How long will ale last in a plastic pressure barrel?

[The Drunken Dogg]

As the topic says How long will ale last in a plastic pressure barrel? and How often should I top it up with CO2?

Any help appreciated, will be drinking my first brew in 2 weeks so need to get prepared.... :

 

[Dunfie]

I haven't used a plastic keg for a few years but if it is completey sterile then it should last months (although it is usually drained before then).

Are you planning to prime the barrel when transferring? If you do then you will only need to top up with CO2 when the pressure falls to a level where the beer is not dispensing.

 

[The Drunken Dogg]

I haven't used a plastic keg for a few years but if it is completey sterile then it should last months (although it is usually drained before then).

Are you planning to prime the barrel when transferring? If you do then you will only need to top up with CO2 when the pressure falls to a level where the beer is not dispensing.

Hiya Dunfie, yes I primed both brews so far and one will be ready to drink in a week or so. When you say it should last months, does this mean when I've started drinking it too?

The guy in the homebrew shop told me to introduce a co2 bomb about every five pints to keep it fresh. Sounds a bit excessive...

Thanks for the help. :

 

[prolix]

you need to add CO2 to pressure barrels.

Bottom tap barrels will glug once the pressure inside them falls below atmospheric, and the air drawn in through the tap will oxidize your beer giving in the shelf life of cask ale, 3 days. Top up the gas every few pints to prevent this and the beer will be sound for months.

Top tap are not gravity feed but pressure fed, these will only dispense beer if there is positive pressure in the barrel so you have to gas them more regularly, but they won’t glug.