Mini-kegs

[Thomassio]

Apologies if this isn’t the right section, but is anyone able to advise…..

I have a couple of empty 5L mini-kegs from a local micro-brewery. CanI reuse themor are they single use?

Thanks.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Yes you can have a look at this -

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/mini-keg.93079/

 

[Agentgonzo]

I reuse them many times.

This is a nice video showing you how to open and clean them

They don't hold as much pressure as bottles when filling. I've heard advice saying 12-15g of priming sugar maximum (I use 12g and it comes out like a rocket)

 

[Thomassio]

Great, thanks a lot.

 

[Tanglefoot]

It's up to you but these kegs are not made for reuse.
There's plenty of stuff on here about nasty metallic taste developing as the lining breaks down.
Better off investing in stainless steel mini kegs, I'd rather not risk wasting my beer or damaging my health ingesting metal/plastic.
One of numerous links here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/stainless-steel-mini-kegs.90127/

 

[AnimatedGIF]

It's up to you but these kegs are not made for reuse.
There's plenty of stuff on here about nasty metallic taste developing as the lining breaks down.
Better off investing in stainless steel mini kegs, I'd rather not risk wasting my beer or damaging my health ingesting metal/plastic.
One of numerous links here
https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/stainless-steel-mini-kegs.90127/

I bought a couple of new SS minikegs meant for homebrew use and had this issue, despite being very careful when using and cleaning. I wasted 5L of beer after the metallic taste affected the brew on second use.
I consider these to be single use and uneconomical.

 

[Tanglefoot]

I bought a couple of new SS minikegs meant for homebrew use and had this issue, despite being very careful when using and cleaning. I wasted 5L of beer after the metallic taste affected the brew on second use.
I consider these to be single use and uneconomical.

Same as with tools, buy cheap buy twice.

Better off biting the bullet and shelling out the cash for something designed to do the job.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Better off biting the bullet and shelling out the cash for something designed to do the job.

A big plug for forum sponsor @Gareth Davies from www.darkfarm.co.uk

https://www.darkfarm.co.uk/product/5l-single-walled-mini-keg-with-fixed-tap-co2-valve/

 

[BridgeBrew]

Tried re using Hobgoblin mini kegs twice, same result both times, horrible metallic taste. Don't bother trust me.

 

[Victor Churchill]

Interestingly, I've had a couple of quite OK experiences with re-using supermarket kegs. Old Speckled and Hobgobln. One time the brew was a Bulldog Hercule Saisin, the other I don't recall. KEg-conditioning carbed up prettywell; needed to let the foam settle a bit after filling a glass; kept reasonably drinkable until we finished it (which did not take long)

 

[Pavros]

I think the inner lining deteriorates over time and is almost dissolved if you pour boiling hot water into the keg to clean it.