable parts in that for 10 mins. Then put them all back on the barrel and quarter fill it, give it a good swill, leave a few mins then swill again. Do this a few times then cap on and let the steam do a bit of work too. Then just simply empty and siphon.

 

[Jago]

Sounds good,
Never thought of testing for leaks, really got the bug now. Brought anther kit while I was there.... Wife just rolled her eyes

 

[MikeK117]

Sounds good,
Never thought of testing for leaks, really got the bug now. Brought anther kit while I was there.... Wife just rolled her eyes

haha!

I'm looking to do a first time next week. popped into wilko today for something unrelated and found myself in the home brew section checking out all the other bits and pieces. I'm like a child waiting for Christmas.

 

[miiikeee101]

I kegges my wilkos golden ale in a wilkos pb with a wilkos syphon on Wednesday. .. are you sure you are not me? :-p

 

[Maffa]

Speaking from experience, put a little lubricant around the top pressure rubber ring and where the tap meets the barrel. A little sunflower oil or vaseline will do the trick.

This just makes sure that all is tight as filling with water is ok to test for leaks but when primed, pressure will build adding more pressure to the seals (I found out the hard way)

 

[Jago]

The wilkos prices are very good, and the quality looks good. but the shop in Romford the staff didn't know where the brewing stuff was let alone have any information on it. It's why I would love to go to a proper brewing shop just don't know any near Colchester. If any of you know/run one let me know I will be sure to get down there. Went in wilkos for one thing came out with loads.. Still made me happy

Right lube the top, got it. Going to do it tomorrow morning so it's had a full 2 weeks in the fv. Thought I would give it 2 weeks as it's a little colder here during night. Prob didn't need it it was wrapped in a blanket :thumb:

 

[IOMMick]

Sounds good,
Never thought of testing for leaks, really got the bug now. Brought anther kit while I was there.... Wife just rolled her eyes

haha!

I'm looking to do a first time next week. popped into wilko today for something unrelated and found myself in the home brew section checking out all the other bits and pieces. I'm like a child waiting for Christmas.

Got my starter kit as a Christmas present a couple of weeks back, and ended up buying about another £200 of stuff. Now I've practically converted the laundry room into a brewery and the missus is raging.

 

[Jago]

Loving that lol

 

[GavH]

From my recent experience of kegging, be prepared for some serious frustration! I'm still struggling to identify the source of an apparent CO2 leak. :evil:

 

[Cainehulse]

That's the trouble I'm having at the moment i got a good tip from a mate to soak the top lids seal in warm water to soften it then apply some Vaseline to the seal

 

[Jago]

Used your tips and went dare I say it very smoothly, got a little crafty taste ( know you shouldn't but had to try) and it was alright with some time could be nice :) started my next one fermenting too. Onwards and upwards

 

[Midlife]

Install a small 0-15 psi gauge, works a treat to monitor pressure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SG-fIOYjzb4

 

[Jago]

Like that will look in to for next time as it's in the barrel now :

 

[jaquiss2005]

Jago

There is a homebrew shop in Colchester

http://www.colchesterhomebrew.co.uk/

 

[Jago]

The best news of the weekend. And it's on my way home.cheers going to pop in there this week