Kegs

[Paul Roberts]

Hi, very seriously considering a move into kegs. Was looking at aeb 9 litre or 12litre mainly due to space.

My other issue is I dont necessarily have space to dedicate a whole fridge to them.

Could they be chilled down in an Ice bucket for serving.

Also once the keg is carbonated does the gas need to stay connected all the time or can it be disconnected and then reconnected for serving?

 

[uDicko]

Could they be chilled down in an Ice bucket for serving.

Yes

Also once the keg is carbonated does the gas need to stay connected all the time or can it be disconnected and then reconnected for serving?

Yes that's what I do once it's carbonated to where I want it.

 

[Paul Roberts]

Brilliant let's do this then

 

[Jordang]

I’m doing the same for Christmas- putting a couple of cornies down now to condition and bottling everything else

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

the AEB ones are fab - got one from the Malt Miller over the summer and I'm SO pleased with it.

 

[Ashman]

The impression I get is if the pressure gets too low the lid will fall in on corny style kegs. Is this correct? So I couldn’t for example fill a corny keg from a primary fermentation Bucket , add sugar and let it carbonate. I would need to also inject co2 to pressurise the thing.

 

[foxbat]

The impression I get is if the pressure gets too low the lid will fall in on corny style kegs. Is this correct? So I couldn’t for example fill a corny keg from a primary fermentation Bucket , add sugar and let it carbonate. I would need to also inject co2 to pressurise the thing.

It depends on the lid clamp. They work by inserting the whole lid into the keg then pulling it up against an o ring. The more pressure the better the seal - a very good design. If the lid clamp is good and the o ring is in good nick then the clamp alone can seal it

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Can I ask the questions again please?

Whilst carbonating does the gas need to remain connected? I turn the PSI to the value I want, gas enters the keg and so I then disconnect the gas - is this right?

Once carbonated - should the gas remain connected whilst serving?

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Can I ask the questions again please?

Whilst carbonating does the gas need to remain connected? I turn the PSI to the value I want, gas enters the keg and so I then disconnect the gas - is this right?

Once carbonated - should the gas remain connected whilst serving?

You could go either way... somewhat a matter of personal taste, I think, and it depends on how carbonated you want the beer to end up. Personally I leave the hose connected, but turn off the gas at the cylinder.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

Thanks TETB - basically just use my common sense

 

[uDicko]

There are many charts online which tell you the temp and psi to achieve X co2 volume. These work on principle of leaving gas connected at psi for an amount of time. Usually a week but it varies

 

[foxbat]

Can I ask the questions again please?

Whilst carbonating does the gas need to remain connected? I turn the PSI to the value I want, gas enters the keg and so I then disconnect the gas - is this right?

Once carbonated - should the gas remain connected whilst serving?

You must leave the gas connected until the beer is fully carbonated. If you choose to leave it at your desired carbonation pressure then this can take around 2 weeks to be fully done but the process is not linear because the beer absorbs CO2 rapidly at the beginning and slows down as it becomes saturated at the pressure you have applied. It'll be mostly done after a week or so if you want to start drinking early.

There is another method if you want it carbonated immediately. You can apply a high pressure, usually around 30-40psi and shake or roll the keg to dissolve it. The trick here is to know how much of the CO2 will be able to dissolve and if you guess exactly right then when you're done rolling the beer will have dissolved all it can take and the remaining pressure will be exactly what you were aiming to carbonate at. I don't do this method and I imagine it would take some experience to get it right.

You will need gas to serve, particularly at the beginning of the keg when there's only a small headspace - you'll quickly use up that gas pouring a pint or two. If you're keen to switch off the gas then I would turn it on at the beginning of the evening then try to remember to turn it off at the end when you're finished.

 

[gavp1979]

Can I ask the questions again please?

Whilst carbonating does the gas need to remain connected? I turn the PSI to the value I want, gas enters the keg and so I then disconnect the gas - is this right?

Once carbonated - should the gas remain connected whilst serving?

I connect mine, set it to the pressure that I want (usually about 12psi) and then leave it connected with the gas turned on until the keg is empty

 

[chillipickle]

Thats exactly the same as i do, touch wood it has worked well so far.

 

[gavp1979]

Thats exactly the same as i do, touch wood it has worked well so far.

I have got to admit that when I first got my keg I was paranoid about losing all my gas, been about 6 months now and I haven't lost it all yet