What to Buy or Not to buy

[Sonnal]

Simple method is to use jubilee clips and just attach standard garden hose to either end, a better and less likely to leak method is to get 10mm - 15mm compression couplers and then attach hozelock type fittings, there is a thread somewhere with details of how to do this.

I used jubilee clips but sleeved the copper pipe in short prices of syphon pipe and then put the garden hose over that. It gives a better fit and doesn't leak without the need for compression couplers. I only tried this as it was stuff I already had but it works really well.

 

[peebee]

Sorry to hijack the thread but I have a question about Corny kegs. I got some yesterday and bought the regulator and gauges that attach to the co2 bottle. I'm wondering if I need to buy food grade pure co2. A place close by to me does mixed gas 70/30 which it says is for Stout and ale and 60/40 which it says is for larger and cider. As 19 litres could last me a month could the beer go off with the mixes?

You need a different regulator for mixed gas. They will be at a very high pressure, whereas pure CO2 has the useful feature of turning into a liquid at relatively low pressure. The gas must be "food grade" but it is difficult to find anything else (and its unlikely to be cheaper).

I don't care for mixed gas (nitrogen + CO2), so to me any beer with it in has gone off. But I can't imagine the mix is full of bugs that mess with the beer.

 

[Wardy]

You need a different regulator for mixed gas. They will be at a very high pressure, whereas pure CO2 has the useful feature of turning into a liquid at relatively low pressure. The gas must be "food grade" but it is difficult to find anything else (and its unlikely to be cheaper).

I don't care for mixed gas (nitrogen + CO2), so to me any beer with it in has gone off. But I can't imagine the mix is full of bugs that mess with the beer.

Thanks for the information. I did wonder if the mix would have any effect on the beer. 100% food grade CO2 it is then. I'm glad I asked here because when I phoned the gas shop and told them what it was for they said that I needed the mix.

 

[peebee]

... I did wonder if the mix would have any effect on the beer...

It does. Or rather CO2 does... CO2 will form a very weak acid and the effect is to make the beer "prickly". Mixed gas does no such thing and the beer comes out "smooth" (and flabby). It is also hard to get into (and out of) solution which leads to tiny bubbles forming pappy creamy heads. Think Guinness.

 

[Wardy]

It does. Or rather CO2 does... CO2 will form a very weak acid and the effect is to make the beer "prickly". Mixed gas does no such thing and the beer comes out "smooth" (and flabby). It is also hard to get into (and out of) solution which leads to tiny bubbles forming pappy creamy heads. Think Guinness.

That's interesting. It's a stout that I'm making and will mainly do. I will be trying some ale clones too and maybe an IPA for summer. Would I be better getting a mix for the Stout?

 

[peebee]

That's interesting. It's a stout that I'm making and will mainly do. I will be trying some ale clones too and maybe an IPA for summer. Would I be better getting a mix for the Stout?

NO!

Think about it again in a year or so when you'll have already worked out you can have "creamy" heads without resorting to diabolical tricks. Or, if you're a lost cause, you'll have the experience to properly deal with nitrogen gas (for whatever misguided reason - you think I dislike Guinness? No, but I have to go to Spain to get a drinkable version of it now... and I believe that's brewed under licence in Belgium).