First 5 gallon AG! How to serve???

[chrisbooth0070]

Hello all

Not been very active on here for a while. Switched over to all grain brewing a while back, but only got chance to make 1 mini batch. I've been waiting until I could afford to buy a boiler with thermostat before attempting a full batch. 2 week skiing holiday has meant that this has taken a while to be able to afford

Anyway this is what I brewed on 05/04/07:-

Arcener Stout

Batch Size: 23.00 L
Boil Time: 90 min
Actual Efficiency: 70.5 %

Ingredients
4800.00 gm Pale Malt, Maris Otter
1500.00 gm Munich Malt
385.00 gm Chocolate Malt
20.00 gm Northern Brewer [8.50%] (90 min)
20.00 gm Hallertauer [4.80%] (90 min)

Measured Original Gravity: 1.064 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.018 SG

Bitterness: 26.8 IBU
Color: 55.8 EBC


This is going to be put into corney in approx another 2 weeks.

Now I have a couple of questions though:-

1) I am going to use mixed gas due to it being a stout. What pressure would be suitable considering the keg will be stored at room temperature? (Damn I need a fridge just dont have the room)

2) I have read that creamer nozzles are best when delivering stouts. Where are these available from? I bought my keg off norman, so I have the tap with the adjustable flow rate and plastic down spout. (and a very nice tap it is, thanks norm) Would it be possible to fit one to this, or am i looking at buying a different tap.

Thanks people.

Chris

[chrisbooth0070]

Hi Daab

Yes, there is a flow control valve on my tap, so no need to reduce pressure. Very useful! Will check out the bargain basement. Should propbably have done that before asking. Hopefully not another large expense

Am I right in thinking that mixed gas is usually used at a higher pressure than co2? No idea what pressure I used on my last corney brew. I have no gauge so just turn it up until it tastes right, adjusting flow valve at same time to avoid foaming.

Thanks

Chris

[vaudy]

When dealing with pressure, we have to take into account that the relatively small increase has a drastic affect to the total force that is being excerted on the barrel.

Example:
I have a 20" square vessel manufactured from stainless steel, normal operating pressure 10psi
The total force being excerted on just one side 20x20x10 = 4000 lbs.

therefore an increase of just 2 psi would excert a further 800 lbs.

The same princliple applies to what ever shape of barrel, its just that the maths is harder to calculate.

For this reason with regard to safety it is very important to ensure if with have a permanent line feeding the barrels via a regulator that safety valves are in good working order and capable of dispensing any excessive pressure in a safe manner - thus ensuring that our beer is not blasted around the room housing the vessel.

It does not matter if the gas is pure or mixed, what is important is not exceeding the safe operating pressure of any equipment.

Trust this will be of interest

Regards
Vaudy

[chrisbooth0070]

Still waiting for my mate to sort me out with the gas. The brew is still sitting in primary Does anybody think there will be off flavours from sitting on top of the sediment for so long?

Chris

[Northern Brewer]

Still waiting for my mate to sort me out with the gas.

You have 2 gas suppliers on your doorstep. Mixed gas is about £1 dearer.

Boss Gas Ltd
25 Empress Mill Industrial Estate, Anderton Street, Wigan, WN2 2BG
Phone 01942 491713
7kg/ 15lb co2 bottle £8.50 plus £10 deposit/return
No credit cards, cash only

Gas Cylinders LTD in Haydock
340 Haydock Lane Haydock Industrial Estate St. Helens Merseyside WA11 9UY
Free phone 0800 195 1313
£15 Deposit
£7.50 Refill
No credit cards, cash only

[chrisbooth0070]

Thanks guys.

Sorry for the late reply my computer broke and now I am on a borrowed one whilst I build my new one.

Got my bottle tonight. Now I need an adaptor for my CO2 regulator so will be looking through the welding equipment at my dads yard tomorrow.

How long will it take to be able to serve if left at room temp with mixed gas connected? I hear it takes longer than CO2.

Does the beer condition when it is not under pressure, or very little pressure? I purged with CO2 and added a few extra squirts.

Chris

[steve_flack]

You CANNOT attach a mixed gas cylinder to a CO2 regulator. The pressures in a mixed gas cylinder are much higher in a mixed gas bottle. You need a special reg for it.

We don't want you to lose body parts now do we?

EDIT: BTW, just because Guinness uses mixed gas there's no reason you have to with a stout. CO2 works perfectly well - in fact you might even taste the beer.

[oblivious]

Just my opinion is that you loss a little of the roasted malt flavor and edge with mixed gas, a pint bottle of Guinness off the shelf is much superior to draught.

[Exextractor]

Agree with Oblivious, bottled stout has a nice creamy brown head, okay only a few mm thick; can't see how blasting industrial gases through it would have made it taste any better, imho.

[chrisbooth0070]

I don't even know if what I have is a CO2 regulator. It was free off some welding gear Might have to play it safe and get a new regulator then.