Mini keg and mini CO2 cartridges

Martybhoy · Jul 22, 2018

I recently got 2 x 5ltr kegs which run off the mini (16g) CO2 cartridges.

Being a total noon at kegging, I have a few questions about it :

1 - can I force carb a 5ltr keg with the small cartridges, or do I need to prime with sugar, and use the cartridges solely for pushing the beer out?

2 - are there any pitfalls I should be aware of? Such as how to avoid leaks, gushing beer etc.? What are the usual rookie errors?

3 - any other tips anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

foxy · Jul 22, 2018

No you will not be able to carbonate from a cartridge, either sugar or get a gas bottle.
Keep it at correct pressure and you should be OK once you become more experienced with the pours.
Don't leave Starsan in a keg, rinse for a couple of minutes and let the keg air dry before the next use.

braziliain · Jul 22, 2018

You definitely can force carbonate with a CO2 cartridge. There are videos on YouTube of people doing it with the small 5L kegs.

treebeard · Jul 23, 2018

I have two 10L kegs that run off 16g cartridges and I force carb fine. This is an American Pale Ale I popped it in the fridge at 12 psi for 7 days and the carbonation was just right.... for me anyway.

Martybhoy · Jul 23, 2018

treebeard said:
I have two 10L kegs that run off 16g cartridges and I force carb fine. This is an American Pale Ale I popped it in the fridge at 12 psi for 7 days and the carbonation was just right.... for me anyway.
View attachment 14590

Hi Treebeard, do you keep it at 12psi once ready to serve, or do you lower it?

treebeard · Jul 23, 2018

Martybhoy1980 said:
Hi Treebeard, do you keep it at 12psi once ready to serve, or do you lower it?

I generally reduce it to around 10psi (trial and error to begin with) but I do use a flow control tap which is a doddle to use to avoid over foaming. There is a calculator at the top of this page to help you with carbonation levels in a keg for different styles of beer. For me a flow control tap is a must. Hope that helps.

Braufather · Jul 24, 2018

I have a 9 litre corny that I used to carb with capsules no problem. I have a proper gas canister now but still use the capsules sometimes for the 9 litre corny. Takes two or three including serving. A five litre may be done with 1.

foxy · Aug 5, 2018

My mistake, I had been previously reading a thread on fermenting in a 20 litre corny, brain hadn't adapted. I have 5 litre mini kegs and use a cartridge to carbonate.

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Oct 28, 2021

Hey guys. Thinking of getting my eldest a 5L mini keg setup for Christmas, then it'll be easier to share the beer instead of bottling. If I wanted to carbonate the keg to say 2.5 vols, would I need more than one bulb? Also will one bulb dispense the whole keg?

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Oct 28, 2021

Also how do you know when the bulb is empty please?

Pavros · Oct 28, 2021

I have 4 x 5l mini kegs and I don't force carbonate with the 16g gas bulbs as it will be too expensive. You would need at least one 16g bulb to force carb. I just prime as normal and transfer into a mix of 2 kegs and 20 bottles. If you have a gas bottle or soda stream bottle and the correct fittings for the keg, then it will be cheaper to force carbonate.

I keep the regulator turned off until I need to add gas to help with pouring. When you open the regulator to add CO2 to dispense, you can hear the gas hissing into the keg and the dial on the regulator will move upwards. You can easily tell when the bulb is empty. Now I can dispense a 5 litre keg using one 16g bulb but I was using just over one when I started using the kegs. However, the new bulb isn't wasted as you can turn the regulator off and transfer the spear to another keg to finish the bulb.

Of course, I'm probably not using the kegs properly as I'm just using them as a big 5 litre bottle with gas to help the pour but it works for me!

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Oct 28, 2021

Thank you! We do have a gas bottle but this would be for my son who doesn't have one.

Pavros · Oct 28, 2021

You could force carb it from your bottle then change the top/spear so that he can dispense with the CO2 bulbs.

I've primed and conditioned with sugar and then changed the top on the keg before and it's been fine - well, I don't brew NEIPAs but you know what I mean

Tess Tickle's Brewery · Oct 28, 2021

Yes, I think that's probably what we'll do (the first sentence lol)

Mini keg and mini CO2 cartridges

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