So frustrating....

[DonnyOwl]

Help!

So far i've done 3 brews and the first was perfect and the other two ended up down the drain which was painful. The last 2 brews in 2 different barrels wouldn't flow through the top tap so i thought before i moved my 4th brew to the King Keg Top Tap I'd check that the barrel was ok.

So i half filled the barrel with water and then put in two spurts of Co2. I then turned the tap and it flowed through slowly for about 10 seconds then stopped. Is this normal or does it mean it's losing pressure or could it be something else. The thing is the 2 failed brews had the same issue but it was two different barrels and i've swapped one over so i don't believe the issue can be with three new barrels but something that i'm doing wrong.

So frustrating, any help would be really appreciated before I end my brewing career before it's really begun!

 

[johncrobinson]

There is a lot of info on here,Mainly older threads about the problems with these barrels and various and many fixes for them.
It is more than likely you are losing pressure. What abortion that passes for gas valves on these kegs is so crude its unreal.
But another reason is often the layout of the pipe and float on the King Keg top tap.

There was so much negative/problems uncovered it put me off buying one.
to be fair though NOT EVERYONE has problems.

As I say its all on here so knock yourself out.

Other members who are actually keg owners will likely chirp in to help you.

 

[DonnyOwl]

There is a lot of info on here,Mainly older threads about the problems with these barrels and various and many fixes for them.
It is more than likely you are losing pressure. What abortion that passes for gas valves on these kegs is so crude its unreal.
But another reason is often the layout of the pipe and float on the King Keg top tap.

There was so much negative/problems uncovered it put me off buying one.
to be fair though NOT EVERYONE has problems.

As I say its all on here so knock yourself out.

Other members who are actually keg owners will likely chirp in to help you.

thanks for the response. I just can't believe that i'd have the same issue with 3 of 4 new barrels which is why i'm convinced that i've either done something wrong! I may buy a cheap bottom top barrel to see whether that works better for me.

 

[Obadiah Boondoggle]

As Jc says other members on here may help

But I nearly gave up home brew a couple of years ago as I just couldn't plastic barrels work for me

The best thing I did was dump them and move onto to Cornies - I know this is a more expensive option - or bottles?

 

[Nottsbeer]

Check out the "How to" guides in the Forum section. Second on the list maybe a good thread to read. I've seen detailed discussions on pressure gauges etc for barrels around (maybe in that thread). As mentioned you can always bottle until you have your issue sorted. Good luck.

 

[Spit]

Hi I gave up with pressure barrels and switched to bottle's then cornys and haven't had any experience with top taps but have you tried gassing it up and spray some starsan or soapy water round all the seals to see if there's any leaks. I feel your pain but don't give up on a wonderful hobby. Good luck

 

[Buffers brewery]

Hi @DonnyOwl . Sorry to hear you’re having some problems with your King Kegs.

As @Nottsbeer suggests, I’d recommend having a read of the “Pressure Barrels-More than you wanted to know” in the “How-to” section of the forum.

I’d also recommend fitting a Schrader valve to your caps (you can buy them with them already fitted but the valves only cost a couple of quid on Amazon or fleebay). This way you’ll be able to measure and monitor the pressure in your barrels using a tyre pressure gauge. You can also pressurise your barrels with air from a tyre pump for leak testing. This is better than using CO2 as CO2 is easily absorbed by water causing the pressure to drop naturally. Being able to check for leaks and identifying leaks is a big thing with getting pressure barrels to work as top tap barrels need good pressure levels to work. When you say you gave a half filled barrel a couple of squirts, that may not be enough

You didn’t say why you had to pour your last two brews away.

P.S. I almost missed this post because of the ambiguous title. I’d suggest you make your titles a bit more specific in future e.g. “Pressure barrels - so frustrating”

 

[RoomWithABrew]

@DonnyOwl
Very frustrating, did the beer go sour and then you dumped it? That really does suggest a leak and oxygen got in.

Do read the thread that @Buffers brewery mentions it may also link to this one as well
Buffers Brewery Pressure Barrel “Bung”

I must be one of the lucky ones picked my top tap kingkeg up 2nd hand in NZ, they are rare as hens' teeth down here but are the best alternative to a cask if you can't get one. Seems to hold pressure well, check the top is smooth no nicks or dings in it. Check the Big oring take it out carefully and clean it and use some keglube on it and on the rim of the keg. Same for the other valves.
I put a bulkhead corney post for gas on my lid a) because I had one b) I can fit a spunding valve to it for conditioning c) can put gauge on it or fill gas into it.
Last night did a closed transfer into the barrel via the gas post just using liquid out on fermenter with gas connector on the other end. I could get rid of the standard hambledon bard gas post but still have the cylinder that I brought from UK and an adapter for sodastream so I gas in this way for old times sake.

I'd much prefer a bottom tap one with a floating dip tube though.

Another way to test the seals is to fill the barrel with warm water nearly to the top and then add a couple of tablespoons of pbw. This makes gas and hence pressure, give it a good shake after tightening it all up and then invert it. This will show if your main seal is leaking and perhaps other joins.

 

[Stevieboy]

There's so much info on this forum - I would advocate fitting a pressure gauge - so that you can actually see whats going on. I only had one problem with my KKTT before, and that was the seal between the float pipe and the back of the tap. A bit of lube, and more careful assembly sorted it.

 

[RoomWithABrew]

I would advocate fitting a pressure gauge - so that you can actually see whats going on.

@DonnyOwl

I put a bulkhead corney post for gas on my lid a) because I had one b) I can fit a spunding valve to it for conditioning c) can put gauge on it or fill gas into it.

@Stevieboy agree but do it via a post so you can sterilise it nicely. I had an infection with a gauge fitted directly onto the top of the keg lid which was how I bought it.

 

[Sandimas]

But I nearly gave up home brew a couple of years ago as I just couldn't plastic barrels work for me

Same here, I tried and tried, got 3 of them but gave up in the end due to all the issues.

For the immediate problem, did you prime those kegs or just squirt in some CO2? You need to prime the kegs with sugar and leave for 2 weeks to build up enough CO2. A couple of squirts from a CO2 cannister is not enough to shift 40 pints of beer, which is why it quickly ran out.

If you did prime and had sufficient CO2, then you have a leak, which many of us have experienced with these barrels. Lots of threads on here about tracking them down and fixing.

 

[DonnyOwl]

Hi I gave up with pressure barrels and switched to bottle's then cornys and haven't had any experience with top taps but have you tried gassing it up and spray some starsan or soapy water round all the seals to see if there's any leaks. I feel your pain but don't give up on a wonderful hobby. Good luck

Thanks i'll keep going!! I've got a feeling it may be leaking from the lid so i've bought that PTFE tape to give that a go.

I'm half tempted just to buy a a wilkinsons bottom tap barrel to see if that works better for me. I'd bought 3 TTKK on day 1 of taking the hobby so i may have been a bit too eager and should have product tested first!

 

[DonnyOwl]

@DonnyOwl
Very frustrating, did the beer go sour and then you dumped it? That really does suggest a leak and oxygen got in.

Do read the thread that @Buffers brewery mentions it may also link to this one as well
Buffers Brewery Pressure Barrel “Bung”

I must be one of the lucky ones picked my top tap kingkeg up 2nd hand in NZ, they are rare as hens' teeth down here but are the best alternative to a cask if you can't get one. Seems to hold pressure well, check the top is smooth no nicks or dings in it. Check the Big oring take it out carefully and clean it and use some keglube on it and on the rim of the keg. Same for the other valves.
I put a bulkhead corney post for gas on my lid a) because I had one b) I can fit a spunding valve to it for conditioning c) can put gauge on it or fill gas into it.
Last night did a closed transfer into the barrel via the gas post just using liquid out on fermenter with gas connector on the other end. I could get rid of the standard hambledon bard gas post but still have the cylinder that I brought from UK and an adapter for sodastream so I gas in this way for old times sake.

I'd much prefer a bottom tap one with a floating dip tube though.

Another way to test the seals is to fill the barrel with warm water nearly to the top and then add a couple of tablespoons of pbw. This makes gas and hence pressure, give it a good shake after tightening it all up and then invert it. This will show if your main seal is leaking and perhaps other joins.

Thanks for your reply. I'd followed the process to the letter and when it came to getting the first pint the beer wouldnt flow and this happened to two different new kegs at the same time. I put in some Co2 and it dripped out for a bit but it was flat. I just can't believe i've got a leak from 2 of 3 new kegs but maybe that is the issue and im just unlucky, so i'm going to focus on finding the leak!

 

[Buffers brewery]

I'm half tempted just to buy a a wilkinsons bottom tap barrel to see if that works better

NOOOOOO!
Excuse the humour. I wouldn't advise you buying anything until you've fixed your existing problem/s. A King Keg is the best PB available IMO. Stick with it one barrel at a time. If you're going to spend any more money invest in a Schrader valve to actually measure pressure and save your CO2.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Emma-Motoc...=motorcycle+tyre+valve&qid=1631126294&sr=8-12

 

[Buffers brewery]

i've bought that PTFE tape to give that a go.

So have you identified a leak at the cap? This is going to sound rude but it's not intended, you need to be a bit more methodical. Can you answer the following
1. How much sugar did you use to prime your barrel of beer?
2. What is your CO2 supply, capsules, S30 cylinder or sodastream cylinder?

 

[Buffers brewery]

https://www.balliihoo.co.uk/balliihoo-4-barrel-cap-with-hole-no-valve-pressure-test-point-gauge

 

[DonnyOwl]

So have you identified a leak at the cap? This is going to sound rude but it's not intended, you need to be a bit more methodical. Can you answer the following
1. How much sugar did you use to prime your barrel of beer?
2. What is your CO2 supply, capsules, S30 cylinder or sodastream cylinder?

Not rude, i'm all over the show tbh!

The two barrels that didnt work were both beer kits without any adaptions. My Co2 supply is via a S30 cylinder. (the large bottle that you twist on when you run out of natural pressure)

I think it must be the cap because I half filled a barrel with water and then added Co2 and it started to come out of the side of the lid.

Whilst i have your attention, can i ask another question. How long when you transfer beer from the fermenter to the barrel would it create enough pressure to flow from the tap? On Tuesday night I filled the barrel should it flow within 48 hours?

 

[Nottsbeer]

Not rude, i'm all over the show tbh!

The two barrels that didnt work were both beer kits without any adaptions. My Co2 supply is via a S30 cylinder. (the large bottle that you twist on when you run out of natural pressure)

I think it must be the cap because I half filled a barrel with water and then added Co2 and it started to come out of the side of the lid.

Whilst i have your attention, can i ask another question. How long when you transfer beer from the fermenter to the barrel would it create enough pressure to flow from the tap? On Tuesday night I filled the barrel should it flow within 48 hours?
[/QUO
You note gas escaping from the side of your lid. Maybe a silly question, but have you checked the O ring in the cap is there, and have you put vaseline on it? I used to generously coat mine (remove it and coat) to ensure no leaks from there.

 

[Nottsbeer]

Doh, seemed I managed to include my reply into your message!! It's at the end.

 

[DonnyOwl]

Doh, seemed I managed to include my reply into your message!! It's at the end.

It is there and i put vaseline on the cap but not around the O ring?

The barrel currently has beer in which i put in 2 days ago, should that have created enough pressure to flow?

If not i was going to open up the cap bottle some of the beer and then i could vaseline around the O ring and put the PTFE tape. Does that sound a sensible approach?