Mini Kegs

[colm89]

Some great info on this thread.
I was/am looking at getting a 5 litre keg because I can get it in the fridge, they are of course pretty expensive, but I was thinking that if I only have one, well if I make a 21 litre batch and stick 5 in the keg and bottle the rest, well that would probably mean my keg would be empty more than it is full.
So I was wondering, how practical is it to use a larger keg like maybe 20 litres, I think I prefer the idea of natural carbonation, and then transfer over to the 5 litre, if no oxygen gets into the larger keg, would this be a viable option?

That’s a good idea actually, had never considered that myself. Don’t see why it wouldnt work but interested to hear others views.

 

[Galena]

That’s a good idea actually, had never considered that myself. Don’t see why it wouldnt work but interested to hear others views.

This looks like the answer perhaps, starts at 4:10

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

Some great info on this thread.
I was/am looking at getting a 5 litre keg because I can get it in the fridge, they are of course pretty expensive, but I was thinking that if I only have one, well if I make a 21 litre batch and stick 5 in the keg and bottle the rest, well that would probably mean my keg would be empty more than it is full.
So I was wondering, how practical is it to use a larger keg like maybe 20 litres, I think I prefer the idea of natural carbonation, and then transfer over to the 5 litre, if no oxygen gets into the larger keg, would this be a viable option?

I agree with you, your little 5litre would definitely be empty more than it is full. I got mine to make transportation of ale easy from Bath to Salisbury on the train. I often go to see my Mum and she loves the Raven Porter that I brew.
Anyway.
You can definitely keg a large batch of beer into a 20 litre keg, say a Corney and transfer across to a small 5litre keg. You can do this keg to keg without any oxygen getting into the beer. You prime your 5litre keg with gas. Hook it up to the big keg and patch it across to the small one. Here is a vid that explains more. (See below) I have thought about this option too. I tend to make a 10litre batch as my largest batch. I love the process of brewing as much as I like the drinking. So I do small batches so that I can brew many different styles. I mean if I could do this as a job I would

 

[muppix]

This looks like the answer perhaps, starts at 4:10

Hmmm Flow Control Disconnect. Wonder if that ever happened? (now that I've ordered my flow control taps...)

 

[Galena]

I mean if I could do this as a job I would

So would I I do enjoy the process myself and often makesmall batches, the only trouble is when you brew a really good one it goes too quick. Useful video, I will ponder on that for a while

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

Hmmm Flow Control Disconnect. Wonder if that ever happened? (now that I've ordered my flow control taps...)

I saw these on Angel Homebrewing but they are out of stock. Apparently they have been discontinued.
https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/bal...gs/431-flow-control-ball-lock-disconnect.html

 

[Fireside Ales Homebrewery]

the only trouble is when you brew a really good one it goes too quick.

This is a constant sadness in my life. My partner. She says to me. ‘What’s up? Why so blue’ I say ‘nearly out of that beer I am loving again’. She just looks at me... She don’t know my pain.

 

[Begbie]

Hmmm Flow Control Disconnect. Wonder if that ever happened? (now that I've ordered my flow control taps...)

I bought a tap complete with a flow control disconnect from amazon, following a search on many brewing supplier's sites. Any site that had one in their inventory were sold out.

I took the plunge and ordered a Mangrove Jack's 5L mini keg plus Mangrove Jack's universal regulator. Got them on brewathome.shop - decent prices.

 

[muppix]

I took the plunge and ordered a Mangrove Jack's 5L mini keg plus Mangrove Jack's universal regulator. Got them on brewathome.shop - decent prices.

Very nice. I ordered a second Mangrove Jack’s 5 litre mini from The Malt Miller, but there was a picking error in the warehouse and they sent me their own branded mini keg instead. Apart from the logo it is absolutely identical to the Mangrove Jack’s, and I received a refund for the difference in price - think it was about £11.

 

[Galena]

Hmmm Flow Control Disconnect. Wonder if that ever happened? (now that I've ordered my flow control taps...)

I saw these on Angel Homebrewing but they are out of stock. Apparently they have been discontinued.

Came across THESE yesterday

 

[KGB]

i can't help but feel there's a good reason why these were discontinued.

I bought a tap complete with a flow control disconnect from amazon, following a search on many brewing supplier's sites. Any site that had one in their inventory were sold out.

have you had any experience with the disconnect as yet?

 

[Begbie]

i can't help but feel there's a good reason why these were discontinued.



have you had any experience with the disconnect as yet?

Not used it yet as the keg hasn't been delivered (due tomorrow) and I don't have a brew to put in it! Will also need to buy some CO2 cartridges.

Got a Maris Otter/Citra SMaSH bubbling away just now, so that'll be the first brew to try out. So, it'll be another 4 or 5 weeks before first pour. I'll update ASAP.

 

[KGB]

Not used it yet as the keg hasn't been delivered (due tomorrow) and I don't have a brew to put in it! Will also need to buy some CO2 cartridges.

Got a Maris Otter/Citra SMaSH bubbling away just now, so that'll be the first brew to try out. So, it'll be another 4 or 5 weeks before first pour. I'll update ASAP.

 

[KGB]

no worries, just curious. i won't be paying thirty quid for one!

they're also on ebay if anyone does want to spend that much.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainles...ct-4-Cornelius-Corny-Keg-Coupler/274092576447

 

[Galena]

Well I ordered 2 5 litre mini kegs tap and regulator today, so I have officially joined the keggers, just need to decide how much brewing sugar to add now to carbonate on my next brew. Then I need to decide whether to go with 10l mini kegs for storage or go for the 19l cornies in the near future.

 

[muppix]

Why add priming sugar when you have a keg + regulator?

 

[Galena]

Why add priming sugar when you have a keg + regulator?

Well, I don't know other than reading up this thread there seems to be 3 possible methods. Natural carbonation (sugar) which would seem to use less gas and some on here said it was their preferred method. Then set and forget and forced carbonation which presumably uses the most. I like my beer with minimal carbonation so assuming that method 1 or 2 would be best for that, plus I don't want to use 4 CO2 cartridges per 5 litres.
Other than that I have no idea, never used a keg before so open to all suggestions?

 

[muppix]

That’s a fair point, I’d forgotten you were using small CO2 cartridges - apologies. If you’re keeping an eye on price and can’t get hold of a large CO2 cylinder then priming sugar is probably the way forward. I’d still encourage you to look into other sources of gas, because 16g CO2 cartridges are going to be an expensive choice if you’re thinking of Corny kegs in future. You can use Soda Stream bottles via an adapter but those will still be more expensive than full-size CO2.

 

[Regfixit]

I have just done my first 23l brew and transferred to a 19 litre corny keg and a 5l Dark farm double walled keg. I am using a 6.35Kg CO2 cylinder to force carbonate and also to aid with transferring beer between the kegs. I think the advantage of force carbing in the keg are:
a) you can precisely control the level of carbonation by using a chart of psi/temperature/volume CO2, instead of having to judge the amount of sugar to add
b) it is much quicker - I've used an air stone and had the right amount of fizz within 10 minutes
c) there is no secondary fermentation to produce sediment that would be sucked up the dip tube when you come to pour albeit this may be a minor amount

I have a mini CO2 bulb regulator to make the 5L keg portable and use that combined with a mini tap to dispense away from home.

The connectors on the mini keg are the same as on the corny keg so it's really easy to move beer between them by connecting the out lines to each other and applying gas to one or the other in posts.

It took a while to work out the right sequence of connecting and venting, etc, but in the end I was able to sanitise both kegs by passing no rinse sanitser between them, then fill them both with CO2 and then gravity transfer beer into them with the CO2 in the keg going back in via the airlock bung. Then carbonate.

So basically use a bigger bottle to force carb and the little cartridges to dispense on the move. I got my CO2 from Adams gas who are based in the South, but have nationwide stockists - there was a deposit on the cylinder, but no rental. You can also get adapters to use a Sodastream cylinder.

 

[Galena]

That’s a fair point, I’d forgotten you were using small CO2 cartridges - apologies. If you’re keeping an eye on price and can’t get hold of a large CO2 cylinder then priming sugar is probably the way forward. I’d still encourage you to look into other sources of gas, because 16g CO2 cartridges are going to be an expensive choice if you’re thinking of Corny kegs in future. You can use Soda Stream bottles via an adapter but those will still be more expensive than full-size CO2.

It is my intention to get some cornies and a large CO2 cyclinder in the near future, the mini keg and small cartridges are for ease of use, transport and to get in the kitchen fridge.