Easy Keg 5L

[Dutto]

Turning a Home-brewed MK upside down will disturb all of the yeast from the bottom; so don't do it!

The vent at the top is to let air into the keg when the natural carbonation has finished.

I used only 3g of Brewing Sugar per litre of brew in the MK and (for me) that was perfect.

I gave up using MK's though because they were too small and only lasted at the most four days! The Good News was that it didn't matter if I let air into the MK!

 

[cushyno]

Thanks for the advice Dutto.
I used around 16g of brewing sugar per MK for an IPA so should be about right. Only have two of these so far and splitting a batch between MKs and bottles as an experiment.

 

[TomR]

Hi I really like the idea of reusing these mini kegs. Are they easy to clean and refill?
Are there any links to instructions on how to do this?
Ta

 

[Dutto]

Hi I really like the idea of reusing these mini kegs. Are they easy to clean and refill?
Are there any links to instructions on how to do this?
Ta

THIS is Post 1,644 on the subject of Mini-Kegs - seek and ye shall find!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I think you just said what we were all thinking.

 

[TomR]

I have and I did

 

[Chippy_Tea]

:thumba:

 

[TomR]

Hi further question on the mini keg front. I've noticed the kegs in my local supermarket have either rubber bungs or plastic. Am I right in assuming only the rubber ones can be re used ?

 

[Delta3]

I've assumed that at the moment myself.

Something to note that came up on my local homebrew FB page is that the taps only last for about 5~6 uses roughly. So you need a party star deulx (sp?) for better longevity out of your legs.

I'm only just getting into these myself so I could be wrong, and will happily be corrected if i am :-)

 

[Leon103]

I've assumed that at the moment myself.

Something to note that came up on my local homebrew FB page is that the taps only last for about 5~6 uses roughly. So you need a party star deulx (sp?) for better longevity out of your legs.

I'm only just getting into these myself so I could be wrong, and will happily be corrected if i am :-)

What happens to the tap after 5 or 6 uses?

 

[Delta3]

I believe the seal on the tap goes.

To be honest the first time I used one of the kegs was last week and that was to empty it of trooper for reuse, so I've no first hand experience myself.

 

[Dutto]

.........

Something to note that came up on my local homebrew FB page is that the taps only last for about 5~6 uses roughly. So you need a party star deulx (sp?) for better longevity out of your legs.

........

Increasing the longevity is very simple.

Wash it thoroughly, pull it out, dry the shaft with a bit of kitchen towelling, smear it with a knob of Vaseline and then slide it in and out a bit before the next use.


PS
To BigCol "NO!"

 

[Bigcol49]

To BigCol "NO!"

Spoilsport!
I was merely going to say, "What about shaking it all about?"

 

[Delta3]

Increasing the longevity is very simple.

Wash it thoroughly, pull it out, dry the shaft with a bit of kitchen towelling, smear it with a knob of Vaseline and then slide it in and out a bit before the next use.

Do you know how much roughly it will increase the lifespan of the tap? I've just picked up a 2nd hand party star deluxe today and at the moment I'm getting 90% foam, so I'd welcome alternative options lol :-)

 

[Dutto]

Increasing the lifespan is very dependent on cleaning, maintenance and what pressure the MK is carbonated at; but a built-in Tap can last for many brews if it's properly looked after.

With regard to the foaming with a Tap:

1. Have you inserted an attenuator into the Flexi-Tap? In a Flexi-Tap it's a length of solid plastic that fits inside the tube that goes down to the bottom of the MK in another style of Tap it is a small barrel shaped piece of nylon that sits just at the back of the Tap. It reduces the pressure before the brew gets to leave the Tap and thereby reduces foaming.

2. With a Bottom Tap, the MAXIMUM I ever carbonated an MK was at "3g per litre of Brewing Sugar"; and that was after I was fully assured that fermentation was completed. If more sugar is used or the brew hasn't finished fermenting then pulling the first two pints took forever as I had to wait for the foam to settle.

If a brew is a bit too lively (it often happens, especially in summer), I just pull it into a one litre carafe and then pour it into a glass when the foam has died down a bit.

 

[cushyno]

Kegged 10L of IPA last weekend and the kegs are firming up almost too well. May have to vent some pressure.

So I'm looking forward to the pitcher full of foam next weekend when I take a keg away with us at half term hols...

 

[Dutto]

...............

So I'm looking forward to the pitcher full of foam next weekend when I take a keg away with us at half term hols...

Put the MK inside double wrapped refuse bags! If they are over-carbed AND shaken then the seal round the bottom valve will almost always blow first; and a vehicle that smells of beer is not a pleasant vehicle to sit in!

Enjoy!

 

[Leon103]

They are strong. I accidentally plugged my inkbird in the wrong way when moved. The fridge got to 37c for about 24 hours before I noticed. The keg distorted loads but didn't blow

 

[cushyno]

Put the MK inside double wrapped refuse bags! If they are over-carbed AND shaken then the seal round the bottom valve will almost always blow first; and a vehicle that smells of beer is not a pleasant vehicle to sit in!

Enjoy!

Thanks for the tip. I might stash the keg in the front locker of our caravan, then if it leaks, nobody except me gets upset. :tinhat:

 

[Dutto]

They are strong. I accidentally plugged my inkbird in the wrong way when moved. The fridge got to 37c for about 24 hours before I noticed. The keg distorted loads but didn't blow

Ouch!! Lucky or what!

The only leaks I've had from MK's have been from the seal around the bottom tap. It happened twice and both times was when I was pushing the wand of the Flexi-Tap into the MK.

After the second occasion, I always pulled a pint off the MK via the bottom tap before inserting the Flexi-Tap wand and that cured the problem.