Kegs

[pvt_ak]

After a weekend away , I’ve convinced my more technically able son in law that kegs are the way to go .

There will undoubtedly be a thread on here on the what, how , so can someone point me towards it please?
Kegerator ... here we come !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[-Bezza-]

I'm not sure there is actually a definitive "how-to" guide on kegs on this forum, like with pictures and things. Would be good if someone who knows more about kegging could create one and perhaps explain a bit about the purpose of each of the fittings, what alternatives there are (e.g. threaded vs barbed fittings), and all the stuff about beer lines. I would start something myself but I have no hands-on experience with kegs, just the stuff I have read up, and so it would have more questions than answers!

In the meantime, there are videos on YouTube, something like this (sadly not the most dynamic of presenters):

 

[Jakeyboi]

First thing to consider, how much space you have and how many taps would you like?

 

[Jakeyboi]

*edit Also what is your budget?

 

[Hoddy]

Now if I could get a camera man volunteer I could do an end-to-end video of kegs, kegging, and how to set something up if that would be useful.

They would have to drink a few beers. Purely for demo purposely obviously......


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[pvt_ak]

Now if I could get a camera man volunteer I could do an end-to-end video of kegs, kegging, and how to set something up if that would be useful.

View attachment 14951

They would have to drink a few beers. Purely for demo purposely obviously......


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Mate it’s your set up that’s inspired me - it’s awesome !
I’d happily volunteer but alas you’re too far from me !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Leon103]

Did i mention i am a camera operator for the beeb?

 

[Hoddy]

Hmmm I knew I should have done a series of videos when i started all of this.

I’m gonna have to have a think if I could cobble together a real simple video on this maybe....... one handed......


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BeerCat]

Fridge is looking good. Thats my next job after fitting taps and filling all the kegs up. Cheers

 

[pvt_ak]

Hmmm I knew I should have done a series of videos when i started all of this.

I’m gonna have to have a think if I could cobble together a real simple video on this maybe....... one handed......


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Get a helmet cam [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jakeyboi]

Hoddy I would have no problem being camera man and of course drinking all your beer.

Pvt_ak here's my keezer, just to show the difference between hoddys kegorator and a keezer. (And any excuse to show off). I obv have to wire it into an inkbird to control the temp, which you don't have to do with a fridge. The benefit imo is I can get 4 kegs down to a good low temp very quickly.

Internally I've rigged up each keg to secondary regulator so I can control the carbonation levels to each beer individually. This isn't necessary, I decided to do it as I hated the compromise when I had stouts on tap.

I can also fit a load of bottles, hops, yeast in and becomes emergency fridge overflow (mainly on BBQ days) for the wife.

Anyway if you can make the decision on what /fridge/freezer you want I reckon there's enough experience on the forum to talk you through building it step by step.

Jake

 

[pvt_ak]

Hoddy I would have no problem being camera man and of course drinking all your beer.

Pvt_ak here's my keezer, just to show the difference between hoddys kegorator and a keezer. (And any excuse to show off). I obv have to wire it into an inkbird to control the temp, which you don't have to do with a fridge. The benefit imo is I can get 4 kegs down to a good low temp very quickly.

View attachment 14953

Internally I've rigged up each keg to secondary regulator so I can control the carbonation levels to each beer individually. This isn't necessary, I decided to do it as I hated the compromise when I had stouts on tap.

View attachment 14954

I can also fit a load of bottles, hops, yeast in and becomes emergency fridge overflow (mainly on BBQ days) for the wife.

Anyway if you can make the decision on what /fridge/freezer you want I reckon there's enough experience on the forum to talk you through building it step by step.

Jake

Looking good mate ! This has further nudged me down this path !
I’m now perusing internet for kegs !

Watched a few you tubes last night from link.

Keen to go !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hoddy]

Looking good mate ! This has further nudged me down this path !
I’m now perusing internet for kegs !

Watched a few you tubes last night from link.

Keen to go !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The best I have found for good quality used kegs is the HBC who I recall we get a discount with.

You can choose between ones they have cleaned up and serviced or do it yourself.

Plus they do deals on three packs [emoji1303]

Once you’ve started kegging you will very rarely go back to bottling.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[-Bezza-]

There are two bits that are confusing me.

Firstly, there's all this chat about line balancing and the different diameters of gas line and beer line. Am I right in thinking that if you get a tap with adjustable flow, you don't have to worry and can just use any size of line (so long as it fits your connectors) and any length?

Secondly, I'm still not 100% on the required connectors so wanted to check my understanding. At the keg end, I get that you need some ball lock disconnects to clip onto the two posts on the keg, i.e. these:

That is a threaded connector. You then need a John Guest threaded disconnect, to get to this:

The beer or gas line fixes securely into the open end so that you can screw the other end into the disconnect. Obviously, once that's joined, there'll be little reason to un-join it as you'll be using the ball lock to connect and disconnect from the keg.

Barbed connections are also available but it strikes me that these might be less secure unless you use jubilee clips to hold the tubing in place? Or is there a John Guest fitting that would be secure?

For the manifold, it looks like these only come with barbed connections, so you'll always need some jubilee clips, I guess?

Co2 regulators appear to come with either threaded or barbed ends. I'm quite liking the look of the dual regulator on Beer Hawk (1 outlet into a manifold for serving and 1 spare for force carbing)

https://www.beerhawk.co.uk/co2po-double-body-regulator

 

[Hoddy]

Ok right... Basically you can get most items you listed above with either a) barbed fitting b) JG push fit c) a threaded end that you can then buy screw on either an (a) Barb or a (b) JG fitting.

I personally prefer a JG fitting as it means its easy to disconnect and move fittings around as a barb generally destroys the end of the pipe when you try and remove it. BTW the barb is just as secure as JG fitting.

The reasoning behind having the smaller lines is around flow rate control. But it is also around keeping the beer in the line with the Co2 in solution and avoiding pressure drops and foaming. That is why i have 30cm of 3/8 at the connector and tap end with reducers and about 1m of 3/16 hose in the middle to keep foaming at an absolute minimum.


That is why i have found its cheapest to get this from the malt miller as its sized and works perfectly. Just add the ball/pin lock connector you need. Or you can just take off the picnic tap and buy some extra 3/8 hose and connect to your new draft taps.

 

[pvt_ak]

The best I have found for good quality used kegs is the HBC who I recall we get a discount with.

You can choose between ones they have cleaned up and serviced or do it yourself.

Plus they do deals on three packs [emoji1303]

Once you’ve started kegging you will very rarely go back to bottling.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Nice one - thanks Hoddy !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Druncan]

IMHO Look for 25l Cornies if you can,,, 23 L /keg + CO2 space. I have 14 and they are my brewery mainstay. Awesome Chinese quality made product and serviceable in perpetuity,,, I use two 6.5kg CO2 pub cylinders. That last a year!!

Imagine the mountain of beer bottles I would have done. Now on 2,600 pints brewed and sold. The system just works and no priming!!! GO KEG!!!

 

[Clint]

Bloody heck...

 

[cheeseyfeet]

IMHO Look for 25l Cornies if you can,,, 23 L /keg + CO2 space. I have 14 and they are my brewery mainstay. Awesome Chinese quality made product and serviceable in perpetuity,,, I use two 6.5kg CO2 pub cylinders. That last a year!!

Imagine the mountain of beer bottles I would have done. Now on 2,600 pints brewed and sold. The system just works and no priming!!! GO KEG!!!

Where do you get the big cornies from?

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk

 

[BeerCat]

IMHO Look for 25l Cornies if you can,,, 23 L /keg + CO2 space. I have 14 and they are my brewery mainstay. Awesome Chinese quality made product and serviceable in perpetuity,,, I use two 6.5kg CO2 pub cylinders. That last a year!!

I have been looking and cant find any. I want some 9l as well but same price as a 19l.