Do you use pressure barrels or bottles for your home-brewed BEER?

[kelper]

Do you use pressure barrels or bottles for your home-brewed BEER? Or both?

I really appreciate all the members who voted. It's a lot. I hope the results are interesting?

 

[bluehomebrew]

Does it genuinely taste better if it is bottled? I’m curious to know, I’ve only made one home brew before and I did it in a pressure barrel. If it is worth it, I will use bottles for my next brew.

 

[kelper]

Try half and half so you can compare directly.

 

[CD]

Depends whether you prefer beer or gas!

 

[Drunkula]

Bottles and kegs, but not pressure barrels, the ones you need gas for. In this day and age I can't believe how incredibly unreliable pressure barrels are. Not many products are 50% unusable straight from the manufacturer and cause the destruction of their intention.

It's like buying jam jams where half of the lids have holes drilled for wasps to get in.

 

[Shominy]

Bottles and kegs, but not pressure barrels, the ones you need gas for. In this day and age I can't believe how incredibly unreliable pressure barrels are. Not many products are 50% unusable straight from the manufacturer and cause the destruction of their intention.

It's like buying jam jams where half of the lids have holes drilled for wasps to get in.

I second this. I have only just started brewing again after a hiatus and purchased a King Keg which turned out to be useless. It seemed like it had no leaks but somehow the beer that was stored in it was ruined. The bottles from the same batch tasted infinitely better. As much as I would like to have the ease of using a PB without needing to get a gas cylinder and all the associated fixings that come with a corny keg I don't think I'll take the chance again and will continue to bottle until I brew so much that it becomes a burden at which point I'll have to source some cornies and a gas supplier.

 

[Bobtheblob]

I'd love to be able to buy a pressure barrel that just works as it should from the outset. I'm put off with all the unreliability I hear about.

 

[bluehomebrew]

Try half and half so you can compare directly.

That’s a good idea! Will give that a go on my next brew!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Everything goes in a King Keg unless it needs higher carbonation (lager, cider) or has to be sent through the post (competitions, bottle swaps).

For me the beer from a King Keg is superior to that from a bottle.

 

[kelper]

For me the beer from a King Keg is superior to that from a bottle.

What makes it better do you think?

 

[user 18729]

Sankey kegs and then a few litres in bottles or cans (absolute brewing tart)

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

What makes it better do you think?

It’s probably the carbonation level and the way the beer comes through the tap forming a nice head. Maybe also the volume of beer in the keg makes a difference?

 

[kelper]

I carb up to 15psi and drop back to ten while dispensing. I get a lot of head but it settles quickly and I like the look of it. My wives both said, 'I wish you'd look at me like that!'

 

[PanchoSimon]

I've just finished my first ever brew, a Coopers stout and its turned out superb! I bought a balliihoo king keg and really pleased with it. It comes with a schrader valve fitted to the lid and also comes with a pressure gauge to check its holding pressure they even thinly coated the seal.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I get a lot of head

Too much information

 

[The Cat]

I decided to remain using bottles this week after reading opinions on here - seems more reliable for one.

 

[kelper]

I've just finished my first ever brew, a Coopers stout and its turned out superb! I bought a balliihoo king keg and really pleased with it. It comes with a schrader valve fitted to the lid and also comes with a pressure gauge to check its holding pressure they even thinly coated the seal.

That is a KingKeg!

 

[Buffers brewery]

I have 3 King Kegs. All gave me problems with reliability etc. I dumped the plastic cap and HB valve and replaced with my own design of cap. So far so good. Don’t brew beers needing high carbonation so keep my barrel pressure no higher than 10 psi so barrel shell is not stressed. I bottle 3-4 bottles per brew for the library.

 

[PanchoSimon]

I decided to remain using bottles this week after reading opinions on here - seems more reliable for one.

Yeah, with a modified lid and different shape seal.

 

[PanchoSimon]

Too much information

I don't work for them.. Honest!