Equipment

[mike_75]

Hi guys,
I hope my questions are relevant to this board.
I am wanting to set up a Guinness pump and Fosters pump in my recently built outdoor bar. Seen as though this is all new to me I was wondering what equipment I need and how the line is set up. I have started to look on eBay for things and have bought the two pumps. I understand so far that I need a keg with some gas, a cooler and a pump but that's about it.
Thanks

 

[Vossy1]

For the Fosters it's a straight C02 keg/reg, for the Guinness it's a Co2/N mix IIRC :hmm:
You will need beer line (see E-bay) usually 3/8ths, and various fittings. If the beer is stored in a fridge you won't need a cooler, where is the beer coming from :hmm: If you've got hand pumps you won't need auxiliary pumps either.

 

[mike_75]

The beer is coming from a keg.

I have bought a maxi cooler to cool the beer.

I think I understand that the keg needs CO2 inlet then a beer outlet which runs to my cooler then out of the cooler to the pump?

 

[Vossy1]

I think I understand that the keg needs CO2 inlet then a beer outlet which runs to my cooler then out of the cooler to the pump?

Yep, that's right. If you want to just use the priming Co2 to carbonate your beer you could get a cask breather for the inlet. The cb adds C02 to the keg at the same rate you reduce the beer, so doesn't actually add to the C02 to the beer.

 

[jamesb]

Stop.

You just need gas, ignore the talk about priming and cask breathers - that's for cask products.

You may also need a length of 3/16" or 5/16" beer line if you have problems with fobbing (foaming).

 

[Vossy1]

ignore the talk about priming and cask breathers - that's for cask products.

Well, honestly :lol: Strictly speaking not true but I suppose it can be seen as overcomplicating things :grin:

 

[jamesb]

ignore the talk about priming and cask breathers - that's for cask products.

Well, honestly :lol: Strictly speaking not true but I suppose it can be seen as overcomplicating things :grin:

Aye, but the OP didn't suggest he was a homebrewer, just setting up a home bar.

Caveat: Do not try and open the kegs to add priming sugar, you will probably die.

 

[Vossy1]

Aye, but the OP didn't suggest he was a homebrewer, just setting up a home bar.

It doesn't say he's not either, I assumed he would be rightly or wrongly (keg being a term loosely used for a few options), good point James :thumb: could be posting at cross purposes :hmm:

What sort of keg is it Mike, is it a proper metal beer keg as used in pubs

 

[Vossy1]

Just re-read the post and the question is specific to Fosters and Guinness, probably not primed beer so like James said, ignore the cask breather bit, good spot James :thumb:
If it's home brewed beer let us know Mike

 

[jamesb]

For gas, you could get away with 70/30 for both. Even lager uses a mixed gas when it's on long lines.

You won't need a pump unless you're planning on keeping the kegs a mile away from the taps. The gas itself will push the beer to the taps. Running it through a chiller is a good idea if you want it cold.

 

[mike_75]

Thanks for the replies guys.

The beer is not home brewed, it is bought in kegs.

I think I am starting to get somewhere now

 

[tigerpaws]

Shopping list.

70/30 gas
Regulator
Beer line (insulated With a python is a big plus)
dispense font(s)
Barrel couplers
remote chiller.

plus a way to keep the barrels cool

 

[mike_75]

Thanks for all the information.

I am half way through getting my line sorted now but still need some more advice.
I have tried to attach a diagram off my set up, but am having trouble adding a jpeg! (if it is possible or anyone can help!!)

I currently have the Dispenser, the Coupler and the Maxi Cooler and Keg are on order.

Therefore, I require:

CO2/N gas bottle - Does anyone know a good supplier in the North East of England
Regulator - I assume I can get one of EBay but need to know the correct one
Beer Lines - Which size (3/16", 5/16") and I assume from EBay.

 

[MattPark]

Hi mate
I'm relatively new to this as well but started off as you are with a commercial Fosters keg.

If you have a Fosters keg make sure you have the correct keg coupler, a Sankey coupler, and the Guinness keg will have a different coupler again although I'm not sure what type that one is.

Depending on your coupler you will have 1/2" bsp threads for 'gas in' and 'beer out'. To these you can screw on john guest 1/2" bsp thread to 3/8" push fits.

From your gas bottle (i decided against having a bitter or Guinness as it was too much messing getting a CO2 and a 70/30 mix so just opted for CO2 and Fosters, then I would home brew my bitter and stout - which doesn't need gas) you will need a regulator off ebay from around £20 up to silly money, preferably with a guage. I have a micromatic with no guage (although I would prefer one) and it is preset to 22psi. So .... regulator fastens to gas bottle - from regulator, using a jg 1/2" thread to 3/8" push fit, use 3/8" line to the 'gas in' on the keg coupler.
Then from the beer out on the keg coupler, 3/8" line to a 3/8" push fit connected to the 'in' on your cooler. From corresponding 'out' on your cooler using a jg 3/8" push with 3/8" beer line, connect up to your font.
You will also see the recirc connections on your cooler which are great for giving your font the superchilled effect if it has that faciltiy!
And that is pretty much it!
A bit hard to describe in words....I'll try to sort some pics out if I can figure out how to get them on here.

If you need any help on how to set up and run your cooler and set up give me a shout and I'll do my best.

 

[MattPark]

Oh....and make sure your regulators are specific to CO2 and Mixed gas, they are different!

 

[mike_75]

Matt, many thanks for the reply, it is very helpful indeed. Any pics you can post would be very much appreciated.

I don't suppose you have any links for the beer lines and especially the connectors just so I know I am getting the correct ones with regards to gas/liquid.

Cheers

 

[MattPark]

Most of my gear I got off ebay, below are just examples: have a search to see if you can get them cheaper. I hope no-onw told you its gonna be cheap!

Sankey (Fosters keg coupler):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOSTERS-KEG-T ... _500wt_938

Guiness keg coupler (you can see how the keg connection differs)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUINNESS-A-TY ... _500wt_938

3/8" beer line (you can if you want use this fo your gas line but for gas it should really be a grey tubing):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beer-Pipe-3-8 ... 044wt_1142

3/8" Gas line:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-Beer-gas- ... _507wt_922

Mixed gas regulator (this is the mixed as version of what I have, with no guages at a preset psi):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mixed-gas-reg ... 500wt_1169

CO2 regulator (with a guage)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CO2-regulator ... 500wt_1169

A cleaning bottle with matching keg head also is handy:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BEER-LINE-CLE ... 1392wt_922

John Guest fittings (just search ebay for john guest thenfind what you need, you'll need to work out how many of each you need)
This is the 3/8" to 3/8":
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-x-3-8-Str ... 500wt_1158

This is the 1/2" thread to 3/8" push fit:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-8-1-2-bsp-J ... _500wt_938

Have you got your gases? They're a little tricky to get hold off as there is lots of red tape to get through.
If you can find a local supplier then great. But if not, again I found a guy on ebay who was selling his CO2 as part of a job lot, luckily he also had the deposit receipt for the bottle which means they won't have any problems when it comes to refilling it.

Like I said, all of the above are just examples, if you buy all new stuff it's gonna be expensive, but have good search for used gear.
Like you I wanted a smooth bitter on a pump but when I realised it meant buying 2 gas bottles, 2 regulators, 2 keg couplers, etc. etc I thought against it and got a traditional hand pump through which I pul my home brews (best decision i made, taste great through the hand pump and cheap and simple.

 

[Ollywilko]

This is what I did with mine cost about £200 to do.
Took alot for fitting and lines. Line go about 25ft to my bar.
If you get stuck any more just give me a message.

 

[mike_75]

Matt, thanks again for the info. I will go through them all and order what I need. I think for now I am going to try and set the Guinness line up so I can see how it all works, only because I have already bought the dispenser and coupler!

I think the gas is going to be a problem, especially as it is not just CO2 but mixed!

Olly, that is some set up!

 

[mike_75]

Things are going fine for now i have managed to get my gas bottles and now have everything i need so am in the process off connecting everything up.

Therefore, I have a couple of questions, bit silly really but just to put my mind at rest.

1/ Do the 3/8" to 1/2" John Guest connections to the regulator need to be brass or are they ok just plastic?

2/ The S-Type Coupler has a 'gas in' and a 'beer out' connections. I assume the one out of the top is the beer out and the one on the side is the gas in?

Thanks