Bottles or kingkeg?

[panderson]

Looking at starting brewing again, and probably going to get a kingkeg to dispense it. Only concern is I like cold beer,so am thinking should I bottle instead? Never bottled before, presume it's a lot more effort in terms of sterilising etc?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Never bottled before, presume it's a lot more effort in terms of sterilising etc?

Chemsan, a spin vinator and either a bottle drain tray or bottle tree, two minutes contact time and the bottles are sanitised. (no need to rinse)

You can also use the vinator to clean them after use.

 

[jof]

I would consider how you intend to drink it.
I bottle mine, then it's easy to limit myself to 1 bottle a night.
Yes it takes longer to package, but I also find bottles more reliable than leaky pressure barrels.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

I have moved from king keg to bottling (using coopers plastic screw top bottles). It takes longer to bottle than keg, but I find the beer keeps at its peak longer and I drink it slower than many here (plus I can have a number of beers on the go). I personally would not go back to king keg, but depends upon your preference. Also, I don't mind bottling beer, in fact I find it strangely satisfying, whilst others hate it.

 

[panderson]

I have moved from king keg to bottling (using coopers plastic screw top bottles). It takes longer to bottle than keg, but I find the beer keeps at its peak longer and I drink it slower than many here (plus I can have a number of beers on the go). I personally would not go back to king keg, but depends upon your preference. Also, I don't mind bottling beer, in fact I find it strangely satisfying, whilst others hate it.

Great thanks for all replies so far. Would you suggest 740ml or 500ml size coopers bottles?

 

[labrewski]

King keg can be hassle I honestly think glass bottled beer tastes better always just give a decent rinse after pouring a drink
Makes it easier to clean and sanitise on bottling day

 

[Harald]

King keg can be hassle I honestly think glass bottled beer tastes better always just give a decent rinse after pouring a drink
Makes it easier to clean and sanitise on bottling day

I prefer to fill glass bottles with crown caps. Depending on the ABV in 0.25 / 0.3 / 0.5 liter bottles.
For me, these containers are ideal for drinking in the evening, for swapping with beer- and brewing friends and for competitions.

 

[Rwilts]

Great thanks for all replies so far. Would you suggest 740ml or 500ml size coopers bottles?

500 for me, about a pint and can be poured in one go, leaving any sediment behind.

 

[Druss]

I'm definitely one for bottles, there's so much more scope for experimenting that way (I added a drop of various flavoured bitters to a few of my latest bottles to see what that does) and there's something rather special about a bottle conditioned beer.

Also, as @Harald says, it's always a good option to hand out a few to friends etc.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

500 for me, about a pint and can be poured in one go, leaving any sediment behind.

Was going to say exactly the same thing.

Flavour-wise it shouldn't matter if you use coopers plastic bottles or glass, as long as you don't keep the beer for 18+ months (in which case glass is better).

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Belgians and barley wines in bottles, ale low pressure cask and the rest in the keg fridge.

King kegs can be temperamental but close to a cask ale type.
@Buffers brewery uses kingkeg I think in a fridge.
They are bulky though and my keg fridge fits 8 kegs, although it's a tubing and cable nightmare with the flowmeters.
I still use my kingkeg and boots keg when I need some extra capacity.

 

[Bitter_Dave]

Point about king kegs giving the closer approximation of cask ale carbonation is a good one. But you can play with carbonation levels to some degree if bottling by adjusting priming amounts.

 

[jambop]

I do a bit of both small kegs and bottles. Yes the bottles are more work but you can keep a tally of exactlty what you have supped. kegs are better when you have your friends round for a few.

 

[Buffers brewery]

@Buffers brewery uses kingkeg I think in a fridge.

Indeed I do. My Kingkegs are seriously modified to mimic corny kegs and I fit 2 into my tall “barrelator” fridge controlled to 10C. When I share I use a counter pressure filler for swing top bottles or a carbonation cap for larger 2 litre (used) coke/pepsi bottles.
My Kingkeg journey took a long time to arrive at where I am now. If I were to start again knowing what I know now I’d use corny kegs….but…..as I already had Kingkegs, I’m happy with them now.

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/my-barrelator-build.90418/

 

[Davegase]

Looking at starting brewing again, and probably going to get a kingkeg to dispense it. Only concern is I like cold beer,so am thinking should I bottle instead? Never bottled before, presume it's a lot more effort in terms of sterilising etc?

Personally I prefer kegging.
But unless you're prepared to have a dedicated beer fridge to dispense from I would stick with bottling.
Also if I was starting from scratch I would go for corny kegs rather than kingkegs.
If you go to down the bottling route make sure you get a fermenter with a tap, and get a bottling stick which has a little valve at the bottom which opens when you hit the bottom of the bottle.
It's a much better method than siphoning.
I also endorse Chippy_Teas recommendations. Using chemsan or Starsan equivalent IE phosphoric acid sanitizer there is no need to rinse after.

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/pro...E2HcsUNGQHJfaq4PLf4fOAVrRz2cT20xoCu_8QAvD_BwE

 

[Sozzled Sab]

Agree with all of the above.
Get yourself a fermenter with a tap or fit a tap to your existing one and a bottling stick. Screw top pet bottles are fine. Also this allows you to brew styles that require higher carbonation levels than a barrel can achieve.
Pressure barrels are infuriating,temperamental things that can make you tear your hair out. Trust me I have been using them for over 20 years!
Bottling is a hassle but it does get easier with practice.

 

[MashBag]

I would consider how you intend to drink it.
I bottle mine, then it's easy to limit myself to 1 bottle a night.
Yes it takes longer to package, but I also find bottles more reliable than leaky pressure barrels.

Absolutely.
Bottling can be very easy or very complex. But you can be finished in an hour. Kegging is a continual PITA and far more expensive. Bottles are free and caps reusable.

Just my tuppence.

 

[Deadhead]

I currently bottle all my beers, but have been seriously considering an Oxebar PET keg type of system which seem cheap and easy enough to experiment with. So maybe something you may want to look at?
I watched the Malt Miller's video on this and i was thinking it might actually be something I could work with -
https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/pro...wcB&gbraid=0AAAAAp25eX5-cj1BE1shl1k-DiGSmIyaI

 

[Bitter_Dave]

Syphoning is a massive PITA. I have no idea why people still do it, except if you are using a carboy, and then I have no idea why people use carboys either!

Bottle straight from the fermenter using a bottling stick, and make sure you rinse your bottles well with warm water after drinking the contents. If you do these things bottling is not that big a hassle.

 

[obscure]

I bottle high ABV beers but anything below about 6% I put in a Corny keg as it’s just incredibly easy to do, but you do need a source of CO2 for a corny keg, and will be a bit more upfront than a pressure barrel or bottling.

Pressure Barrels are meant to be good for cask style beers but honestly when I’ve looked at them seem to be more hassle than they are worth to me (but some people swear by them).