evanvine
Landlord.
A MILK crate! :shock:
Why not a custom built thrall? :wha:
You've already shown your carpentry skills. :whistle:
Why not a custom built thrall? :wha:
You've already shown your carpentry skills. :whistle:
Baz's Kegerator Build
- Thread starter phettebs
- Start date
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phettebs
Landlord.
I considered that actually and I may still do it. But I have multiple milk crates sitting around because I use them to haul full carboys. Easy enough to use one for this purpose.
evanvine
Landlord.
Just shown Bill your thread Barry, he's absolutely fascinated!
phettebs
Landlord.
I finally took the beer engine out on her maiden voyage on Sunday. I did not get any pics of it. Due to an extremely busy work week, I have not had another pint since then. Until now. I've pulled two pints tonight: one with sparkler and one without. Pics follow. This is Courage Directors from GW's book. The beer is fairly dark because I followed his instruction of a small amount of black malt for colour. I don't think that's necessary and will not do it again. Also, I bittered with Target and I find it a bit much for a bitter. I will change that up the next time I brew this beer again.
With sparkler:
Without sparkler:
I'm probably opening myself up to flaming but I prefer without the sparkler. Visually, the "sparkled" beer looks exactly like what I expect a Yank beer to look like. However, the taste seems muted and missing. It's like something has gone into the head of the beer and been removed from the body.
The non-sparkler beer has a different flavour and is a bit more lively. Now, to be completely clear, both are extremely acceptable pints and I would not return either of them. Also this is just the first polypin through the engine. This is going to take much more careful study and sampling for me to form a truly educated opinion! :drink:
With sparkler:
Without sparkler:
I'm probably opening myself up to flaming but I prefer without the sparkler. Visually, the "sparkled" beer looks exactly like what I expect a Yank beer to look like. However, the taste seems muted and missing. It's like something has gone into the head of the beer and been removed from the body.
The non-sparkler beer has a different flavour and is a bit more lively. Now, to be completely clear, both are extremely acceptable pints and I would not return either of them. Also this is just the first polypin through the engine. This is going to take much more careful study and sampling for me to form a truly educated opinion! :drink:
evanvine
Landlord.
I was privileged to be able to watch these first pints on a video link.
Barry really was over the moon.
It quite surprised me when he said he preferred it flat!
Hand pulls are quite rare in the states, when one does come along it is very expensive.
Here's to many more pints Barry. :
Barry really was over the moon.
It quite surprised me when he said he preferred it flat!
Hand pulls are quite rare in the states, when one does come along it is very expensive.
Here's to many more pints Barry. :
phettebs
Landlord.
Jim,
The privilege was all mine. This would not have been possible without you. Thanks again mate! :
The privilege was all mine. This would not have been possible without you. Thanks again mate! :
graysalchemy
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 19
ABOUT BLOODY TIME TOO, I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALL WEEK :lol: :lol:
Wow they look good !!!
I personally would have to go with the sparkler being from up Norf, but to be fair the French beer looks goods as well and I would actually drink that quite happily, it isn't as flat as pints i have had served when I have been darn Sarf. :thumb: :thumb:
Wow they look good !!!
I personally would have to go with the sparkler being from up Norf, but to be fair the French beer looks goods as well and I would actually drink that quite happily, it isn't as flat as pints i have had served when I have been darn Sarf. :thumb: :thumb:
Vossy1
Landlord.
Tidy work Barry and well done Jim :party: 
Re getting kegs in and out of the freezer, mounting castors with brakes on the corners of the freezer would allow you to move the freezer to get kegs in, then, if you have the clearance at the front you could mount the lid so it opens forward. Alternatively you could mount the lid on one side if you have the 'head room' for the lid....just ideas.
Re the beer, there is good reason for the difference in the beer and the way it's served, sparkler v non sparkler...I can't remember where I read it, but it's something along the lines of... sparkled beer has a smoother/creamier mouth taste due to smaller C02 bubbles in solution, and less C02 (they get knocked out/decreased in size by the turbulence and pressure at the sparkler head) and a less intense hop taste but increased hop aroma initially. The hop aroma and taste side of thing is due to volatile oils and other compounds being 'knocked out' of the beer into the head, which is also why the head may have a more deeply perceived bitterness than the rest of the pint. Naturally, non sparkled has non of these factors and can appear 'fresher' than a sparkled pint. You have to remember you are not serving like for like, non sparkled will have a much higher carbonation level than sparkled and again IIRC trials showed the presence of more C02 both detracted from certain aspects and increased others.
Personally, I think there's only one way to serve through a beer engine and that's the way you like it...me, I prefer sparkled as apart from the taste side of things, minimising C02 content minimises the size my belly bloats to :lol:
I'll try and find the source of those comments but don't hold your breath
Re getting kegs in and out of the freezer, mounting castors with brakes on the corners of the freezer would allow you to move the freezer to get kegs in, then, if you have the clearance at the front you could mount the lid so it opens forward. Alternatively you could mount the lid on one side if you have the 'head room' for the lid....just ideas.
Re the beer, there is good reason for the difference in the beer and the way it's served, sparkler v non sparkler...I can't remember where I read it, but it's something along the lines of... sparkled beer has a smoother/creamier mouth taste due to smaller C02 bubbles in solution, and less C02 (they get knocked out/decreased in size by the turbulence and pressure at the sparkler head) and a less intense hop taste but increased hop aroma initially. The hop aroma and taste side of thing is due to volatile oils and other compounds being 'knocked out' of the beer into the head, which is also why the head may have a more deeply perceived bitterness than the rest of the pint. Naturally, non sparkled has non of these factors and can appear 'fresher' than a sparkled pint. You have to remember you are not serving like for like, non sparkled will have a much higher carbonation level than sparkled and again IIRC trials showed the presence of more C02 both detracted from certain aspects and increased others.
Personally, I think there's only one way to serve through a beer engine and that's the way you like it...me, I prefer sparkled as apart from the taste side of things, minimising C02 content minimises the size my belly bloats to :lol:
I'll try and find the source of those comments but don't hold your breath
phettebs
Landlord.
Thanks everyone. I'm certain I will get lots of enjoyment from this build.
@Alistair, I'm glad I could finally bring your week to proper closure!
@Alistair, I'm glad I could finally bring your week to proper closure!
dennisking
Regular.
Nice one Barry, consider yourself an honorary southerner. :
GAZ9053
Well-Known Member
Courage Directors always without the sparkler, only beer I would want without though.
boab42stout
Regular.
Great keezer build there hope you get it up and running soon and you can have a nice cold pint :
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