Cheap Starter Kit ok eBay

[r-evans]

In case anybody is interested, them Lid Openers ^^ worked a treat, good that it comes as a 4 pack as you definitely need at least 2.

 

[Pezza24]

Just ordered them, I followed your lead and have accidentally jammed the lid on an empty FV

 

[Victor Churchill]

Dithered about this kit until today (never done a grain brew); decied to go for it today and he's out of stock :-(

 

[VW911]

Something odd about this.
Showing 6 in stock now...

 

[Pezza24]

I think they only sell 10 at a time to try and increase demand. They've "run out" twice since I bought mine.

 

[Victor Churchill]

Yep. Got it. Thanks for the heads-up!
Looking forward to doing my first AG !!

 

[Ashman]

Mine turned up. I will have a look to see what is out of date. I know when I glanced the yeast was. I only really wanted the buckets and the stainless pot!

 

[Catman]

Just came across a starter kit for cheap. It's a Northern Brewer kit which comes from the US I believe. Comes with a kit as well but the kits are past sell by date.

Home Brew Essential Starter Kit | eBay

Thanks for the heads up, just bought one last night. Never brewed beer before should be good and the bits and peices will come in handy with the wine and cider making.

 

[kelper]

These look interesting and with three different hops
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Share-Making-Brewing-malts-Fermentation/dp/B08HQS11HK
I might order the IPA but it's only 5 litres

 

[lupinehorror]

These look interesting and with three different hops
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Share-Making-Brewing-malts-Fermentation/dp/B08HQS11HK
I might order the IPA but it's only 5 litres

i was looking at that very one yesterday but the low litreage put me off.

 

[kelper]

i was looking at that very one yesterday but the low litreage put me off.

Maybe it would make a good present to someone who has never brewed?

 

[lupinehorror]

Maybe it would make a good present to someone who has never brewed?

agreed. i may have amassed enough useful knowledge to pass on by the time the 'festive' season rolls around. beer isn't just for christmas however :small

 

[terrym]

These look interesting and with three different hops
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Share-Making-Brewing-malts-Fermentation/dp/B08HQS11HK
I might order the IPA but it's only 5 litres

These kits look to contain the standard plastic lined CS 5 litre minikegs which, as far as I can see, are the same as most (but not all) you buy from supermarkets with beer already in them of course etc like this
https://www.europeanmalt.com/mini-kegs/And experience for me and others apparently with these is they might be OK for a one trip use as mostly intended (read the product description in above) but after they have been pressurised once by using priming sugar, subsequent use infuses a metallic taste into the beer. In other words after you have used the ingredients which you could probably buy for a lot less than a fiver you will be left with a keg that will only possibly last a couple of outings.

 

[kelper]

I see that manufacturer has a FAQ

"CAN YOU RE-USE A MINI KEG?
Yes and No. Many home brewers will wash and reuse a mini keg however this is not commercially viable as it is difficult to ensure the thorough cleaning of a mini keg. You are also in danger of compromising the food grade lacquer inside."

Interesting about the lacquer....

 

[terrym]

I see that manufacturer has a FAQ

"CAN YOU RE-USE A MINI KEG?
Yes and No. Many home brewers will wash and reuse a mini keg however this is not commercially viable as it is difficult to ensure the thorough cleaning of a mini keg. You are also in danger of compromising the food grade lacquer inside."

Interesting about the lacquer....

Wot I said about that in another thread few days back
'My own theory about why the CS lined minikegs produce a metallic taste is that they are only really one trip and not intended to be used under pressure ... but if they are re-used and pressurised by homebrewers it flexes the joints, the thin lining cracks and that allows beer (under pressure) to access the CS, which it then corrodes. And within manufacturing tolerances, and differnent handling and different internal pressures used by different homebrewers, some kegs will fail early and some will last for a few brews before the metallic tatse kicks in. And perhaps some may not fail at all'

 

[kelper]

Wot I said about that in another thread a few days back
'My own theory about why the CS lined minikegs produce a metallic taste is that they are only really one trip and not intended to be used under pressure ... but if they are re-used and pressurised by homebrewers it flexes the joints, the thin lining cracks and that allows beer (under pressure) to access the CS, which it then corrodes. And within manufacturing tolerances, and different handling and different internal pressures used by different homebrewers, some kegs will fail early and some will last for a few brews before the metallic taste kicks in. And perhaps some may not fail at all.,

But we now know that it's a lacquer and they are not plastic lined.

Drinksshop.co.uk sell re-usable, stainless-steel, five-litre mini-kegs. £8.50 plus £5 delivery.

https://www.drinksshop.co.uk/collec...-drinks-shop/products/5-litre-mini-kegs-black

 

[terrym]

But we now know that it's a lacquer and they are not plastic lined.

Drinksshop.co.uk sell re-usable, stainless-steel, five-litre mini-kegs. £8.50 plus £5 delivery.

https://www.drinksshop.co.uk/collec...-drinks-shop/products/5-litre-mini-kegs-black

Sadly not stainless, lined (or lacquer coated) CS.
These are made by the other supplier Fass Frisch
https://fass-frisch.com/en/zapfanlagen-shop/
The distinguishing features between the two types is the vent on the FF cannot be re-used, it has to be destroyed, and the dispensing tap is pull and twist on the Huber and pull and press a bulb on the FF. I have had both and the Huber are better, which may explain why they are more widely used by breweries.
There's a long thread about Easykegs/minikegs here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/easy-keg-5l.57568

 

[kelper]

https://www.drinksshop.co.uk/blogs/news/empty-mini-kegs-by-drinks-shop
says stainless steel

 

[terrym]

https://www.drinksshop.co.uk/blogs/news/empty-mini-kegs-by-drinks-shop
says stainless steel

It didn't in the link you originally posted
That only said
"The metal kegs are available for UK distribution and delivery to mainland UK. We have the mini-kegs available in two finishes, Silver and Matt Black. Both of the options come complete with a ‘Bung’ for the top of the keg (this also has an air release), a built-in plastic retractable tap and a plastic carry handle "
and
"Product Code : DSMINIK 11 (Matt Black)
Keg Capacity: 5 Litre
Material: Metal
Colour : Matt Black
Bung/Air release: Rubber & plastic"

Anyway they look identical to the five FF kegs I was given, and they are not SS they are CS coated/lined and two produced the metallic taste so they are progressively being chucked out after one re-use.

However if these are indeed SS instead of coated CS as th seller claims they might be a good buy. However I would be checking with the seller before I bought. There's a recent thread on this same subject here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/stainless-steel-mini-kegs.90127

 

[kelper]

When the seller talks about stainless steel material, that sounds odd. I think he has no idea what he's talking about. So he may be mistaken. I doubt if it really is SS. I did ask him on chat. I'll contact him by email and get him to make a statement he can't later deny.