Using Polypins. Where to get them from and how to carbonate?

[Simonh82]

I'm brewing a beer for my sisters wedding. Likely to be a hoppy pale ale. I was going to bottle it but I wonder if using a polypin would be easier.

I've never used polypins before but I know you can buy beer in them from a few breweries. Does anyone know where to get them from?

Assuming I can get one, how do you carbonate the beer? Can you add priming sugar/sugar solution directly to the container? How much should I use? I wouldn't want to lose 40 pints due to the whole thing popping.

Would this be suitable, or is I too flimsy? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002SLEN4I/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_zyyuxbP0349F8

I've found one on the home brew shop but it is £20 with delivery! http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/20_ltr_Cubitainer_Polypin.html

 

[gl0ckage]

You tried just buying 1 plastic barrel for £30 from breweryplastics? They do pins and firkin for £30 unsure if it needs VAT adding onto the prices.

Where abouts are you based?

 

[simon12]

From the links I assume you are looking for the bag in box type not a plastic pin cask like this http://www.breweryplastics.biz/index.php/products/pin/ . If so the answer is you only prime them a tiny amount and if they look like they could burst release some pressure. Here is a much cheaper supplier of them in many sizes http://www.pubshop.co.uk/catalog/polypins-c-23_379.html?osCsid=9uo96fgs97vpiini3s3dgic212 . I imagine the thing in the amazon link would hold similar pressure to the bag in box and would suggest a pressure barrel as a better option.

 

[MyQul]

That a coincedence I was going to post about polypins as I was looking at them yeasterday eve. Now I've never used polyping but to me they seem almost the same as a (mini) keg. You can get them in different sizes including not just 20L. You could just batch prime or pour suger into however you fill them then rack the beer onto/into it/them I think
They seem to go by different names. On geterbrewed they're called bag in a box or vinotainer

http://www.geterbrewed.com/?subcats...h=all&q=bag+in+a+box&dispatch=products.search

 

[Dads_Ale]

They are essentially designed to put already carbonated beer in. Usually the beer needs to be drunk within a few days from filling.
Some bag-in-a-box containers have two layers with the first being gas permeable, this means during fermentation the gas gets between the layers and yo can't purge as the bag gets bigger and bigger.
Must say I couldn't get on with them.
People do use them for homebrew, often in conjunction with a beer engine, but they tend to be low carbed beers.

Personally if the beer is for a wedding I would play safe and bottle it.

 

[MyQul]

They are essentially designed to put already carbonated beer in. Usually the beer needs to be drunk within a few days from filling.
Some bag-in-a-box containers have two layers with the first being gas permeable, this means during fermentation the gas gets between the layers and yo can't purge as the bag gets bigger and bigger.
Must say I couldn't get on with them.
People do use them for homebrew, often in conjunction with a beer engine, but they tend to be low carbed beers.

Personally if the beer is for a wedding I would play safe and bottle it.

Thats interesting I thought you carbed the beer up in the PP like a keg

 

[Dads_Ale]

Thats interesting I thought you carbed the beer up in the PP like a keg

They can expand quite dramatically. No idea what pressure they will take before they split or the tap blows out.

 

[MyQul]

They can expand quite dramatically. No idea what pressure they will take before they split or the tap blows out.

:shock: Think I'll stick to mini kegs. I know what I'm doing with them

 

[Simonh82]

I'd quite like a pressure barrel but I've got no space at home and the addition of any more home brew equipment would probably find me and my kit out on the doorstep!

A polypin could be folded up and packed away.

I think the kind of thing I was thinking of was something like the one at the top of this thread.

 

[trueblue]

I've been using them for a little while now and really like them as I am a real ale lover so when you find the priming level that suits you can can get it just right. Put polypins in the forum search engine there are several good posts, this one is good http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44087

 

[Simonh82]

I've been using them for a little while now and really like them as I am a real ale lover so when you find the priming level that suits you can can get it just right. Put polypins in the forum search engine there are several good posts, this one is good http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44087

Where did you get yours from and how much do you prime with?

 

[trueblue]

I prime around 70gms in a 20lt pin.
I buy them from my local brew shop but they are available here http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/20_ltr_Cubitainer_Polypin.html

Also seen them on Amazon.