carbing a corny keg

[peebee]

@mancer62: A possible fix for the temperature conundrum is get a couple of those mini-kegs with a disconnect cap (disconnects like Corny kegs). You can get 2 or 5L versions, whatever will fit in your fridge. Then transfer (under pressure to keep foam down) from your Corny keg as required. (TIP: Chill the mini-keg before transfer).

The CO2 volumes won't change much (at all if careful), only the pressure you serve it at changes (which will probably be half what the Corny keg is pressurised to).

It works, I know, 'cos I've done it. But I guess there are folk here that do it more regularly? This method is portable too; you can take kegs on picnics, etc.

 

[The Baron]

My only advise is do not leave the gas connected unless you are sure the system is leak proof as its easy the find out the gas cylinder is empty after a couple of days. I do not trust my connection 100% so carb to whatever pressure the beer style requires then turn off the gas and re-pressure probably 3 times a day as the beer absorbs the co2 and each time turn off the gas again. In a ideal leak proof system leaving it connected is the way to go as you can set it and forget until its fully carbed to your liking

 

[peebee]

… Thus you'll likely have a sparkler which churns up your beer to make it palatable. …

… "British" beers - the warm, flat CAMRA sort. …

Eeek! You are definitely someone not to walk into certain pubs with!

Anyway, few would notice (you included) that the handpumps shown have been modified: They are fitted with stumpy "southern pour" nozzles (Angram's take on them, they are northerners so haven't got it quite right) so you can't fit "sparklers" to them. I don't approve of "sparklers" (and as CAMRA have been mentioned, neither do they) for good reason; they rip the heart out of beers.

Aaah! It's lunchtime. I've done my weekly stint of alcohol abstention days so I think I'll sit down with one of my highly carbonated cold lagers (I'm not that easy to pin a stereotype to!).

 

[Ghillie]

Eeek! You are definitely someone not to walk into certain pubs with!

Anyway, few would notice (you included) that the handpumps shown have been modified: They are fitted with stumpy "southern pour" nozzles (Angram's take on them, they are northerners so haven't got it quite right) so you can't fit "sparklers" to them. I don't approve of "sparklers" (and as CAMRA have been mentioned, neither do they) for good reason; they rip the heart out of beers.

Aaah! It's lunchtime. I've done my weekly stint of alcohol abstention days so I think I'll sit down with one of my highly carbonated cold lagers (I'm not that easy to pin a stereotype to!).

Don't worry, we won't be walking anywhere together, anytime soon @peebee

Enjoy your lager, I hope it's nice.

 

[peebee]

Don't worry, we won't be walking anywhere together, anytime soon @peebee

No. I've just look up where you are; Forres. Nice, bit of a way out, definitely none of those "certain pubs". Close thing though, I was destined to move in down the road at Keith a while back but it all fell through and I never got further than Dyce, Aberdeen. If it had gone through you'd have possibly known about me (or what I was doing) 'cos I was setting up an explosives factory!

 

[pms67]

Bet the OP regrets asking

 

[The Baron]

Just a bit of alpha male sabre rattling not new to this forum Lol

 

[mancer62]

Arrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!
Equilibriums....technical carbonation/dispensing pressures and.formulas etc ....all a bit too complicated to me a mere corny keg novice who just wants a beer with a bit of fizz..
I understand you are.all only trying to help and advise but we are obviously at different levels me being 1 and yourselves around 100 lol.

I dont currently have the room for even a small fridge as my set up (co2 tank and 2 cornies) already share a space under the stairs with a household freezer) so space very limited. Rightly or wrongly (I enjoy and dont mind in the slightest putting ice cubes in my glass whenever i pour a brew.) to give me my chill factor.

So in the very very simplest of terms
What would your advice be to me for this current batch taking into accont it was topped up yesterday with 30psi then disconnected.
Im not looking or expecting an award winning IPA just one I can get a.decent amount of gas into tyvm

 

[Ghillie]

If you want to keep it ridiculously simple; put a high pressure on it (leave it connected or disconnect if it's easier) and gently rock the keg back and forth.

Turn down to whatever serving pressure gives you a decent pour and there you have it.

 

[peebee]

Arrrrrrgggghhhhh!!! …

Don't give up! I did try to keep my post (#17) as simple as possible; even drew a picture or two! Okay, I did include a tiny bit of very basic arithmetic, but that was only to keep others quiet (they are out there waiting to ridicule me! Shh … they're coming … I can hear them).

But you have been hoodwinked into thinking you will be able to get anything other than a glass of foam out of a highly pressured keg sitting in a very warm house! You haven't been recommended ten miles of beer-line to drop the pressure yet (it'll come! It won't work though). Was there anything wrong with my suggestion to transfer to mini-kegs (your Corny keg is pressured right but the temperature is a bit - a lot - high)?

 

[Brew_DD2]

Why do you keep topping it up and then disconnecting the gas? Seems a very inefficient way of carbing up your beer. There are loads of guides on Youtube on kegging that are pitched at brewers of all levels. I suggest you give them a watch.

I don't mean to piss on your bonfire, but I am not sure why you went for a corny keg when you are so tight for space that you can't chill it and subsequently serve it.

 

[peebee]

Just a bit of alpha male sabre rattling not new to this forum Lol

An "alpha male"? Where? Let me get me gun. Just got to get out of my dressing gown and then … (wife - where's me gun? What you mean they took it off me after I banged me head … oh, really? Okay.) … Right! This "alpha male" thingy … can you tell me when it's gone?

 

[pms67]

Arrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!
Equilibriums....technical carbonation/dispensing pressures and.formulas etc ....all a bit too complicated to me a mere corny keg novice who just wants a beer with a bit of fizz..
I understand you are.all only trying to help and advise but we are obviously at different levels me being 1 and yourselves around 100 lol.

I dont currently have the room for even a small fridge as my set up (co2 tank and 2 cornies) already share a space under the stairs with a household freezer) so space very limited. Rightly or wrongly (I enjoy and dont mind in the slightest putting ice cubes in my glass whenever i pour a brew.) to give me my chill factor.

So in the very very simplest of terms
What would your advice be to me for this current batch taking into accont it was topped up yesterday with 30psi then disconnected.
Im not looking or expecting an award winning IPA just one I can get a.decent amount of gas into tyvm

I wouldn’t disconnect the gas, my keg sits in my fridge (sorry but I think it’s a must) and my gas is outside it, I just set the pressure to 10-15 psi and leave it at 5 degrees, my Punk IPA clone has been like that for 10 days and it’s now perfect.
I have 3m of the very small beer line to feed it piled up in the fridge.
Good luck

 

[pms67]

I’m not sure how you get round not having a cooler as it seems to go hand in hand that cold beer is easier to carb (I think)
Is there nowhere you can squeeze one in?

 

[pms67]

Mine fits inside the door of this small fridge (£10)
This was before I added the reducers and beer lines etc.
I also got good advice from Rob at the Malt Miller
Hope you get something sorted

 

[peebee]

… Enjoy your lager, I hope it's nice.

See. I wasn't fibbing:

… okay, for "lager" it looks a bit black! But it is supposed to be like that, honest! DIYDog #17, or "Zeitgeist".

For @mancer62: This is out of a Corny keg that's in a fridge "lagering" (you can see condensation on the glass) but it will be kept at room temperature and fed through a "shelf chiller". But a shelf chiller might be out of your reach? In which case I'd recommend the 2L mini-kegs (or 5L) unless you won't be allowed to put then in fridge? You can get counter-pressure fillers to transfer from warm Corny to PET bottles for putting in fridge, but they are a bit expensive (£100 or more).

… Im not looking or expecting an award winning IPA …

Why not? Go for it; it is within your reach!

After all, how much experience do you think a seriously disabled ex-"Real Ale"-only-drinking loon has of "award winning IPA" and lager? Doesn't stop me! (Actually - stick a wellington boot in front of me and that'll stop me).

 

[crowcrow]

I'm no doubt doing it all wrong as I'm brand new to kegging. But I followed this guide https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/beer-ready-straight-from-keg.82958/#post-836058

I then turn gas on to serve and get back to pressure, but turn off when I'm not around. I'm serving at 20psi as I have 6 foot of <edit>3/16 https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/newby-corny-keg-question.83027/#post-836845

 

[pms67]

I found the 3/16 to be much better, 2 reducers and 3m of it serves a perfect pint

 

[Ghillie]

I found the 3/16 to be much better, 2 reducers and 3m of it serves a perfect pint

3m! I'm dispensing at 17PSI now and using about 2.5ft. Do you get a slow pour?

 

[pms67]

3m! I'm dispensing at 17PSI now and using about 2.5ft. Do you get a slow pour?

No, not really, I initially had 5m and that was a slow pour!
I just cut 2 m off it and tried it, seems spot on to me