mini kegs

[porter]

After seeing a bit of an intro into MK's on here i've been thinking what a clever idea it might be to get a couple for future brews.
I only have bottles and a pressure barrel at the moment as i'm building my kit up slowly.
Bottles wiil be no problem for slipping half a dozen into the fridge but until i get myself a new shed and an old fridge set up they seem ideal for lobbing a couple into my kitchen fridge.At 5lts per keg,two chilled at any one time would be ideal.
Has anyone any tips on using these?
Such as sterilising tips or how often to replace the bungs/taps etc.

 

[Eduardo]

I've just started using them myself, but they are so simple it's beyond words.

Treat the keg just as a massive bottle. I sanitised it and filled with boiled water. Left it for 15 and then emptied it all out. Primed with a tablespoon of sugar from one of those proper measuring sets rather than by weight.

Allow about an inch from the top of the keg for carbing and the bung just fits right in really easy.

I got the two piece bungs and a co2 tap and it's a smashing set up.

 

[porter]

For around £5-£6 they seem a good buy,if they last a couple of years.
I just wondered if they required any special sanitiser due to them being metal?
I think the ones mentioned in the forum were the ones with a vent cap ,that you open once beer flow slows or stops,and not the ones with a big tap and gas.
For these ones i would presume you need more sugar for primimg?

 

[Eduardo]

I believe any more than a table spoon and the kegs will warp or split from the pressure.

As go the bungs. You get two types. Solid rubber ones for which you used the attached pouring tap at the bottom of the keg to dispense the beer.

Or the better option is you get two piece bungs which allow you to insert a tap into the top of the keg and top up the co2 if it's getting low.

Taps themselves for this set up are about 30 quid with some co2 included. Well worth it IMO.

 

[porter]

Thanks for the replies.Time for me to keep my peepers open for some mini kegs. :

 

[BIGJIM72]

Aldi/Lidl often have full ones that can be recycled. Local micros are often a good source. St Peters sell minikegs that are suitable,but don't know if they will do them mail order. The minis from the big breweries (Heineken,Newcastle Brown) use a different system & are best avoided.

 

[Oakers73]

Just bought 4 of these, a tap,10 co2 bulbs and a cooling jacket from cansdirect. They are sittingat the post office waiting for me...cannot wait as ihave my second extract brew ready go be racked....

 

[porter]

Aldi/Lidl often have full ones that can be recycled. Local micros are often a good source. St Peters sell minikegs that are suitable,but don't know if they will do them mail order. The minis from the big breweries (Heineken,Newcastle Brown) use a different system & are best avoided.

Thanks BigJim,it was your post on "MK's an intro" that got me thinking about using them in the future.
I will be keeping a beady-eye open for any MK's full of beer,bit of a double whammy there surely?

 

[BIGJIM72]

http://www.stpetersbrewery.co.uk/products/mini-kegs/

 

[porter]

Excellent link,cheers.I've had several ace beers when visiting Norfolk and Suffolk,but that one is a new one to me. :thumb:

 

[Fil]

ive been using em a couple of years now and they are very convenient. its way easier to clean and sanitise 5 mini kegs than 40 bottles BUT they are steel and when the thin film coating goes they will rust.. i had 2 go rusty at the bung lip after 5 uses!!

to remove the bung without damaging the film coating DONT USE A TOOL.. use dental floss get a length and wrap it round the bung on the keg under the lip a few times, then get a tool and wrapp the 2 ends round that as a handle to pull the bung out with

if u want a party tap pm me i have a spare.. after buying it with the kegs i ebayed a kegchiller/tap and havent used the party tap once..

 

[Oakers73]

Purity brewery sell 5 litre mini kegs too....
http://www.puritybrewing.com/

 

[porter]

Some great tips and advice fellas,thanks for all the replies.
I've been looking on youtube and there's some ,let's say entertaining,videos on kk.There's a good one from a chap who shows how easy they are to damage too if not taken care of.
I would like about four i reckon but now i've seen the co2 tap dispenser i wouldn't mind one of them too....it's a slippery slope this homebrew game when it comes to buying tackle :lol: