Moving to the barrel :)

[fortheloveofbeer]

Hi,

Started my first brew about 3 weeks ago, sat at 20oC all the way using a temperature controller with heat belt etc... Now that the fermentation has ended its time to move to the barrel, I have s30 valves on the top for co2 injection but just need some clarification as its my first time...

Do I still need to add sugar into the barrel? or just the co2?

Also it's a Muntons Connoisseurs Wheat Beer if your interested.

As soon as this one is out I have a coopers IPA with coopers malt extract and chinook hop... any tips or comments for this combo?

Thanks.

Kyle...

 

[RobWalker]

you can use just co2 if you want, but using 100g sugar in the keg is so economical it isn't worth not doing! leave it a week in the warm, a few weeks in the cool, and your ale will be nicely carbonated. that will prime it for at least the first 20 pints, i usually get around 30 before needing to gas.

 

[bobsbeer]

Totally agree. Don't try to carbonate with co2 in a plastic barrel. You will use too much co2. Add about 80-100g of granulated sugar dissolved in about 1/4 pint of boiled water.

 

[fortheloveofbeer]

Ok thanks guys :

 

[mancer62]

Rob you say that by using 100g of sugar you get between 20 and 30 pints before you need to use C02. Can I ask is this pouring maybe only 2 or 3 pints in the one evening then not again till few days later or the next weekend? For example say a few mates were round for a drink how many pints could be expected to pour in the one evening before pressure was down and C02 needed? ty :

 

[mmaguy41]

Is it a top tap or bottom tap? Top taps will need gassing more often

 

[bobsbeer]

It does depend on how much you drink at one time. But you should get a good few pints before needing to top up the co2.

 

[Markus]

After gassing a plastic keg do you have to wait at all before you can continue... Um... Drinking?

Also, my plastic keg is conditioning in 20C right now. In 2 weeks I'll move to cooler temp. I have a spare fridge, just wondering is that too cold to finish conditioning (probably for a further 3 weeks)?

Cheers

 

[RobWalker]

not as such. but if you gas after you pour your pint and leave it in the cool, the co2 will absorb into the beer instead of just forcing it out.

 

[Markus]

Sorry, those two questions were completely seperate. I'm wondering if a fridge is too cold for final conditioning of a keg? Would a garden shed, for example, be more suitable. Slighlty higher temperate maybe?

 

[rpt]

Is your garden shed warmer than your fridge at the moment?

As far as I know, any temperature above freezing is good for long term storage. Will also help the beer absorb the CO2.

If you are planning to drink all the beer in a session, then you don't need to add CO2 - just open the top and let air in. Obviously you can't do this if you want to keep any of the beer.

 

[Markus]

I would say they are about the same temperature right now. 3 degrees C roughly. I'll out it into the spare fridge for a few weeks I think. It's bee sitting at 19C for almost 10 days now.

I'm worried about it though. I didn't put any C02 in when I sealed up the keg!!!

 

[winelight]

I think there's nearly always enough sugars left in to have given you some fermentation. Test it - open the tap (preferably with a glass underneath!).