Beer Widow seeks advice

[Beer Widow]

Hi from Towcester, Northants.

I've registered as I need some help in buying my husband a pressure barrel - hopefully some of you will be able to offer some advice on what to choose. He can then use the forum after his birthday when he has his present and has more time on his hands

 

[Vossy1]

Welcome to the forum BW :thumb:
I've moved this here as it's more likely to get seen

 

[Titch]

hi beer widow

depends on budget but most people will say get a corny keg off Norman in links above

other advice would be when buying , stay away from cheaper ones as you can not get your arm in to clean properly
get one with a wider neck

 

[aneray]

Welcome to the forum Beerwidow.

Check out the forum sponsor at the top of the homepage, they have what you need.

Before you splash out a lot of money on a nice new keg why not start with bottles and a capper. If he gives up after a couple of brews you will have wasted an awful lot of money. Start with the basics and build up. Before long, he will have a nice shiny all grain brewery.

 

[Archtronics]

I agree on starting with bottles, the cheap youngs pressure barrels are quite good for what you get in my opinion as long as you keep on top of cleaning them and Vaseline the seals.

 

[Beer Widow]

Thanks for your messages.

Yes he does the bottles and caps, hence why I am a beer widow as he spends ages out there in that garage! He's been talking about a pressure barrel for a while but said he couldn't jusify buying one at the moment (I'm on maternity leave) so I thought with his birthday coming up after Christmas that would be perfect. I know he'll want to use it straight away though so I just need to make sure it has everything he needs. I had a look online before coming here but it talked about attachments etc so I decided best to ask the experts in case I get it horribly wrong :thumb:

 

[ricardo]

Does he drink lager & does he like fizzy beer ?????
If so a King Keg type pressure barrel will be a waste of money cos they dont
give a very fizzy drink.
I sold all mine & went back onto swing top bottles

 

[Springer]

I agree on starting with bottles, the cheap youngs pressure barrels are quite good for what you get in my opinion as long as you keep on top of cleaning them and Vaseline the seals.

Sounds right to me, :thumb: A good step forward, although there's nothing wrong with bottled beer, if you want something a little cheaper, £5ish, poly pins are excellent :thumb: , but as someone mentioned they are no good if you like fizzy.

If you are a beer widow now, it will probably get worse if he gets involved here :lol:

S

 

[Beer Widow]

ok, thanks for that. He's been talking about it for a while though so I guess he does want one. The last batch he made was a honey ale and yes he does complain that there is not enough fizz in them/ that they are flat and that the head disappears really quickly on some of the ones he's made. Also he says, like most people I believe, that the cleaning and filling and capping of the bottles is very time consuming...so I'm guessing this is the reason for wanting a pressure barrel? Forgive me if I sound stupid :?

He said that he was looking at one that was about £50?

Yes thanks Springer, I know it will only get worse but whatever keeps him happy!

 

[Beer Widow]

Oh and where can I find this Norman??

 

[Beer Widow]

Ah it's okay now, found him! Thanks people.

 

[ricardo]

http://www.wineworks.co.uk/product/king-keg-bottom-tap/

Good price.......
:thumb:

 

[eggman]

I use youngs budget kegs, i've never had any problems with them and they are good value for money. Just make sure he takes some time reading up on setting them up properly
:

 

[puravida]

I've got a couple of the youngs budget kegs too where the lid has been converted to accept a Co2 Cylinder to give it a bit of a boost when you are half way through.

Work great.

Cleaning was an issue until someone introduced me to the magic of oxy clean!!!!!!

 

[Springer]

I can see this might be confusing, even I am confused, but thats usual :lol:
Cornie's like the ones Norm does are the expensive option, but are the best option in my opinion.
King kegs like Ric suggests are a cheaper option and fine.
Those young's budget kegs, that egg and pura recommend, might be the ones that I saw this afternoon in Wilko's for about £20 :? .
Three price ranges there, the way I see it, you get what you pay for.
S

 

[puravida]

Those young's budget kegs, that egg and pura recommend, might be the ones that I saw this afternoon in Wilko's for about £20 :? .
S

Yes I think they;e the ones I have. Then a replacement cap with the co2 inlet for pressurising.
Served me well for quite a few brews. I just upgraded and got cornuy kegs from Norm but the two plastic barrells are still in service too

I got two budget kegs (he only sells in pairs), a tank of gas, a regulator, and some pipes and a tap - came in around £170 inc shipping.

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

I use King Keg top taps.

For the money are good as you can geet a pint pot underneath the tap so can have them on the floor. I manage to get a good head from mine but for really fizzy lager would be a waste of time.

If I had my time again I would have bought a couple of corneys, set up in a 2nd hand fridge with a gas bottle regulator etc