Plastic barrel

[Kronos]

I am looking to purchase a couple of plastic barrels and have been looking at the King Keg with the tap at the bottom.

Any recommendations for this or is there a better plastic barrel out there.

Thank you.

 

[Graz]

The new Wilkos ones have potential as well as being quite a bit cheaper than King Kegs: http://www.wilko.com/homebrew-accessories+equipment/wilko-pressure-barrel-5-gallon/invt/0441260

Personally I own three bottom tap King Kegs, I bought them as they were the best around at the time but they have their issues and don't always seal properly. I'm trying to rectify that.

If I were starting over again though it would be Cornelius kegs all the way, so long as you can source a pub sized cylinder of CO2 they offer the best compromise of cost and reliable serving of beer, carbonation etc.

You can pick up three for what I was going to say was less than £100 but the price seems to have gone up a little: http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/a-used-corny-kegs-pack-of-3-19lt-ball-lock-p-2796.html

 

[BeerCat]

I have a king keg and one of the cheaper ones with a 3" top. Makes it very hard to clean and has leaked in the past. I prefer the king keg, not had any problems with that so far.

 

[Bigjas]

Hi, you will get differing opinions on this subject. Some people have had nothing but problems with the plastic pressure barrels, others no problems at all. I have 3 King Kegs with bottom taps and have had no problems at all. You just need to apply Vaseline to the tap and lid threads before tightening them, and don't over tighten them either. I think this might be the problem to a lot of peoples leaking kegs. If its over tightened I think it distorts the rubber seal? I have also fitted a pressure gauge to the lid of all of mine to help monitor what's going on inside. This is really useful so I know when the pressure is dropping as I'm drinking it and can recharge with CO2 before it glugs air.

Jas

 

[Kronos]

Thank you all for the help and advise, I think I will purchase one King Keg for now and see how it performs. Jas what sort of preasure gauges do you use and when can I purchase one from.

Cheers.

 

[Bigjas]

This is the pressure gauge that I use http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/king-keg-...tc-/262670993056?_trksid=p2141725.m3662.l6403

It is out of stock at the moment but the seller gets/makes more on a regular basis I think. You just drill a hole in the lid and bolt it in.

Jas

 

[Kronos]

Thank you Jas.

 

[Graz]

This is the pressure gauge that I use http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/king-keg-...tc-/262670993056?_trksid=p2141725.m3662.l6403

It is out of stock at the moment but the seller gets/makes more on a regular basis I think. You just drill a hole in the lid and bolt it in.

Jas

Another alternative it to stick a bolt in car tyre valve in the lid and use a car tyre pressure gauge to check the pressure. I used these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1pc-Stain...997755?hash=item25c01e3f7b:g:j4kAAOSwAvJW9exe

 

[Bigjas]

Another alternative it to stick a bolt in car tyre valve in the lid and use a car tyre pressure gauge to check the pressure. I used these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1pc-Stain...997755?hash=item25c01e3f7b:g:j4kAAOSwAvJW9exe

I have used this method on my cheap Youngs barrel. It has a small lid so I fitted mine in the shoulder of the actual barrel rather than the lid. I use a tyre pressure gauge too. You cant fit the other larger pressure gauge in the smaller lid.

 

[Godsdog]

that's what I have in my KKs a tyre valve.a stainless on e is a quid from china if you can wait for delivery,very easy to fit and a cheap digital tyre pressure guage around £3.5 and your good to go.now top ta[p or bottom tap?i have one of each and prefer the bottom tap as the float in the top tap has a tendency to flip over and dispense co2 instead of the beer.had it happen a few times.so btm tap and youll wait longer for the beer to clear to the btm.top tap you draw off the beer from the top of the keg far more quickly

 

[Kronos]

Thank you all for the help and advise, I think I will purchase one King Keg for now and see how it performs. Jas what sort of preasure gauges do you use and when can I purchase one from.

Cheers.

I have just ordered a King Keg but opted for the top tap, not sure if they are any better than the bottom tap versions. I was swayed to pulling off the top as the beer would be clearer. I have also ordered a pressure gauge and adapter to fit it to the lid. The lid is fitted with a S30 valve so have ordered a bottle of Co2 also. Just need some vaseline now.