I'm really thinking about going down the keg route following another batch of oxygenated hoppy beer. But what do I need to know regarding kegs? The actual keg bit looks easy enough but what else will I need?
Help me with kegs - convince me
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Drunkula
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Regulator, gas bottle, A pipe, a thinner pipe that stops it frothing, a thing to make the two pipes join, a tap, things that join the pipe to the keg, maybe fridge/freezer with a temperature controller, beer to go in it.
It can be done reasonable cheaply if you can operate a spanner or drill. And definitely cheaper than those crappy Blade / Torp pieces of crap that you'd have to be polite about if somebody showed you they had one.
Oh, I forgot to sum up why kegs are great - you don't have a bottling day. That's reason enough, it really is.
It can be done reasonable cheaply if you can operate a spanner or drill. And definitely cheaper than those crappy Blade / Torp pieces of crap that you'd have to be polite about if somebody showed you they had one.
Oh, I forgot to sum up why kegs are great - you don't have a bottling day. That's reason enough, it really is.
You've lost me on what that means??
I've been looking at the three packs of refurbed kegs from The Homebrew Company. Seems like a great deal. I'm assuming I then just need the one regulator? And when it comes to transfering from the FV to the keg, how do you do this whilst avoiding any exposure to oxygen? Totally agree with avoiding bottling day.
Oh, and if anyone has spotted better deals please let me know.
Oh, and if anyone has spotted better deals please let me know.
How many kegs do you want on at the same time? Assuming you want all three then you have some options:
1. A single combined primary/secondary regulator with Y-splitters to get the secondary output to all three kegs. You will only be able to maintain one pressure across all your kegs.
2. A modular system where you build a 'board' from a primary regulator that feeds one secondary regulator per keg. Might not be easy to find the parts in the UK. Common in the US, annoyingly. You will have independent pressure for each keg.
3. A single combined 3-product secondary regulator (like this US one) It'll need a primary regulator to feed it. Again as rare as hens teeth in the UK. This also has independent pressure on each keg.
You can import a regulator from the US but you'll need a CGA320 to UK adapter for the cylinder connection and it's also likely the barbs on the secondary outputs are for US diameter lines (5/16 I think).
It's all sounding a bit more complicated than I thought. I assumed that once the beer had been carbonated in the keg you could just leave it.
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trevorS
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Its not complicated, to start you need the keg a gas regulator and a tap to dispense the beer.
You can siphon pour your beer into the open keg then vent to remove the air when sealed.
no bottling no leaky king kegs easy to clean and sterilise Magic!
You can siphon pour your beer into the open keg then vent to remove the air when sealed.
no bottling no leaky king kegs easy to clean and sterilise Magic!
trevorS
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Yes you do , I leave mine under pressure all the time and dispense at about four weeks, should be longer but I drink too much!
Crappyfish
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Hi mate
Kegs are the way forward I changed from bottles to kegs last year no regrets. Before you start buying stuff check availability of pub gas cylinders in your area and do your home work on prices
I have to travel about 50 mile round trip for one that suited my requirements but probably only have to do it once or twice a year.
Theres bottles with a deposit that's refundable if you give it them back theres bottles that require a monthly rental charge I went for the deposit line as I probably wont need to take it back other than for a refill. Most companies in my experience will only refill bottles bought from them. By the way refills are quite cheap.
Hope this helps and dont put you off cos once its sorted its plain sailing.
Theres a site on Ebay called brewkegtap the seller is very helpful and replies to questions very quickly.
Kegs are the way forward I changed from bottles to kegs last year no regrets. Before you start buying stuff check availability of pub gas cylinders in your area and do your home work on prices
I have to travel about 50 mile round trip for one that suited my requirements but probably only have to do it once or twice a year.
Theres bottles with a deposit that's refundable if you give it them back theres bottles that require a monthly rental charge I went for the deposit line as I probably wont need to take it back other than for a refill. Most companies in my experience will only refill bottles bought from them. By the way refills are quite cheap.
Hope this helps and dont put you off cos once its sorted its plain sailing.
Theres a site on Ebay called brewkegtap the seller is very helpful and replies to questions very quickly.
Brewkegtap also have their own website. Great selection, very cheap and excellent customer service.
Thanks for your responses everyone. So, I'm thinking I'll go for the three kegs, one regulator, one gas tank and one tap/pipe work to get me going. Am I correct in thinking that I'll then be able to fill and carb all three then dispense from one at a time?
Yes
I'm still just a little unsure about how to pressurise the kegs. Do I just blast co2 to the required pressure and then leave it? Does it need to be 'topped up' once you start pulling beer off?
When you’re pulling beer you need to have the CO2 turned on and set to serving pressure, around 5psi should do. I’ve got no leaks on the hoses so I tend to leave it turned on all the time. Check for leaks on all joints/connections with soapy water.
Go on YouTube and search David Heath Kegging. Nice concise but detailed video. Episode 007 of the Brulosophy podcast is also brilliant and will help to answer all of your questions.
Also this article which is discussed on the podcast:
http://brulosophy.com/2016/05/12/sparkle-fizz-methods-for-carbonation/
http://brulosophy.com/2016/05/12/sparkle-fizz-methods-for-carbonation/
Thanks again everyone. Certainly be checking those vids and podcasts. I have done a fair bit of YouTube research but the vids I've watched seem quite theoretical or incomplete.
The article I've posted is certainly the most complete and helpful account I have come across. Burst carbonation is my favoured method. Nice and quick and minimal effort.
You don't need convincing really, kegging (but most importantly force carbing) is just superior, quicker and easier - end of.
But, bottle conditioning your "hoppy beer" (if done properly) will not have caused oxidisation. Just sayin'
But, bottle conditioning your "hoppy beer" (if done properly) will not have caused oxidisation. Just sayin'
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