purging kegs with CO2

[mb]

can someone explain to me why the orthodoxy on filling a cornie involves initially purging the keg with CO2? what's the difference between filling a cornie and filling a plastic barrel in this respect (other than you can do it more easily with a cornie)?

i've filled several cornies now without purging with no apparent ill effects. my method is: add priming sugar solution to cornie, fill from fermenter via a tube that reaches the bottom of the cornie thereby minimising splashing, put the lid on and give it a good blast of CO2 to seal, release this (which i'm assuming blows off any O2) and then give it another blast. i've kept beer for 3-4 months - with the odd top up of CO2 - and not noticed any oxidization.

why don't i fill the keg with CO2 first? i've got a widget world set up and i'm being tight with the gas.

of course, if it ain't broke don't fix it, but i have this nagging sense that i ought to purge the keg.

[mb]

ah, so it seems to be more of an issue of you're force carbonating than using natural keg conditioning (although, as i don't drink a keg quick enough i'm doing a kind of hybrid of initial conditioning from priming sugar and subsequent maintenance of condition with CO2). interesting. ta.

[delboy]

I do it if i remember but i don't get hung up on it, having a hose that goes right to the bottom of the cornie/keg is key though.

[BarnsleyBrewer]

can someone explain to me why the orthodoxy on filling a cornie involves initially purging the keg with CO2? what's the difference between filling a cornie and filling a plastic barrel in this respect (other than you can do it more easily with a cornie)?

i've filled several cornies now without purging with no apparent ill effects. my method is: add priming sugar solution to cornie, fill from fermenter via a tube that reaches the bottom of the cornie thereby minimising splashing, put the lid on and give it a good blast of CO2 to seal, release this (which i'm assuming blows off any O2) and then give it another blast. i've kept beer for 3-4 months - with the odd top up of CO2 - and not noticed any oxidization.

Prime corney with sugar? Should I be doing this?? I just add gas, purge then gas up again!

John

[mb]

Prime corney with sugar? Should I be doing this?? I just add gas, purge then gas up again!

you don't have to. i'm naturally conditioning, not force carbonating, because i don't have pub gas. just 2 different methods of getting condition into the beer.