Easy Keg 5L

[stevej]

I've filled mini kegs with pilsener and they are fine 6 months later and it tastes far better the longer you leave it. I have a couple of Breferm Pilsener kegs from march that I've managed to keep my fat fingers away from along with some Brewferm Gold that I'm really looking forward to. The Brewferm stuff really is one of the best in my opinion but it needs a really long time before it's tip top.
I'm filling a couple of kegs today with Festival New Zealand Pilsener which I'm hoping will be ready for Christmas as the Festival kits don't need anywhere near as long as the brewferm ones, if anything I prefer them after 6-7 weeks
I'm glad more people are starting with mini kegs as they haven't really been mentioned much up to now, great thread :thumb:

Sausage so larger is ok in mks? strange i wouldnt had thought they would be up to the pressure like as i said other keg systems like king kegs, i have made many largers and found bottles are the way to go even with cider i have never found kegs any good

 

[stevej]

For the Pilsner? I was thinking the bohemian Pilsner from gregs book. I usually do ales or stouts

I have just brewed a Pilsner using a nice german liquid yeast and Lublin hops never used Lublin before, had a great polish larger a while back thats what inspired me using Lublin hops

 

[sausagefingers]

No don't pull the bung out, the tap has a long 'straw' that you push through the bung.
Once you do it with the red/ black ones they're pretty much done, you can buy reusable ones from leyland home brew for pennies. I've reused mine many times and they're still fine

 

[Bevvied]

Thanks sausage, I'm sure it's obvious when I get my paws on it.

 

[sausagefingers]

Sorry was replying to bevvied, was trying to type on my phone but by the time my fat fingers had worked the bloody buttons it looked like I was rambling to no-one but myself

@stevej - I haven't done a proper lager, most seem to come with ale yeast and don't taste like any lager I've ever had.I've done a few pilseners and they have all been fine especially the Brewferm ones I've tried
Just had a look and the oldest pilsener I have is from March 3rd, so purely for research purposes I will crack it open today. The things I put myself through...:drink:

Just to be clear I only brew kits, I had every intention of moving on to full grain but find the 2 can kits great quality.
Plus I'm a ham fisted buffoon and would only mess it all up with grain recipes

 

[stevej]

Sorry was replying to bevvied, was trying to type on my phone but by the time my fat fingers had worked the bloody buttons it looked like I was rambling to no-one but myself

@stevej - I haven't done a proper lager, most seem to come with ale yeast and don't taste like any lager I've ever had.I've done a few pilseners and they have all been fine especially the Brewferm ones I've tried
Just had a look and the oldest pilsener I have is from March 3rd, so purely for research purposes I will crack it open today. The things I put myself through...:drink:

Just to be clear I only brew kits, I had every intention of moving on to full grain but find the 2 can kits great quality.
Plus I'm a ham fisted buffoon and would only mess it all up with grain recipes

I agree theres some lovely kit ales and largers sometimes when my stocks are low il put a kit on the go, i started on kits as probs most people did i do love my ag ales though so much more choice on styles etc, you really need to try and do a batch some day no homebrew twang and its so easy to do check Clibits thread out

 

[sausagefingers]

these are the re-useable bungs bevvied http://www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/spare-two-piece-bung-1496-p.asp

I think that when I bought my tap and kegs they threw some in so you may be ok

@ steve, I know what you mean and I joined this forum just so I could find out how to do AG but I really enjoy the kit stuff
I've a fairly big stash so by the time I get round to drinking the stuff it's been bottled for a good 8-10 weeks minimum so that twang has long gone. The first 2 kits that I did tasted of nothing but twang, bloody awful it was. but it was because I was so impatient it wasn't getting long enough in the bottle

 

[stevej]

these are the re-useable bungs bevvied http://www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/spare-two-piece-bung-1496-p.asp

I think that when I bought my tap and kegs they threw some in so you may be ok

@ steve, I know what you mean and I joined this forum just so I could find out how to do AG but I really enjoy the kit stuff
I've a fairly big stash so by the time I get round to drinking the stuff it's been bottled for a good 8-10 weeks minimum so that twang has long gone. The first 2 kits that I did tasted of nothing but twang, bloody awful it was. but it was because I was so impatient it wasn't getting long enough in the bottle

Haha im getting more impatient as time goes on having said that its good to sample beers through every stage its all part of the learning curve

 

[Bevvied]

For those considering it, Wilko have the ibrew tap a draft in stock.
£45.
I know as I just ordered one.
There wasn't the option for store collection, so £4 delivery.
Thought I'd treat myself.
I know Zelds is getting me the mini keg set-up, but variety etc.

 

[Bevvied]

For those considering it, Wilko have the ibrew tap a draft in stock.
£45.
I know as I just ordered one.
There wasn't the option for store collection, so £4 delivery.
Thought I'd treat myself.
I know Zelds is getting me the mini keg set-up, but variety etc.

 

[Labowner]

Ordered the party star mini keg set of Leyland homebrew this morning.
Will have to get my wheat beer kit on soon to try it out then I really must get started with ag. Wanted two or three kits under the belt first and that'll bring me up to three :)

 

[sausagefingers]

Righto, here we go for 8 month old Brewferm Pils.
Been chilling since this morning so fingers crossed for a nice chilled pint, if it's rank I'll be gutted.This is longest I've left anything without sticking my fat face into it and swigging the lot

Party Star tap, just rinsed and ready to go


Re-useable bung. The centre bit just pushes easily through with the 'straw' bit of the tap,just fish it out after when washing the keg. the bung is soft rubber and grips the straw forming an airtight seal


Keg showing 5 March, so just about 8 months old.
Went for the 20 ltr option when brewing it rather than the full strength option.
4.6 should be a good session drink today


Next up - taste test

 

[MyQul]

Heh, heh. The perspective of the piccy makes it look like a full sized pub keg

 

[sausagefingers]

ha, wish it was

Here it is


Plenty of pressure in the barrel, took about 3 goes to get that picture waiting for the froth to die down then top it up.
Taste wise it's a bit disapointing to be honest, I'm fairly sure I put some hops in this brew ( no notes :-( ) and if I did there is no sign of them now. My tastebuds have definitely changed this past year, didn't use to like hops but now, the more the merrier. It still tastes nice but that's it - nice.
Man alive what am I moaning at it's still going to get polished off,few nice chilled pints of Belgian pils :drink:

 

[MyQul]

Did you have to use some C02 or did it come out like that just with the priming sugar?

 

[GlentoranMark]

Just to let anyone from NI know, I checked Tesco's Knocknagney and Abbeycentre for these kegs an none were in stock (or are ever in stock).

If anyone finds any locally I'd be grateful.

I have seen kegs in Lidl before, I'll check one or 2 of their larger branches. Not sure if their the right type though.

 

[sausagefingers]

Did you have to use some C02 or did it come out like that just with the priming sugar?

No co2 it comes out like that with the priming sugar
I don't normally need the co2 until the second half of the keg, just a quick blast for a second or two keeps it going. The keg I opened last weekend didn't need the co2 at all. I've never tried it without the star tap but don't think you'd have any problems with the pull out tap and using the top bung to get your beer out
It's just that I like belgian beer, IPA and golden ales so thought the party tap would add a bit of fizz to my brews - it doesn't but it does give a very smooth pint. I wouldn't be without mine now, there is a definite difference between a bottle and a keg pint from the same brew. I also like my beer chilled ( I know I know ) and the keg with the tap fits in the fridge perfectly for a good session :smile:

 

[brumbrew]

I take it when you use kegs you put all your beer from the FV into MK's?

If your only using MK's I think it would be pretty simple to prime each individual keg but I'm going to be using a mixture of packaging, as mentioned, so not so easy

I keg to what kegs I have empty and pop the remaining lot in swing top bottles.

I get SWMBO to prime the bottles for me. Makes her think she's had a part in creating the lovely beer. Only she knows how much to carb bottles apperntly 😅

 

[brumbrew]

Just to let anyone from NI know, I checked Tesco's Knocknagney and Abbeycentre for these kegs an none were in stock (or are ever in stock).

If anyone finds any locally I'd be grateful.

I have seen kegs in Lidl before, I'll check one or 2 of their larger branches. Not sure if their the right type though.

I've noticed that all the kegs are gone in my local supermarket. Probs because of bonfire night celebrations.

Will be checking people's recycling boxes Tuesday morning on my cycle to work ;-)

 

[MyQul]

there is a definite difference between a bottle and a keg pint from the same brew. :smile:

Didn't know that. It'll be interesting to compare difference