Storing Cony kegs

[Gwen]

I now have 3 corny kegs waiting to be filled. 2 just arrived from BKT and they were pressurised. So it got me thinking. There is going to be times when they are going to be empty, so how should I store them. Lid closed up or off? Pressurised or unpressurised? Or does it not matter?
Thanks Gwen

 

[The Baron]

I clean mine then put in about a litre of diluted starsan replace the lid swirl it around so it covers all the inside of the corny and you can put just a blast of CO2 if you want but I do not bother.
All I do is then empty out the starsan rinse with clean water and then another litre of fresh starsan and swirl again then use.
I have never had a problem and no reaction on the stainless either

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

When I'm cleaning them out after use, I like to put a bit of gas in and use that pressure to blast a bit of cleaning/sterilising solution out through (a) the beer-out disconnect; (b) the gas-in disconnect and (c) the pressure relief valve. The latter two entail turning the key upside down... then when I'm finished I rinse the keg out with clean water and leave it upside down to dry.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Incidentally with new kegs I tend to write a number on the lid and the keg, as I've found the lids aren't always interchangeable (and sometimes they fit better one way round than 'tother)

 

[The Baron]

Incidentally with new kegs I tend to write a number on the lid and the keg, as I've found the lids aren't always interchangeable (and sometimes they fit better one way round than 'tother)

I have done that as I found that they seem to seal better on their original keg. I used a Tippex pen and it seems to last on the rubber part of the corny

 

[chopps]

Tippex!
Thought that stuff went out with the typewriter, Wow.

 

[The Baron]

Tippex!
Thought that stuff went out with the typewriter, Wow.

No you can get a pen which you squeeze so it writes really well as you can see and they have been on for at least a couple of years so wears well

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I use these:

 

[obscure]

I use these:

View attachment 53866

Do these come off fairly easily (as could see uses either way).

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Do these come off fairly easily (as could see uses either way).

The markings are very resilient once properly dry (about 1hr); to get them off the bottles I have to use stainless steel wool (gently!)
Example:

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

just checked and the specific ones I use are actually these:

They have a weight inside, you need to shake them vigorously back and forth for 30sec or so before using

 

[DocAnna]

@the baron describes much of how I store my kegs, with a bit of dilute starsan/chemsan and a bit of pressure. One extra thing is to make sure to flush some of the starsan through the dip tube by running some of it out of the beer post - I use a spare party tap.
When I come to use them - if I’m not needing it fully CO2 purged then I gently invert and roll it just to coat the surfaces again but not create too much foam. Then empty the keg through the party tap which ensures the dip tube is emptied of Starsan.

 

[Gwen]

Thanks everyone

 

[Graz]

I just leave it upside down on the garage floor after I've washed it.

Before filling check to see if any spiders have taken up residence inside, removing if so , then pour a good glug of StarSan in put the lid on and give it a good shake. Drain that off a while later and fill.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Why are they empty? Get brewing and fill them.

 

[Gwen]

Why are they empty? Get brewing and fill them.

Yes I started a MJ pink grapefruit IPA and a cider this weekend so are fermenting and bubbling away as we speak and just waiting on a couple more bits for the kegerator build and I will be away

 

[gyurmaember]

I store them as they came out from the kegerator, until I have 2, or fermenters to wash as well, to save water. Once they're washed i put starsan into them I tend to pressurise it, as the lid doesn't seal properly without pressure. When I'm ready to transfer just drive the starsan out with co2.

 

[xozzx]

When I empty a keg I clean it, then transfer starsan from another keg using CO2 and leave it full of starsan until I have another empty. When another keg empties I clean it and transfer the starsan to this one leaving the other keg full of CO2 at about 10psi. Any keg filled with CO2 is ready to fill whenever the next brew is done. Occasionally I run low on kegs so end up just transferring the starsan down the sink but one bottle of starsan lasts soo long it is good to start fresh every few months.

 

[chopps]

I gently invert and roll it just to coat the surfaces again but not create too much foam.

I know what I need to do - A gentle swish round and delicately empty it..but every single time, Shake it Baby!! Then upside down and shake it like Stevens. I pop the lid off, do a Homer “D’oh!!” and have an impromptu Ibiza foam party in the garden. Next time I’ll nail it.