Sensible first time keg advise sought

[Binkei Huckaback]

Yes, beer conditioned in bulk takes longer to come into condition.

Some advantages to bottling:

- it's cheaper
- there's unlikely to be a shortage of crown caps or spray malt
- an infection in one bottle affects half a litre of beer. An infection in a keg affects 19 litres of beer
- you don't need a dedicated fridge in which to keep your beer
- I'd say it has less environmental impact

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

Ah, I was recalling reading a suggestion that you should do priming in keg to economise on the CO2 used.

Yes, that's true. Something I hadn't thought of before I read TETB's reply; by 'condition' do you mean carbonated to the correct level, or when the beer will have the best possible taste?

 

[fgoulding]

Gear acquisition syndrome (GAS) means that you will usually end up with corny kegs!

But I’m glad that I bought my 5L kegs to start with because I learned a lot using them.

And now my brews are now usually 23L, so now I use a corny and a 5L keg for each one.

And whilst I have a large CO2 bottle, I still use my old soda stream bottle in my fridge for dispensing from both kegs.

 

[Victor Churchill]

Yes, that's true. Something I hadn't thought of before I read TETB's reply; by 'condition' do you mean carbonated to the correct level, or when the beer will have the best possible taste?

Bit of both I suppose. I tend to be impatient and want to try the new brew ASAP but also I do know that it gets better if I can keep my hands off it. It's more a case of when it gets fully cleared, fully carbed and drinkable.
But I think I recall seeing that a CO2 bottle could last just a couple of kegs if you force carb, and with the current CO2 crisis (!) that's an issue.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Hi Victor a 6.35kg bottle of gas will carbonate and dispence about 15 kegs or 150 gallons of ale -, i could be wrong it may be more

 

[Victor Churchill]

Thanks Rod that makes more sense. I don't know where I got that two-keg idea from. Maybe got it muddled with the SodaStream

 

[Victor Churchill]

Yeah, that is where I got the confusion. On the BKT site:
"You will be able to dispense about 1-2 full kegs (including carbonation) using a full sodastream cylinder (contains 425g of CO2). A larger (more expensive and heavy) 6kg cylinder will dispense over ten times this. Both cylinders cost about the same to refill. "

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Ah, I was recalling reading a suggestion that you should do priming in keg to economise on the CO2 used.

CO2 is probably cheaper than sugar to be honest - £20 for 6kg, and last time I refilled was 18 months ago... also I am not a patient man

 

[Hanglow]

Or you can transfer the beer with extract remaining and attach a spunding valve, so it carbonates itself - no need to add primings or force carb and the transfer happens while the yeast is active, cutting any potential oxidation.

Many ways to skin a cat in homebrew packaging

 

[Victor Churchill]

CO2 is probably cheaper than sugar to be honest - £20 for 6kg, and last time I refilled was 18 months ago... also I am not a patient man

 

[Manxnorton]

I know it can feel a bit intimidating: I was scared to death that I'd buy expensive bit that wouldn't fit together.
Don't worry, it's easy really.

Here's an example of a full setup based on a 19L Corny (I don't see the point getting a smaller one as the price is basically the same and part-filling it is fine so long as you flood the headspace with CO2).

• Keg: Premium AEB 19 Litre New Stainless Keg
• Ball-lock connectors: Premium CMB Disconnect Set Inc. JG Fitting | The Malt Miller
• Serving tap: Beer Storage and Dispense - New and Used KEGS and Fittings - Premium Party Tap & Line - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller
• Gas tube (get a couple of metres): Beer Storage and Dispense - New and Used KEGS and Fittings - 3/8 Natural Beer/Gas Line - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller
• Pressure regulator: Beer Storage and Dispense - New and Used KEGS and Fittings - Premium CO2 Regulator - The Malt Miller | The Malt Miller

The only other thing you need is a gas cylinder.
A full sized (6kg) cylinder works out cheaper over time: look up your nearest AirLiquide or Adams Gas supplier. Expect to pay £35-50 deposit on a full size (6kg) cylinder plus about £20 for the CO2 itself.
Alternately if you want to go the SodaStream route you will need an adaptor to go on regulator: Sodastream adapter for CO2 Regulator

Overall setup cost £150-200; repeat cost £20 per annum (ish)

EDIT: optional but recommended is to add a non-return valve to avoid the risk of beer getting back up the gas line and into your regulator: Beer Storage and Dispense - New and Used KEGS and Fittings - Disconnect Check Valve - The Malt Miller

Hallow pal,
Sorry late gettin into the thread.
Ive forgot how many times ive swapped back to kegging, must 4 times
Great gears from Rob and the gang, but my kegs laterly from Brew2Bottle.

80 beaver pelts is ok..some on evilbay ova a ton
Safe on m8.
Bri

 

[stripeyjoe]

The 5l kegs aren't hugely cheaper than a 19l corny and you'll need pretty much exactly the same for both in terms of taps, gas, tubing and disconnects. The opening on a mini-keg is very small so difficult to clean. I ended up buying a 9l corny to start with and then a couple of 19l ones (Malt Miller were selling reconditioned ones for £105 for two). I also recently won a KegThat raffle so now have 4 19l ones! One of those is soon to be filled with the proper job clone I have fermenting and have all the grain for another brew waiting for the fermenter to be free.

I tend to get around 21-22l from the fermenter on a 23l batch so stick 19l in the keg and bottle the rest with carb drops. The 9l keg is useful as it gives me a bit more room in my beer fridge for bottles and cans. With a bit of fiddling I could probably fit two 19l kegs in with the 9l one sitting on the shelf behind.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

With a bit of fiddling I could probably fit two 19l kegs in with the 9l one sitting on the shelf behind.

View attachment 54529

In fact @stripeyjoe from the measurements you gave me of your fridge, Hotpoint RLA34, I reckon you could fit a couple of 12 Litre's behind two new-style thin 19L ones (similar in the Curry's CUL55W, but it's tight)

 

[stripeyjoe]

I reckon you could fit a couple of 12 Litre's behind two new-style thin 19L ones

Now there's plan!!

 

[Brewnaldo]

Just to add a slight tangent to the debate as I see its been sort of touched on already...... Plenty on here with much more experience than me, but in my somewhat limited experience of kegging v bottle conditioning, I believe I get a better tasting beer from the keg.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Just to add a slight tangent to the debate as I see its been sort of touched on already...... Plenty on here with much more experience than me, but in my somewhat limited experience of kegging v bottle conditioning, I believe I get a better tasting beer from the keg.

(but... yeah, me too)

 

[Victor Churchill]

Mine's getting delivered tomorrow which is pretty awesome. I haven't actually got anything ready to put in it yet :/

(It's all a bit sudden. MsVC saw a keg on my Amazon wishlist and I got a note in an envelope on my birthday saying "get a bit of brewing equipment. This paper will self destruct if not used withing 24 hours"
party on!

Question now is going to be what do I brew next :-)

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Mine's getting delivered tomorrow

Fab - what did you go for?

 

[Victor Churchill]

Fab - what did you go for?

Got the single 19L keg with a Pluto gun hand tap and SodaStream convertor - will use SodaStream to begin with and then probably move to a grown up CO2 can when I can find one nearby. I talked to Jonny about my unused S30 but it's not compatible with their regulator and they don't have a convertor.

Also, as recommended, included an in-line check valve to go between keg and regulator. Total a tad under £150.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Got the single 19L keg with a Pluto gun hand tap and SodaStream convertor - will use SodaStream to begin with and then probably move to a grown up CO2 can when I can find one nearby. I talked to Jonny about my unused S30 but it's not compatible with their regulator and they don't have a convertor.

Also, as recommended, included an in-line check valve to go between keg and regulator. Total a tad under £150.

Perfect - great choices