Best solution
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- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Amay, Belgium
Best solution
All,
I'm getting back into brewing more seriously after leaving it to one side for a while.
One of the things that I disliked before was bottling - seemed to take ages to put the beer into bottles only to open them and empty them down my throat.
SO I've decided to change the way I do things and want to find a good, cost effective way of storing 3 - 5 litres in a small barrel/keg/pressurized container that I can stick in a normal family fridge and then serve from - I have a beer engine and cornies already but I'm looking for something that I can carry to a friend's house and let him share in my wonderful beer
I've seen the minikegs that Brouwland (my local store) does but is there a better alternative in the UK?
thanks,
Paul
I'm getting back into brewing more seriously after leaving it to one side for a while.
One of the things that I disliked before was bottling - seemed to take ages to put the beer into bottles only to open them and empty them down my throat.
SO I've decided to change the way I do things and want to find a good, cost effective way of storing 3 - 5 litres in a small barrel/keg/pressurized container that I can stick in a normal family fridge and then serve from - I have a beer engine and cornies already but I'm looking for something that I can carry to a friend's house and let him share in my wonderful beer
I've seen the minikegs that Brouwland (my local store) does but is there a better alternative in the UK?
thanks,
Paul
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
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- Even further under the Table
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Re: Best solution
The 5L minikegs are what most use, but there are also 2L Growlers. I have no experience of those but there a re a number of people who use them. I think the Malt Miller sells them. Not sure about availability in Belgium.
Best wishes
Dave
Dave
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- Hollow Legs
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Re: Best solution
I have one of these. It's OK, but I plan on replacing with cornies some time soon.
http://www.wilko.com/homebrew-accessori ... vt/0428800
http://www.wilko.com/homebrew-accessori ... vt/0428800
Re: Best solution
Have you considered polypins?
They come in various sizes and you can get connections to allow to use a beer engine, which prevents oxidation as well.
They come in various sizes, from 1 litre to 5 litres, but there is nothing to stop you from putting just 2 or 3 litres in a 5 litre container.
I have "disposal" ones but they are easy to clean and re-use.
They come in various sizes and you can get connections to allow to use a beer engine, which prevents oxidation as well.
They come in various sizes, from 1 litre to 5 litres, but there is nothing to stop you from putting just 2 or 3 litres in a 5 litre container.
I have "disposal" ones but they are easy to clean and re-use.
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- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Amay, Belgium
Re: Best solution
Can you force carbonate or referment in them?gobuchul wrote:Have you considered polypins?
I'd like to find a solution that will allow me to serve fizzy(ish) beer - over here in Belgium I get fed up of people saying that British beer is flat and served warm and want to show them what we brew is on a par with Belgian stuff.
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
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- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Amay, Belgium
Re: Best solution
I'm starting to lean towards the idea of 5l minikegs. The growlers would be nice but the initial cost would be quite high.Dave S wrote:The 5L minikegs are what most use, but there are also 2L Growlers. I have no experience of those but there a re a number of people who use them. I think the Malt Miller sells them. Not sure about availability in Belgium.
I'm looking at putting 30 - 40 litres into kegs each brew so that I can get as much feedback on my beers as possible from friends and acquaintances.
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Re: Best solution
You can't force carbonate in them.Can you force carbonate or referment in them?
You can prime with sugar for secondary conditioning to give a bit of fizz but it will never be "fizzy", although an English ale shouldn't be.
I prime mine with sugar and then gently vent the CO2 off as it expands the bag. It then goes through a beer engine and I am very happy with it. Quite cheap as well.
I use a "vitop" connector for the beer line. http://www.baginboxonline.co.uk/vitopconnectors.html
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- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Amay, Belgium
Re: Best solution
Might check it out.gobuchul wrote:You can't force carbonate in them.Can you force carbonate or referment in them?
You can prime with sugar for secondary conditioning to give a bit of fizz but it will never be "fizzy", although an English ale shouldn't be.
I prime mine with sugar and then gently vent the CO2 off as it expands the bag. It then goes through a beer engine and I am very happy with it. Quite cheap as well.
I use a "vitop" connector for the beer line. http://www.baginboxonline.co.uk/vitopconnectors.html
Have to say that I will probably be doing more continental styles but could be a good alternative.
I did come across this site however which sells the 5L mini kegs at 10 for 38 euros or so - might have to go down that route finally.
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Re: Best solution
You can buy 1 gallon plastic pressure barrels, the alternative is to use mini kegs but carbonate the beer in a corner first and then decant into the mini kegs just before taking them out.
My Ridleys' Brewery Blog:
http://www.theessexbrewer.wordpress.com
http://www.theessexbrewer.wordpress.com
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- Piss Artist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Amay, Belgium
Re: Best solution
Anyone sell them online?Kyle_T wrote:You can buy 1 gallon plastic pressure barrels, the alternative is to use mini kegs but carbonate the beer in a corner first and then decant into the mini kegs just before taking them out.
Drinking: Corny 1 - some beer
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Corny 2 - some more beer
Bottled - a few different beers
Planning: TC
Elderberry wine
Re: Best solution
I have found the 2 gallon ones easy enough but buggered if I can remember where I found the 1 gallon ones...it took a fair bit of searching.
My Ridleys' Brewery Blog:
http://www.theessexbrewer.wordpress.com
http://www.theessexbrewer.wordpress.com