going to keg

the_quick · Jan 31, 2020

Finally I'm giving in and buying keg system.
Going for this one to start with:
https://brewkegtap.co.uk/collections/keg-kits/products/standard-keg-kit-with-deluxe-party-tap
I think it is right for me, but happy for suggestions - I got a fridge and that's it - all in the shed

Some questions if you don't mind:
1. Is there any type of a bottle wand I can attach, to fill bottles from the keg - I often give away my beers to friends.
2. After initial carbonation of the beer, would beer still absorb gas? Basically is it possibly to server beer without it being attached to co2 bottle - my intuition telling me NO. Question related to mobility of the keg system.
3. Is it OK to transfer less than 19L to corny for carbonation - again bottles. Lets say 15L in keg and 5L in bottles

Bit excited about this.

foxbat · Jan 31, 2020

the_quick said:
Finally I'm giving in and buying keg system.
Going for this one to start with:
https://brewkegtap.co.uk/collections/keg-kits/products/standard-keg-kit-with-deluxe-party-tap
I think it is right for me, but happy for suggestions - I got a fridge and that's it - all in the shed

Some questions if you don't mind:
1. Is there any type of a bottle wand I can attach, to fill bottles from the keg - I often give away my beers to friends.
2. After initial carbonation of the beer, would beer still absorb gas? Basically is it possibly to server beer without it being attached to co2 bottle - my intuition telling me NO. Question related to mobility of the keg system.
3. Is it OK to transfer less than 19L to corny for carbonation - again bottles. Lets say 15L in keg and 5L in bottles

Bit excited about this.

1. Blichmann beer gun. Also there are cheaper clones that look a bit like 1980s car aerials on Ebay.

2. Possible yes. But as the level drops CO2 will come out of the remaining beer to maintain equilibrium. In the worst case this could kick up trub from the bottom of the keg making it cloudy again.

3. Yes but it'll cost you more CO2 to pressurize and you'll need to flush the larger void to get rid of oxygen - more CO2 used.

MrL73 · Jan 31, 2020

Same kit I bought about a couple of months ago. Best thing ever! I've since bought an extra keg, two proper taps and drilled holes in the front of my beer fridge. Shoulda done it ages ago! Now... about that third keg.

xozzx · Jan 31, 2020

You wont regret it. I now have 10 kegs!

1. I have "the last straw" bottler. Took a while to get good with it but now I can fill bottles quickly without foam everywhere (get the counter pressure adapter if you buy it)
2. You dont really want to be moving the keg around a lot as it will make the beer cloudy again. You can use it disconnected from CO2 but the pressure will drop off over time, you could get a sodastream bottle to keep the pressure when away from your main CO2 supply.
3 - As above. But why would you want to bottle from the fermenter? If you want bottles then carbonate in the keg and bottle from the keg. This means no yeast cake on the bottom of the bottle - you can even drink the beer direct from the bottle if you wanted.

Graz · Jan 31, 2020

Another recommendation for BrewKegTap. I bought the 2 keg kegerator kit with Intertap flow control taps. One of best things I've ever bought for home brew. Nothing more satisfying than watching a perfectly carbonated beer filling your pint glass (then drinking it!).

Problem is I need more money as I need more kegs and I want to add a third tap. A beer gun / bottle filler sound like something I might get to for taking beer out and about.

the_quick · Jan 31, 2020

Thanks guys for those responses.

Keg kit ordered, collecting gas canister after work today.

Dave 666 · Jan 31, 2020

Yep, I bought my first 2 kegs last month and won't ever look back as bottling was a long drawn out process that is never a pleasure!. Of cause, I'll still do a little bottling with what left from each brew after transferring to the keg, but bottling for the best part is a thing of the past. I've also just finished converting the old fridge and just waiting for the beer to chill and working out the correct co2 pressure.

Dutto · Jan 31, 2020

Hmmm. The kegs in the photographs show (on the ones that I can read) that they were manufactured in Italy in 1998. That was 22 years ago!

Are these kegs new and unused? Do they need re-testing?

This makes a good read ...

https://www.bfbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1868_50l-keg-specifications-3.14.pdf

... obviously it refers to larger kegs than those envisaged by home brewers but it's worth reading if you aren't used to working with pressurised cylinders.

Brew_DD2 · Jan 31, 2020

Brewkegtap's reconditioned kegs are excellent. Never had any issues and I know they test them. One of minr is West Germany 1988, the other; Italy 1992. Both are in fantastic condition.

the_quick · Feb 4, 2020

Keg arrived saturday at work, so that was very fast shipment. It does show it age, might buy brand new one next time, only £20 difference.

As I'm now fermenting lager, I will put into keg and plan to do 30psi for few days and lower it to like 5psi for laggering?

With ales, after initial carobation, do you usually leave them in cornby to condition for usuall 2 weeks?

HarryFlatters · Feb 4, 2020

the_quick said:
As I'm now fermenting lager, I will put into keg and plan to do 30psi for few days and lower it to like 5psi for laggering?

You could do, or set it to your serving pressure and leave it for 8 weeks. It'll be carbonated after a week or so, but as the word lager comes from the German word lagern, meaning "to store", it'll benefit from extended conditioning.

the_quick said:
With ales, after initial carobation, do you usually leave them in cornby to condition for usuall 2 weeks?

Depends on the beer. Wheat and NEIPA styles are good to go as soon as they're carbonated, British ales will be good after a fortnight, some stouts might take 3 months.

the_quick · Feb 4, 2020

Thanks for that.
Basically to following normal conditioning according to a style. Simples

HarryFlatters · Feb 4, 2020

No worries. It's a bit of a generalisation, when it tastes good, it's good :)

the_quick · Feb 4, 2020

Just connected everything to check it out, quick soapy spray and nothing seem to be leaking gas. I have used PTFE tape on all threads - hope it is OK to use it?
I might need bigger fridge lol. Current one will hold ONLY one keg.

Benfleet Brewery · Feb 4, 2020

Mine needed some minor adaptations!

the_quick · Feb 4, 2020

looks great :)

Did you split gas line? or have a manifold back there as well?
And does gas cylinder needs to be in the fridge as well?

Benfleet Brewery · Feb 4, 2020

I have a split gas line. Used a JG 2 into 1 fitting. I don’t know whether or not the gas needs to be in the fridge but it fits and I would have had to drill a hole for the gas line To have it outside. The beer line fits through the drain hole at the back so I didn’t have to drill anything. I’m well pleased with it. My profile picture shows what it looks like on the outside.

Graz · Feb 5, 2020

The gas doesn't need to go in the fridge. It just depends on the size of you fridge really and where else you might locate it if it otherwise.

the_quick · Feb 5, 2020

Thanks @Graz and @Markk

Mark, you fridge looks really great like that.

With serving beer lines, how often do you clean it? I guess if it not used in couple days it can go bad and affect all beer your pour?
I'm not a regular drinker, sometime don't drink any beer for 3-4 days. At the beginning I'm going to use picnic tap and possible upgrade soon to pluto gun - so I can keep it in the fridge with rest of it. But later planning to upgrade to proper dispensing tap.
Just wonder what is the best solution to keep it in best shape

Alex.mc · Feb 5, 2020

I bought that exact setup and it's great.
I have also bought a 10 litre keg with the same fittings, and use that for smaller batches, as I struggle to get through 19l of the same brew sometimes, not that the beer is bad, just don't want to drink the same beer for 19l straight!
I have bottled from the keg just using the supplied party tap, but you have to turn down the pressure to just enough to flow, otherwise it just foams up with head. A blichmann gun would be a lot better for sure, but it is possible without.

going to keg

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