Portable options for serving from a keg

[DocAnna]

I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.
The situation is that I'd like to supply my son (student at university) with a Keg of beer rather than fiddling around with bottling. Yes this might sound very beneficent as a parent, but it limits his spending buying beer, and means he's more likely to drink decent beer rather than cheap lager/cider/vodka. To be fair I think by student standards he doesn't drink close to as much as his friends, particularly during lockdown, however, I also like doing this for him. I'll provide the keg filled, pressurised, carbonated with a party tap attached.

The problem is supplying pressure to the keg. I've a keg lid with an S30 valve on it from Gumtree, which I'd originally planned to provide him with together with an HB mini cylinder to top up the pressure. I have since found that the valve has the PRV rubber missing and I damaged a spare trying to fit it. I'm now thinking of replacing the lid and fitting an adapter to the gas-in post for a CO2 sparklet - but not sure if a sodastream adaptor and cylinder would be better. Any thoughts or views on what would be better and easier for him to use?

Anna

 

[Gerryjo]

Try here or email Jonny directly and he will get you sorted.

 

[Buffers brewery]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sodastre...emsV2WithMLRv3&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219
This kind of thing?

 

[Clint]

You can be my other mam if you want. I'm 52 but that doesn't really matter...

 

[foxy]

You can get these in the UK, not sure if it just the breweries using them, but they go for recycling when empty.

No gas needed, I use something similar with a D coupler and a picnic pump.
When I saw a video of a UK bar using them it did cross my mind if they could be re used by a home brewer.

 

[DocAnna]

You can be my other mam if you want. I'm 52 but that doesn't really matter...

Oh @Clint my boy, you are just a teeny few years older than me which sort of makes adoption a tad difficult... that and three already is more than a handful enough .

@foxy I've no idea what that is, but I generally like shiny things, sadly predictable I know.

On balance and facing the reality and complexities of a sodastream regulator which I worry is too much complexity for a student, I think I'm going to go for one of these, and supply the keg a bit over carbonated, with the idea that one bulb will provide serving pressure for the keg:
https://www.home-brew-hopshop.co.uk...us-keg-pin-valve-adapter-with-disconnect.html
Anna

 

[spigley]

You can get a similar cornelius keg adapter that uses an S30 HB bottle to top up. I got mine from Lovebrewing but currently they are showing as out of stock

 

[DocAnna]

@spigley Smart find but it is a bit expensive

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sodastre...emsV2WithMLRv3&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219
This kind of thing?

A mini sodastream regulator like this may be where I end up with this for him but at the moment that's a bit ouch on the cost.

I've found this inlet only S30 valves and that I can get S30 refills after all S30 Inlet only valve for cornie kegs

Since I have a keg lid that's already drilled for an S30 valve, has a prv on the lid, and looking at the lowest cost approach, I think this would be the best option for him - no regulator, nothing to turn off/on and enough gas for more than one keg. This gives me a good excuse for some more brews, and I can aim for some simpler ones rather than the temperature controlled pressurised ones as well .

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Anna

 

[user 4749]

What a lucky student.
Beware he may be looking for the arrangement to carry on beyond uni.

 

[umfana]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000141064488.html
I have one of these for emergency use (and or taking a keg camping). Works well with threaded co2 cartridges. I wouldn't use it to carbonate a keg, but to dispense from one they work out fine.