Pressure Barrel help!!!!

[Gethin79]

I've just tried a quick pint out of my pressure barrel after being carbonated and kept in the cool for a week. (Coopers Pale Ale). Obviously the seals are good because the ale is nicely carbonated. The trouble I have is that after pouring just over one pint there is no more pressure left in the barrel.

The ale has a good head and feels really nicely carbonated. After only pouring one pint am I able to use an 8g carbon dioxide canister, or will this over pressurise the barrel? It has a working pressure of 15psi and is about 4/5ths full.

As tried to pour last pint, heard air glug in so want to act fairly quickly!!

 

[pilki]

yes you can get the co2 in

 

[droche]

If the pressure is too low then the only way to get it back up is put more CO2 in or wait for more to build up. If you've had the dreaded glug then I'd get some gas in and have a party :grin:
If it's that low then putting 8g in should not over pressurise it.

:

 

[Gethin79]

Thanks for the swift replies! :thumb:

For my peace of mind, do the S30 caps have a pressure relief valve?!!

 

[Sandimas]

Depends on the type of barrel - some have pressure release valves, some don't. Personally, I find them a PITA as they leak, so I've got a lid without one - if there's too much pressure, it generally starts leaking beer via the tap, so I draw some off and drink it.

If you've only got 1 pint out before losing pressure, something's wrong - either you have a leak (maybe a slow one) or it hasn't been left long enough to carbonate, or not enough priming sugar. You should be able to get a good 10 pints or more out before even thinking about needing additional CO2.

 

[Gethin79]

Depends on the type of barrel - some have pressure release valves, some don't. Personally, I find them a PITA as they leak, so I've got a lid without one - if there's too much pressure, it generally starts leaking beer via the tap, so I draw some off and drink it.

If you've only got 1 pint out before losing pressure, something's wrong - either you have a leak (maybe a slow one) or it hasn't been left long enough to carbonate, or not enough priming sugar. You should be able to get a good 10 pints or more out before even thinking about needing additional CO2.

That's what I thought? I have just opened the tap again and there is very slight pressure there again. Perhaps I didn't leave it long enough. It had a week in the warm. i used 80g of priming sugar, which i think was plenty. The beer itself is nicely carbonated. Just the serving pressure too low.

Now that ive had "the glug" what are my options? If it is starting to re-pressurise shall i put it back in the warm to try and build up more pressure? Think this might lead to flat ale? Or shall i go ahead and inject the CO2 and then leave it for a while?

 

[Gethin79]

Well...I bit the bullet....

I can now confirm that the Young's S30 cap DOES have a pressure relief valve! :shock:

Going to leave the barrel in the warm for another week then back in the cool again. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Just checked my calendar...don't think I left it long enough! Got my dates confused..