Sensible first time keg advise sought

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Yes, beer conditioned in bulk takes longer to come into condition.

Some advantages to bottling:

- it's cheaper
- there's unlikely to be a shortage of crown caps or spray malt
- an infection in one bottle affects half a litre of beer. An infection in a keg affects 19 litres of beer
- you don't need a dedicated fridge in which to keep your beer
- I'd say it has less environmental impact
 
Ah, I was recalling reading a suggestion that you should do priming in keg to economise on the CO2 used.

Yes, that's true. Something I hadn't thought of before I read TETB's reply; by 'condition' do you mean carbonated to the correct level, or when the beer will have the best possible taste?
 
Gear acquisition syndrome (GAS) means that you will usually end up with corny kegs!

But I’m glad that I bought my 5L kegs to start with because I learned a lot using them.

And now my brews are now usually 23L, so now I use a corny and a 5L keg for each one.

And whilst I have a large CO2 bottle, I still use my old soda stream bottle in my fridge for dispensing from both kegs.
 
Yes, that's true. Something I hadn't thought of before I read TETB's reply; by 'condition' do you mean carbonated to the correct level, or when the beer will have the best possible taste?
Bit of both I suppose. I tend to be impatient and want to try the new brew ASAP but also I do know that it gets better if I can keep my hands off it. It's more a case of when it gets fully cleared, fully carbed and drinkable.
But I think I recall seeing that a CO2 bottle could last just a couple of kegs if you force carb, and with the current CO2 crisis (!) that's an issue.
 
Yeah, that is where I got the confusion. On the BKT site:
"You will be able to dispense about 1-2 full kegs (including carbonation) using a full sodastream cylinder (contains 425g of CO2). A larger (more expensive and heavy) 6kg cylinder will dispense over ten times this. Both cylinders cost about the same to refill. "
 
Ah, I was recalling reading a suggestion that you should do priming in keg to economise on the CO2 used.
CO2 is probably cheaper than sugar to be honest - £20 for 6kg, and last time I refilled was 18 months ago... also I am not a patient man athumb..
 
Or you can transfer the beer with extract remaining and attach a spunding valve, so it carbonates itself - no need to add primings or force carb and the transfer happens while the yeast is active, cutting any potential oxidation.

Many ways to skin a cat in homebrew packaging
 
I know it can feel a bit intimidating: I was scared to death that I'd buy expensive bit that wouldn't fit together.
Don't worry, it's easy really.

Here's an example of a full setup based on a 19L Corny (I don't see the point getting a smaller one as the price is basically the same and part-filling it is fine so long as you flood the headspace with CO2).
The only other thing you need is a gas cylinder.
A full sized (6kg) cylinder works out cheaper over time: look up your nearest AirLiquide or Adams Gas supplier. Expect to pay £35-50 deposit on a full size (6kg) cylinder plus about £20 for the CO2 itself.
Alternately if you want to go the SodaStream route you will need an adaptor to go on regulator: Sodastream adapter for CO2 Regulator

Overall setup cost £150-200; repeat cost £20 per annum (ish)

EDIT: optional but recommended is to add a non-return valve to avoid the risk of beer getting back up the gas line and into your regulator: Beer Storage and Dispense - New and Used KEGS and Fittings - Disconnect Check Valve - The Malt Miller

Hallow pal,
Sorry late gettin into the thread.
Ive forgot how many times ive swapped back to kegging, must 4 times :rolleyes:
Great gears from Rob and the gang, but my kegs laterly from Brew2Bottle.
zf5KoE1.jpg

80 beaver pelts is ok..some on evilbay ova a ton🤬
Safe on m8.
Bri
 
The 5l kegs aren't hugely cheaper than a 19l corny and you'll need pretty much exactly the same for both in terms of taps, gas, tubing and disconnects. The opening on a mini-keg is very small so difficult to clean. I ended up buying a 9l corny to start with and then a couple of 19l ones (Malt Miller were selling reconditioned ones for £105 for two). I also recently won a KegThat raffle so now have 4 19l ones! One of those is soon to be filled with the proper job clone I have fermenting and have all the grain for another brew waiting for the fermenter to be free.

I tend to get around 21-22l from the fermenter on a 23l batch so stick 19l in the keg and bottle the rest with carb drops. The 9l keg is useful as it gives me a bit more room in my beer fridge for bottles and cans. With a bit of fiddling I could probably fit two 19l kegs in with the 9l one sitting on the shelf behind.

IMG_0460.jpeg
 
With a bit of fiddling I could probably fit two 19l kegs in with the 9l one sitting on the shelf behind.

View attachment 54529
In fact @stripeyjoe from the measurements you gave me of your fridge, Hotpoint RLA34, I reckon you could fit a couple of 12 Litre's behind two new-style thin 19L ones (similar in the Curry's CUL55W, but it's tight)
 
Just to add a slight tangent to the debate as I see its been sort of touched on already...... Plenty on here with much more experience than me, but in my somewhat limited experience of kegging v bottle conditioning, I believe I get a better tasting beer from the keg.
 
Just to add a slight tangent to the debate as I see its been sort of touched on already...... Plenty on here with much more experience than me, but in my somewhat limited experience of kegging v bottle conditioning, I believe I get a better tasting beer from the keg.
1632155599330.png

(but... yeah, me too)
 
Mine's getting delivered tomorrow which is pretty awesome. I haven't actually got anything ready to put in it yet :/

(It's all a bit sudden. MsVC saw a keg on my Amazon wishlist and I got a note in an envelope on my birthday saying "get a bit of brewing equipment. This paper will self destruct if not used withing 24 hours"
🍻 party on!

Question now is going to be what do I brew next :-)
 
Fab - what did you go for?
Got the single 19L keg with a Pluto gun hand tap and SodaStream convertor - will use SodaStream to begin with and then probably move to a grown up CO2 can when I can find one nearby. I talked to Jonny about my unused S30 but it's not compatible with their regulator and they don't have a convertor.

Also, as recommended, included an in-line check valve to go between keg and regulator. Total a tad under £150.
 
Got the single 19L keg with a Pluto gun hand tap and SodaStream convertor - will use SodaStream to begin with and then probably move to a grown up CO2 can when I can find one nearby. I talked to Jonny about my unused S30 but it's not compatible with their regulator and they don't have a convertor.

Also, as recommended, included an in-line check valve to go between keg and regulator. Total a tad under £150.
Perfect - great choices 👍🏻
 
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