Wilko Golden Ale

[Adamzworld]

Hi everyone, I'm pretty new to this home brew lark, but my first Woodfordes Wherry came out very nicely! The reason for my post is that I've just kegged my second brew (Wilko Golden Ale). I did this just before I went off on holiday for two weeks. I've just got back and tried to draw some of the beer and it's pretty flat, so I've realised that there must be a tiny leak at the o ring at the top of the barrel. I've taken the top off, added 20g more of brewing sugar, (I put in 80g when I first kegged it) tightened the lid and given it a burst of co2 and it seems to be keeping pressure now (there are no suspicious hissing noises!). My questions are; 1. Will the beer be ruined, or will it continue to carbonate even after 2 weeks in the barrel? (It tasted okay earlier, but just pretty flat) 2. Could the co2 and the extra sugar I've added cause the barrel to burst?

Thanks in advance to everyone for your help and advice.


Regards,



Adam

 

[Adamzworld]

I just read in a different post that most of the sugar would have been used after 5 days, so I took the cap off, added another 60g of brewing sugar, re-sealed o ring and put cap back on. I guess I'll have to wait an extra couple of weeks now before it's ready for drinking but hopefully it will turn out okay, albeit maybe a little stronger! I haven't added any extra co2 this time round as I'm hoping the extra sugar will naturally carbonate.

 

[Speccy]

Hi Adamzworld. Same thing happened with one my my early brews. I did exactly what you did - reprimed with 80g or so of sugar and resealed the barrel - and a couple of days later it was pressured up nicely. Turned out to be one of my best batches. Fingers crossed yours will too. (The Wilko Golden Ale is a top choice!)

If the beer's flat, CO2 cartridges won't really help: they're for later on, to help with dispensing by filling the space left behind by the beer. You can tell if the barrel is pressurised because it'll bulge a little at the bottom, causing the feet to lift off the ground. And don't worry about bursting it: there's a pressure relief valve in the cap that won't let you get too carried away.

 

[joe1002]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[Adamzworld]

Thanks Speccy,

I'm pleased to hear that your brew turned out fine in the end. I've left it for a couple of days since I've re-primed it and have now moved it somewhere cool to clear the beer. It seems to be holding pressure nicely now and the bottom of barrel is bulging slightly.

How long should I leave it now before I taste it? I'm patient but I'm also quite thirsty!

 

[Adamzworld]

Thanks joe1002

 

[Adamzworld]

Tastes okay and nice levels of carbonation. It's been in the barrel for two three weeks now, so reckon it will only improve with time!