Which pressure barrel

[feemackenzie]

I'm out of cupboard space , bottles bottles bottles. So z wanting the next storage options....

Which pressure barrel do you all recommended... Personally, looking at simple Wilko one.

Any remarks welcome

 

[StJayJay]

I got a king keg one with an s30 valve a few years ago. They get a mixed review sometimes but I’ve got on ok with it, just needs care keeping the seals lubricated and using pfte tape on the tap threads. I liked it but don’t use it so much anymore after getting corny kegs. Still use it now as a fermenter and for conditioning.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

This might help?

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/pressure-barrels-more-than-you-wanted-to-know.89344/

 

[Agentgonzo]

I got a couple of king keg bottom taps many years ago and they have done me proud for over a decade. I did replace the crappy plastic taps with some plumbing from b&q though and they are much better.

The best advice I got when I was buying them were
1. Get ones with a 4" neck. That allows you to get your arm into the keg for cleaning, which makes to a million times easier.
2. Get one with a bottom tap. That way it can always be served by gravity alone without co2 or float tubes

 

[Theoriginalrich]

I’ve got a KK with bottom tap. After issues with with the S30 valve it came with (brass) I changed it to a SS Hambleton and had no problems since.
Hazelwood’s guide is amazing. Read it.

 

[feemackenzie]

I got a couple of king keg bottom taps many years ago and they have done me proud for over a decade. I did replace the crappy plastic taps with some plumbing from b&q though and they are much better.

The best advice I got when I was buying them were
1. Get ones with a 4" neck. That allows you to get your arm into the keg for cleaning, which makes to a million times easier.
2. Get one with a bottom tap. That way it can always be served by gravity alone without co2 or float tubes

Serve with gravity alone..... Does your beer keep in the pressure barrel and no spoil (thought air would spoil it)

 

[Sandimas]

None - all the plastic ones are rubbish. They will fail eventually, I tried and tried with mine over many years, had the budget ones and King Kegs but just gave up after so many problems, pressure and infected beer.

Stainless steel is the answer, either Cornys or 5 / 10L minikegs like these https://www.darkfarm.co.uk/keg-equipment/

 

[Agentgonzo]

Serve with gravity alone..... Does your beer keep in the pressure barrel and no spoil (thought air would spoil it)

Air will spoil it, but if you drink it quick enough then that's not an issue. I've used them for weekend parties or weddings where we can clear them in time. Normally I could get maybe the first 5-10 pints out under pressure before you have to let air in... After that I've found it lasts 3-5 days tops.

If I've been serving them for longer that that, rather than letting the air in, I'll top them up with co2 cartridges.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Many people on this forum use pressure barrels quite happily, myself included. They can be fickle but so too can corny keg systems with foamy beer. Whatever system you choose you need to learn how to get the best from it.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I had 4 of the wilko one's, i now have 4 cornys soon to be 5, i will never go back to plastic

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Another vote for cornies

 

[Theoriginalrich]

Let me get this right, just because you’ve filled your corny you don’t have to put on tap straight away. How long can you keep a brew fresh for?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Let me get this right, just because you’ve filled your corny you don’t have to put on tap straight away. How long can you keep a brew fresh for?

Depends on the beer. Some beers like very hoppy NEIPAs want drinking within a few weeks, others can be many months. I have three beers in King Kegs that are all well over a year old. Most beers get drunk within a couple of months.

 

[Donegal john]

Depends on the beer. Some beers like very hoppy NEIPAs want drinking within a few weeks, others can be many months. I have three beers in King Kegs that are all well over a year old. Most beers get drunk within a couple of months.

Months ? You jest surely

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Months ? You jest surely

Not MY beers obviously!

 

[feemackenzie]

Another vote for cornies

So , try me.... Describe the simplest corny set up?

 

[Donegal john]

So , try me.... Describe the simplest corny set up?

Keg ,gas, regulator, beer line ,tap. Oh and beer.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Here you go

 

[Bolsover Brewer]

What about the junior.

 

[Buffers brewery]

I have four King kegs that over time I've modified the closure to be more like a corny. If I were starting from scratch knowing what I know now I would probably go the corny route. The only downside being their smaller capacity compared to a PB.