Looking for keg advice please

[2pints]

Hi Brewelder. Yes, I have all that kit from BKT. Its all part of the kit. I have the keg,the gauges, the tap and all the pipes/connections. Also have the Co2 pub bottle. Its a bit large to have in the house (about about 65cm) but I'll give it a clean and try to hide it a bit! Just hoping that there's not say two types of Co2, one of which I shouln't use.

What I'll need now is some suggestions as to what beer kit to start with. A real ale kit would be nice. There's so much more on the market now its really a bit of a minefield when it comes to what beer kit to choose.
I prefer the out-of-the-tin kits as I don't intend to start boiling hops and the like, just a kit that's a simple operation!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Just hoping that there's not say two types of Co2, one of which I shouln't use.

Food grade CO2 is what you’re looking for. The gas is the same whatever source but if it’s industrial CO2 rather than food grade then the filters used to remove any contaminants may be less fine and the compressor used to compress the gas may use oil as a lubricant.

You *may* not have a problem and it *may* be safe but you can’t be sure and you also don’t want your beer tasting of sump oil! Food grade CO2 takes away the risk.

 

[2pints]

Thanks HB. I see your point. I do have one cylinder that's close to empty so I'll have a look around for a supply of gas on an exchange basis. If I go to BOC they will put me on a cylinder rent which is always expensive. The thing is, when you stray from a proper supplier you can never be sure of exactly what you are getting in the way of gas. I know this from buying argon for my welding.

 

[Davegase]

Thanks HB. I see your point. I do have one cylinder that's close to empty so I'll have a look around for a supply of gas on an exchange basis. If I go to BOC they will put me on a cylinder rent which is always expensive. The thing is, when you stray from a proper supplier you can never be sure of exactly what you are getting in the way of gas. I know this from buying argon for my welding.

I use Adams gas, there is a deposit on the 1st one then you just pay for refills.
https://www.adamsgas.co.uk/stockists/

 

[Brewelder]

Hi Brewelder. Yes, I have all that kit from BKT. Its all part of the kit. I have the keg,the gauges, the tap and all the pipes/connections. Also have the Co2 pub bottle. Its a bit large to have in the house (about about 65cm) but I'll give it a clean and try to hide it a bit! Just hoping that there's not say two types of Co2, one of which I shouln't use.

What I'll need now is some suggestions as to what beer kit to start with. A real ale kit would be nice. There's so much more on the market now its really a bit of a minefield when it comes to what beer kit to choose.
I prefer the out-of-the-tin kits as I don't intend to start boiling hops and the like, just a kit that's a simple operation!

C02 is C02, and although i agree with Hazelwood to a point in that you should always go for food grade wherever possible, industrial C02 as used for welding etc is still safe to use. You won’t get oil in your gas for sure, i work in the industry and gasses have to pass stringent testing and as you may know, oil in gas just isn’t good for welding. I get mine from a local supplier who mainly supplies paints and body panels to the automotive industry and he also supplies gas, Argon Oxy-Acetylene and C02. His C02 just happens to be food grade but he supplies it for welding mainly and I’ve never had any odours or off flavours from his C02.
But that said, go for food grade wherever possible, but expect a shock at the prices as there was a shortage of the stuff just recently.

As for kits??? The skies the limit, however Muntons, Mangrove Jacks and even Wilco’s own brand or the MYO range from the Range (supermarket) are supposed to be good. I mainly brew IPA’s so can’t really speak for real ales such as bitters and pale ales etc, but I’ve never had a bad kit from either Muntons or Mangrove Jacks. There are countless others but I’ve never tried them so maybe some others can chirp in with advice there mate.

What i would suggest is that you go for a premium 2 can kit, that way you won’t need to buy a DME to supplement your kit, plus i find the 2 can kits tend to taste better.

I’ve just bought a MYO IPA kit from the range, together with their own brand Dextrose sugar and sanitizer all for less than £20. I haven’t brewed it yet, but others on here say it’s quite good. I only bought it on a whim as it had been out of stock for ages and saw some on the shelves and thought “why not?” It’s come in handy one day when i need a quick batch knocking up.

Oh, and pls don’t go to BOC, there’ll rob you blind.

 

[2pints]

BOC have been robbing me blind for some years now. I have a size Y argon mix cylinder that they will get back permanently in March as they have just increased the gas price and the rent on the cylinder.
I'm in Chatham and I think Adams are located in Margate. I'll have a word with them on the phone about both types of gas I think.
I've been into the Range and Wilko just lately and there's nothing on the shelves in either of them. Couple of wine kits but that's all so I'll have to go online to get it. There is a brew shop in Maidstone but their prices are ballistic on everything. Who sell the two can kits and what are they called?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I'm in Chatham and I think Adams are located in Margate.

Consumable Solutions is an Adams agent (Just Sam and Sarah Knapp) and probably within a mile or two of you.

 

[Brewelder]

BOC have been robbing me blind for some years now. I have a size Y argon mix cylinder that they will get back permanently in March as they have just increased the gas price and the rent on the cylinder.
I'm in Chatham and I think Adams are located in Margate. I'll have a word with them on the phone about both types of gas I think.
I've been into the Range and Wilko just lately and there's nothing on the shelves in either of them. Couple of wine kits but that's all so I'll have to go online to get it. There is a brew shop in Maidstone but their prices are ballistic on everything. Who sell the two can kits and what are they called?

Yeah, that’s become a problem lately. My local brew shop barely have any stock and are in serious danger of going under due to supply issues. My local Wilco also has bare shelves in the home brew section, same as the Range but i guess i just got lucky.

I typically use KegThat or GetErBrewed but that’s for all grain kits, i guess you could research the type of beer your interested in then pop your chosen style/kit into google?

 

[Davegase]

I'm in Chatham and I think Adams are located in Margate.

They do have many locations including Rochester Kent.

 

[2pints]

Bit more to sort now then! I'll look into the Rochester depot as well. Hopefully they will let me collect rather than me wait in for a delivery.
I think there's a lot of changed going on at the moment, especially with how suppliers get their stock delivered to their shops. What with the Royal Mail problem of late and most of the courier companies being so unreliable, companies are searching for good alternatives. I hope they find it so we can see something on the shelves once more.