Cornelius Keg Conditioning

[Smileyr8]

I am just about getting sick of this...

Finding the last 5-10 pints are the best...

Basically I am fermenting in the primary for 2 weeks, then racking to the corny kegs & force carbing and leaving for a further 2 weeks in fridge or close by (4 weeks all told), then I will usually try half a pint to see what we have (usually its drinkable), I will usually increase the regularity of drinking this beer/keg as others run dry until I find the beer at its very best for the last 5-10 pints.

I am just wondering what others do, I am thinking of buying more kegs (I already have 4) in order to carb & the sit at house temperature for 2/4 weeks ala bottle conditioning.

OK rant over just kean to hear how others do it...........

 

[Godsdog]

I run 3 cornies and 2 kks and run them all through a flash chiller as and when required,never a problem with the quality of the beer and head retention,although ale does indeed improve with age and usually when I connect to the chiller the ale has matured up to at least 8 weeks

 

[MyQul]

I found the same so I bought more mini kegs and have started to brew more frequently, so I have a larger stock level which gets conditioned longer

 

[Smileyr8]

OK I am thinking more Cornie's are required, and brewing a little more frequently until the kegs are full.....

 

[glynb]

I also rack straight to a corny. I leave it to mature for about two weeks and then I drink it.

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about racking to a secondary before kegging? Does it really make a difference?

 

[Smileyr8]

I also rack straight to a corny. I leave it to mature for about two weeks and then I drink it.

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about racking to a secondary before kegging? Does it really make a difference?

Glynn are you also finding the last 5-10 pints are the best?

 

[mike77]

At the moment I prime my kegs with sugar. I don't find that you need to leave them anywhere near 2 weeks. I tend to leave mine at room temp for a week then put them in the fridge. Secondary fermentation is probably complete in 2 or 3 days.

 

[Godsdog]

I also rack straight to a corny. I leave it to mature for about two weeks and then I drink it.

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion about racking to a secondary before kegging? Does it really make a difference?

Never,no need IMO get it in the keg without faffing about and inviting infection

 

[glynb]

Glynn are you also finding the last 5-10 pints are the best?

It seems to be consistent from start to finish with mine but I can't really say I've noticed to be honest. Maybe the extra week or two maturing does the trick?

 

[MyQul]

It seems to be consistent from start to finish with mine but I can't really say I've noticed to be honest. Maybe the extra week or two maturing does the trick?

Maybe you just drink it too fast before it gets a chance to condition much?

 

[glynb]

Lol, that's exactly right MyQul.

 

[dweb]

I`ve never put sugar in my cornie.I usually leave them for 2 weeks before I try 1 but last week I kegged on Thursday evening,force carbed and drank 5 pints on Friday night and it was excellent.

 

[Smileyr8]

I`ve never put sugar in my cornie.I usually leave them for 2 weeks before I try 1 but last week I kegged on Thursday evening,force carbed and drank 5 pints on Friday night and it was excellent.

I have never drunk any of the kegged beers that young, I usually leave for 2 weeks give or take a day or 2, I find only my Pale Ale's taste anywhere near as good as I would like at that age, maybe it's the malt in the darker ales that need time to condition out.

 

[BeerCat]

So once you have purged the air from the keg can you disconnect it and leave it somewhere for a few weeks?

 

[Smileyr8]

So once you have purged the air from the keg can you disconnect it and leave it somewhere for a few weeks?

Yes you could do that, I run 4 kegs, usually 3 with beer in & in the kegarator, and the latest fill sat outside the kegarator and occasionally add the CO2 to keep the pressures up.

 

[Cqr]

A question to you corny owners
Do you get sediment coming in your beer glass ??
I bottle at the moment, so this have been a silly question

 

[Smileyr8]

A question to you corny owners
Do you get sediment coming in your beer glass ??
I bottle at the moment, so this have been a silly question

The first 1/2 to Pint out can be a little cloudy, but considering this is also used to flush the pipes, its no great loss.

 

[dan125]

The first 1/2 to Pint out can be a little cloudy, but considering this is also used to flush the pipes, its no great loss.

I find the last little bit out can also be cloudy - very annoying if you've already poured 3/4 pint before this happens

 

[Smileyr8]

I find the last little bit out can also be cloudy - very annoying if you've already poured 3/4 pint before this happens

Usually for me the last drink is clear but never the less annoying...

 

[dan125]

Usually for me the last drink is clear but never the less annoying...

I must get more yeast left in the corny than you - its like a little bit of the sediment gets dragged through with the last mouthful of beer.