Conditioning using a pressure barrel??? Is this possible??

[Welshspud]

Hi,

Wonder if anyone can assist and help me with a few questions.
I'm reasonably new to home brewing but have been doing it over the last year and have brewed several different lagers, ales, stouts and ciders, all being experimental but enjoyed every moment.

This Christmas I've received an assortment of different lagers and ales which I would like to take it a step further and try to condition them, having read that this can produce a better brew, if done correctly.

My first question is, can you use a pressure barrel as a conditioning fermentation vessel?

On most blogs I've read it states that the brew should be transferred to a fermentation bucket with an air lock similar to a primary fermentation bucket.
I understand that the brew will proceed to ferment and give off CO2,
by keeping the brew under pressure, would this cause any problems? Would it spoil the brew flavour or become stale by the contained CO2?
I don't think the pressure would be an issue, if the barrel can withstand the pressure of the secondary fermentation, conditioning shouldn't be a problem, please correct me if wrong.

If the CO2 does need to be released is there anything on the market to attach to pressure barrels to work as an air lock? So a second fermentation bucket does not need to be purchased.

My plan is to experiment with a stout first, bottling half the batch, straight after primary fermentation, (to make sure I have something to drink) condition the other half for two weeks, then bottle to see the difference in taste.

If someone could help, this would be much appreciated as I'm keen to crack on!

 

[bobsbeer]

Welcome : You should be able to secondary ferment in a pressure barrel. But if you seal the barrel it won't go stale but condition the beer. The only problem with that is you have no control how much condition it gets. You would be better getting hold of a second bucket and fit an airlock if you want to secondary ferment. You could of course take off the gas valve in the lid and fit a bung. But you are still going to rack to bottle it or put it in a pressure keg when it's done. But for most kits there is not much to be gained from secondary fermentation. I would just let it finish fermenting in the primary and then leave it a week or two before you rack and bottle/keg.

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome, moved your post to the correct section. :thumb:

 

[Welshspud]

Many thanks for the quick reply.

With all the kits I've done so far, I've followed them step by step.
I,e bottling after 4-6 days of primary fermentation with 2 seporate hydrometer reading the same.

When you advise to leave the brew 2-3 weeks after primary fermentation is complete, does this need to be done in a different bucket? Or are U just referring for the brew to be left in the same bucket you have started the brew with? Can the brew become oxygenated if left longer than 4-6 days as advised on the kits?

If the brew is left for an additional 2-3 weeks then bottled, does this effect the carbonation time after bottling? Does it need longer to carbonate? Or will it remain the same as advised on the kits of approx 14days??

 

[Welshspud]

Hi and welcome, moved your post to the correct section. :thumb:

Cheers, thanks, when I read how to post a topic it jut said click on any topic then new? Many thanks

 

[evanvine]

I condition/mature in my King Keg every brew!
works well!

 

[bobsbeer]

When you advise to leave the brew 2-3 weeks after primary fermentation is complete, does this need to be done in a different bucket?

You can leave it in the same bucket or if you have a second bucket you can rack after 4-5 days to let it complete the fermentation. Some do some don't. I don't. I just leave it alone for about 2-3 weeks.

Can the brew become oxygenated if left longer than 4-6 days as advised on the kits?

Not sure where this advice has come from but it's wrong. As the brew ferments co2 is produced which sits on top of the brew. This prevents oxygen getting to the brew. So don't worry about that. And assuming you don't keep taking the lid off too many times the void is all co2.

If the brew is left for an additional 2-3 weeks then bottled, does this effect the carbonation time after bottling? Does it need longer to carbonate? Or will it remain the same as advised on the kits of approx 14days??

This has no effect on the carbonation time. When you bottle/keg, just rack, prime as usual and set aside in a warm place for 1-2 weeks then cool for another couple of weeks to clear. Depending on the brew you may want to leave it longer to mature. But the co2 gas will be produced in the first 1-2 weeks and be absorbed by the beer when you cool it down. Cooling also helps with the clearing.

Take kit instructions with a pinch of salt, they are often inaccurate and/or misleading. Ask on here and you will get loads of advice.