secondary fermentation

[akka lakka]

no secondary fermentation ive got 3 budget kegs sitting there all crystal clear as flat as a pancake both my cornies are in use i want to let them mature without going off.could i add yeast to get gas on top of beer, i cant understand it my kegs usually swell up like little pigs,anyone any ideas.

 

[Ceejay]

Where's Moley when you need him? :lol: :twisted:

Anyway, the things to look at are:

What temperature do you have them at? Is it high enough for fermentation to take place?
Are the kegs sealed properly? You test for leaks using washing up liquid.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

I would be inclined for now to add some gas to your kegs using an S30 cylinder or whatever you use and see if they hold the pressure, if they do then I would suggest the fermentation for priming didn't happen, if they don't then they are leaking.

You have 2 choices then, after fixing any leaks.

1. Force Carbonate using CO2 out of a bottle,
or
2. add some sugar to the kegs, about 100g or so and leave in the warm to carb up naturally. You shouldn't need to add any yeast, there is probably still enough floating around in the beer.

 

[Moley]

Where's Moley when you need him? :lol: :twisted:

Hang about, this ain't my department.

I would agree with “check temperature, check seals and re-prime” but I've never used plastic kegs (30+ years ago doesn't count). Force carbonating isn't an option in budget kegs.

 

[Runwell-Steve]

Force carbonating isn't an option in budget kegs.

I've done it once with an S30 cylinder. I wouldn't class the result as lively beer, but better than flat as a pancake.

Moving to cornies now though myself, a lot easier.

 

[Moley]

Not really force carbonating though?

I thought plastic kegs usually had PRVs that blew off around 4-5psi, some gas is going to be absorbed but it's going to take a while.

Like I said, I haven't used a budget keg for perhaps the best part of 35 years so my advice is probably worthless.

 

[Sean_Mc]

How much sugar did you use to prime them with, at what temp were they at for the first week and how long have they been in the budget kegs?

If that all checks out it sounds like a leaky lid, they should only be slightly hand tight with a lubed seal

 

[akka lakka]

hi just come back from hols thanks for info i have no way to gas kegs think i will get some more cornies so i can store under pressure and also get a cheapo fridge and make a kedgerater as i read in the joys of home brewing that if the beer is chilled to 40f it takes gas and carbonates easily. p.s nice beer in york! :grin:

 

[akka lakka]

got 2 more cornies off norm and sorted kedgerator job done, brewed eskimo bitter put in budget keg primed it and that one is holding pressure