My 10th Anniversary Brew

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Jim
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:04 am

Dave, yes normal pressure barrel with modified cap. There's a thread on it somewhere but I'll post some more pics when I get home.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Dave S » Thu Oct 16, 2014 11:34 am

Great thanks, Jim. I've looked for that thread but haven't as yet found it. If anyone knows where it is I'd appreciate a link.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by sladeywadey » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:13 pm

Jim, when you pour the priming solution into the barrel, do you never get any oxidation?

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:29 pm

sladeywadey wrote:Jim, when you pour the priming solution into the barrel, do you never get any oxidation?
Not sure what you mean. I prime with granulated sugar - 2oz to the 5 gallon barrel; oxidation isn't a problem as anything that does get in is cleaned out by the yeast.

If you mean is there a chance of oxidation when transferring a beer which has already been primed and carbonated to another barrel (as I did for this one due to the leak) the answer is yes there's a danger, but it didn't happen this time (I was careful to use closed tubing for the transfer though).
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:36 pm

As promised, here are some photos of the serving set up with the cask breather.

Gas connection shown with the direct gas line from the secondary reg connected; this is the position to recharge the keg with CO2 following a session - when serving, the clear gas line from the cask breather (top left) will be connected instead. Ignore the fact there's a tee junction used - I just ran out of straight connectors and had to use that and blank off the other end).
Image

Here is the beer line connection....
Image

...and finally the beer engine itself.
Image


EDIT: and here's a link to the thread detailing the mods to the barrel cap to take a cornie disconnect - viewtopic.php?f=6&t=56224
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by sladeywadey » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:09 pm

Jim wrote:
sladeywadey wrote:Jim, when you pour the priming solution into the barrel, do you never get any oxidation?
Not sure what you mean. I prime with granulated sugar - 2oz to the 5 gallon barrel; oxidation isn't a problem as anything that does get in is cleaned out by the yeast.

If you mean is there a chance of oxidation when transferring a beer which has already been primed and carbonated to another barrel (as I did for this one due to the leak) the answer is yes there's a danger, but it didn't happen this time (I was careful to use closed tubing for the transfer though).
Hi Jim - in your photo above it shows you pouring in the priming solution into the barrel whilst stirring. I just wondered if this causes any oxidation due to splashing etc?

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:33 pm

sladeywadey wrote:
Jim wrote:
sladeywadey wrote:Jim, when you pour the priming solution into the barrel, do you never get any oxidation?
Not sure what you mean. I prime with granulated sugar - 2oz to the 5 gallon barrel; oxidation isn't a problem as anything that does get in is cleaned out by the yeast.

If you mean is there a chance of oxidation when transferring a beer which has already been primed and carbonated to another barrel (as I did for this one due to the leak) the answer is yes there's a danger, but it didn't happen this time (I was careful to use closed tubing for the transfer though).
Hi Jim - in your photo above it shows you pouring in the priming solution into the barrel whilst stirring. I just wondered if this causes any oxidation due to splashing etc?
Never had a problem yet. The priming sugar is dissolved in boiling water, which tends to drive off any oxygen in any case.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 2:36 pm

Incidentally, I've just realised that in the photos above it looks as though the second grey disconnect is plugged into the side of the barrel - just in case that misleads anyone, it isn't; it's just resting against the side.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by seymour » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:05 pm

Jim wrote:...and finally the beer engine itself.
Image
Will you look at that?! Fresh brew drawn from a beer engine, just a quick reach through that door there. Jealous!

Looks like someone knows how to enjoy his retirement. :)

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Dave S » Thu Oct 16, 2014 3:45 pm

Jim wrote:Incidentally, I've just realised that in the photos above it looks as though the second grey disconnect is plugged into the side of the barrel - just in case that misleads anyone, it isn't; it's just resting against the side.
Yes, I see how that works - except I was envisaging having the breather directly after the secondary CO2 reg to give a constant blanket of of CO2 at 37 mBars of pressure over the beer. Have you done it that way in order to force carb during conditioning? Also, I'm guessing there is a non-return valve in the keg top to allow the interchange.
Best wishes

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:00 pm

Dave S wrote:
Jim wrote:Incidentally, I've just realised that in the photos above it looks as though the second grey disconnect is plugged into the side of the barrel - just in case that misleads anyone, it isn't; it's just resting against the side.
Yes, I see how that works - except I was envisaging having the breather directly after the secondary CO2 reg to give a constant blanket of of CO2 at 37 mBars of pressure over the beer. Have you done it that way in order to force carb during conditioning? Also, I'm guessing there is a non-return valve in the keg top to allow the interchange.
Dave, the cask breather vents the cask to near enough atmospheric pressure as soon as it's connected. As there is no one-way valve of any sort, if left like that between sessions the beer would go completely flat - recharging from the regulator just allows the keg to be back at normal pressure (6 or 7 psi) without requiring CO2 to come out of the beer to provide it.

My theory is that it will help maintain the condition for longer. I doubt if there's much (if any) force carbing happening at those sort of pressures.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Dave S » Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:06 pm

Jim wrote:
Dave S wrote:
Jim wrote:Incidentally, I've just realised that in the photos above it looks as though the second grey disconnect is plugged into the side of the barrel - just in case that misleads anyone, it isn't; it's just resting against the side.
Yes, I see how that works - except I was envisaging having the breather directly after the secondary CO2 reg to give a constant blanket of of CO2 at 37 mBars of pressure over the beer. Have you done it that way in order to force carb during conditioning? Also, I'm guessing there is a non-return valve in the keg top to allow the interchange.
Dave, the cask breather vents the cask to near enough atmospheric pressure as soon as it's connected. As there is no one-way valve of any sort, if left like that between sessions the beer would go completely flat - recharging from the regulator just allows the keg to be back at normal pressure (6 or 7 psi) without requiring CO2 to come out of the beer to provide it.

My theory is that it will help maintain the condition for longer. I doubt if there's much (if any) force carbing happening at those sort of pressures.
So the beer is open to the air, albeit it a very brief period during the swap over to the breather? Sorry for the what must seem like dumb questions - a completely new area of consideration to me.
Best wishes

Dave

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 4:32 pm

Dave S wrote:..........So the beer is open to the air, albeit it a very brief period during the swap over to the breather? Sorry for the what must seem like dumb questions - a completely new area of consideration to me.
No, the quick disconnects maintain a seal during the change-over. Air never enters the cask, but CO2 leaves during venting and is replenished during charging.
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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Dave S » Thu Oct 16, 2014 5:24 pm

Jim wrote:
Dave S wrote:..........So the beer is open to the air, albeit it a very brief period during the swap over to the breather? Sorry for the what must seem like dumb questions - a completely new area of consideration to me.
No, the quick disconnects maintain a seal during the change-over. Air never enters the cask, but CO2 leaves during venting and is replenished during charging.
Right, got it! Am I right in thinking though that some folk have the breather in series with the main gas line, so there is only ever 37 mBars, (or whatever) applied to the beer, just enough pressure to serve.
Best wishes

Dave

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Re: My 10th Anniversary Brew

Post by Jim » Thu Oct 16, 2014 5:46 pm

seymour wrote:........Looks like someone knows how to enjoy his retirement. :)
:mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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