Newbie in a panic

[c_smiffy]

Hi, this is my first attempt at home brew and I might have messed it up already I moved from fermentation bin to pressure barrel 8 days ago but after about 5 days I noticed a small run from where the top fitted tap attaches to the barrel. To stop the run I unscrewed the pressure valve lid slightly to let some co2 out (not it all) and that solved the problem for a couple of days but now I have another small run. Will letting some co2 out every now and then ruin the brew? I defo don’t want that!!! I tightened the tap as tight as I could when I assembled the barrel and the rubber washer is on the outside, the pressure release lid came with assembly instructions but it was already assembled, I checked with diagram on instructions and all looked fine. I know I should have checked for leaks beforehand but I’ve only got 2 8gm co2 bulbs and instructions say I’ll need them both for the brew. No co2 added at transfer and using a kingkeg, sorry for the long post. Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Kind regards, Chris Smith

 

[kelper]

You should be ok. Just don't let air in. Maintain a very slight pressure. I've taken the cap off and changed seals before without spoiling the beer. You could do the same but add some vaseline to the seal, the nut and the threads. Wash your hands first. I hold the nut and turn the tap to get it tight. Is this a King Keg?

 

[c_smiffy]

Thanks for the prompt reply and advice. With it being a top tap the level is just above the hole for the tap, I thought about emptying the king keg to below the hole so I could take the tap out and try to fix problem then add an 8gm bulb but going by your advice this will not be necessar?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thanks for the prompt reply and advice. With it being a top tap the level is just above the hole for the tap, I thought about emptying the king keg to below the hole so I could take the tap out and try to fix problem then add an 8gm bulb but going by your advice this will not be necessar?

When the barrel is empty and before you next use it get some PTFE tape and wrap it round the threads before you refit the tap and get it nice and tight. The PTFE tape will seal the threads and allow you to tighten the nut further without jumping the threads so you get a nice tight seal.

Some pictures. I think I used 14 turns around the tap thread. I remove the rubber seal, wrap the tape around the threads and replace the rubber - but try to not ruck up the PTFE tape.

 

[c_smiffy]

Thanks Hazelwood, I think that would solve the problem

 

[terrym]

@c_smiffy
When you have taken some beer out of your PB you can reprime with sugar and so conserve your CO2 bulbs. To do this allow the pressure to slowly drop as you draw off beer. At the point at which you would regas or where the pressure is really down, very carefully release the cap a little, just enough to slowly vent down the remaining CO2 in the PB. Do not fully release the cap until the CO2 has been vented. Then remove the cap and add more priming sugar either as a solution or as it comes, then replace the cap. I find about 60-70g will adequately regas a half empty PB. I dont have CO2 cylinders or bulbs injection with my PB (or indeed the others that gave up on me) and simply repriming this way works for me.

 

[kelper]

Thread tape might work. But can't you tilt the keg until the beer is just below the tap, propped upon an a book or similar and then do what I suggested? I have three King Kegs and none leak from the tap connection.

 

[Clint]

Terrym.. I might try that with my naughty Wilko keg save wasting gas..

 

[kelper]

@c_smiffy
When you have taken some beer out of your PB you can reprime with sugar and so conserve your CO2 bulbs. To do this allow the pressure to slowly drop as you draw off beer. At the point at which you would regas or where the pressure is really down, very carefully release the cap a little, just enough to slowly vent down the remaining CO2 in the PB. Do not fully release the cap until the CO2 has been vented. Then remove the cap and add more priming sugar either as a solution or as it comes, then replace the cap. I find about 60-70g will adequately regas a half empty PB. I dont have CO2 cylinders or bulbs injection with my PB (or indeed the others that gave up on me) and simply repriming this way works for me.

Would that work with beer that has been in a PB for three weeks? I'm keen to stop buying CO2 bulbs! I have dispensed about half my PB and can draw off about a pint every day, but no more unless I add CO2. I draw beer till it slows to a drip but next day the barrel has regained some pressure.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Thread tape might work. But can't you tilt the keg until the beer is just below the tap, propped upon an a book or similar and then do what I suggested? I have three King Kegs and none leak from the tap connection.

It might stop the beer leaking but the gas would still escape. I believe we’re talking about a high level tap too so pressure is needed to push the beer out.

In the past (before I learned about all the issues) I have actually poured the beer -carefully of course - back into a sterilised FV bucket, fixed the issue, put the beer back using a syphon (neck on the barrel too narrow to pour), and regassed. It was all fine but I was pretty sure I might have spoilt the beer and drank it quickly.

Been drinking beer quickly ever since

 

[terrym]

Would that work with beer that has been in a PB for three weeks? I'm keen to stop buying CO2 bulbs! I have dispensed about half my PB and can draw off about a pint every day, but no more unless I add CO2. I draw beer till it slows to a drip but next day the barrel has regained some pressure.

Your PB sounds as if it's basically leak tight , since the pressure recovers after you have drawn off some beer, until there will not be much CO2 left in there to do that. However do not get to the point where you glug air back in through the tap if that is possible with a top outlet tap. If you glug air through the beer it will spoil.
Your beer is fine in the PB for many weeks even months, and removing the cap to reprime will not spoil your beer whenever you do it. I may in the past have even reprimed twice.

 

[Clint]

Hazelwood Brewery...your excuse is the best yet!
I might steal that one and put it to test tomorrow...first day off.

 

[kelper]

Your PB sounds as if it's basically leak tight , since the pressure recovers after you have drawn off some beer, until there will not be much CO2 left in there to do that. However do not get to the point where you glug air back in through the tap if that is possible with a top outlet tap. If you glug air through the beer it will spoil.
Your beer is fine in the PB for many weeks even months, and removing the cap to reprime will not spoil your beer whenever you do it. I may in the past have even reprimed twice.

Terrym, does the yeast never die? I'd never thought of repriming after the beer was conditioned.

 

[kelper]

It might stop the beer leaking but the gas would still escape.

You misunderstood. I'm suggesting to tilt the PB only while carrying out the fix.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

You misunderstood. I'm suggesting to tilt the PB only while carrying out the fix.

Yes, that might be possible. My bad!

 

[terrym]

@kelper
As soon as there is new food (sugar) available those hungry yeast cells will wake up and get going again provided its warm enough and the alcohol content has not reached its limit. Think people recovering the dregs from years old bottled conditioned beers and then building up a culture from it.

 

[c_smiffy]

Thread tape might work. But can't you tilt the keg until the beer is just below the tap, propped upon an a book or similar and then do what I suggested? I have three King Kegs and none leak from the tap connection.

Do you then re

@c_smiffy
When you have taken some beer out of your PB you can reprime with sugar and so conserve your CO2 bulbs. To do this allow the pressure to slowly drop as you draw off beer. At the point at which you would regas or where the pressure is really down, very carefully release the cap a little, just enough to slowly vent down the remaining CO2 in the PB. Do not fully release the cap until the CO2 has been vented. Then remove the cap and add more priming sugar either as a solution or as it comes, then replace the cap. I find about 60-70g will adequately regas a half empty PB. I dont have CO2 cylinders or bulbs injection with my PB (or indeed the others that gave up on me) and simply repriming this way works for me.

thanks for your very helpful reply, it never even occurred to me that you could add more sugar to re gas the PB

 

[kelper]

So, if I reprime, how long would the wee beasties take to eat the sugar as I drink every day!

 

[c_smiffy]

On doing some more research I may have moved to the keg before primary fermentation was fully complete which is causing excess gas build up. If I removed lid, fixed tap then added sugar instead of a gas bulb would this work or just make the excess pressure problem even worse?

 

[terrym]

So, if I reprime, how long would the wee beasties take to eat the sugar as I drink every day!

If you prime or reprime a PB its just the same as for carbing up bottles. Find a warm place and leave it for few days. After about 3/4 days there might be enough top pressure to dispense a couple of pints. Leave it longer and you will get more out.
The only way of finding out is to try it!!