Mini kegs

[Manngold]

Hi all,

Just a quick question about mini kegs. (I would have used the search function, but find it difficult to navigate on my phone, so sorry if you get this alot :S ).

I am getting more experienced at brewing, but am hating the bottling stage...purely because of how long it is taking me. So am considering using kegs, the only problem is I am slightly limited on space, especially in the fridge department. Would mini kegs be a good idea for investment? If so, would a mini keg like this do the job? http://www.brewuk.co.uk/store/easy-keg. ... wwodlXMA5A

If so, does it just fill up from the top, or do I need anything extra other than a siphon?

If not can anyone recommend anything. Price is not a massive factor, but don't want to be paying through the roof.

Thanks for any advice on this issue.

John

[Belter]

I've never been a fan of minikegs. I had one. Scratched it a bit. It rusted. I couldn't clean it properly and it wasn't stainless.

I've recently bought a 2L growler from MrLard. They're on his twitter but he's out of stock ATM. I know this because I want to buy a load more. They're basically mini Sankey kegs to look at but obviously without the spear etc. just a screw thread on top. They're on his twitter if you look through his pictures. Last I heard he said a couple of weeks. That was a week ago. So hopefully he'll have them in in a week or so.

[roscoe]

I also am not a big fan of mini-kegs when trying to solve the bottling issue for personal drinking.

They are harder to clean (than bottles) and usually it's best to buy new top bungs as they are easily damaged and last thing you want is flat beer. On saying that if there is a party or get to together where the 5L is going to get polished off in a one'er then they are a really neat solution without having to worry about gas/taps or lending out more precious shinny. Even better for 2/3/4 different beers to show off.

The real grolsh bottles nowadays are a let down, very thin glass, green instead of brown, and only 450ml. However, I have now managed to build up a number of the 1L flip tops from german beer places and some from WholeFoods and they are a great size, brown and a very strong looking easy to clean bottle, just not so easy to acquire in the first place. The 1L size is a nice amount of beer for me and it fits in the busy fridge just fine.

I actually finding bottling is okay, beer gun, bench capper screwed to bench, bottle tree, tap bottle blaster. On saying that it takes longer to setup, clean tubes, adjust gas, etc make up fresh santizer all tasks required for bottles or other container, the actually bottling process is quick and much less stressfull.

Glass bottles have been the container of choice for good reason for a long time.

[roscoe]

I've never tried the 1.8L steel growler, these look nice but cost a fortune.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131115395992? ... 1423.l2649

Of course you could ship over a 1000 of these from China, if anyone did I group buy I'd try a few !
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/b ... 5.html?s=p

>>>>>>>>>>>>
I've recently bought a 2L growler from MrLard. They're on his twitter but he's out of stock ATM. I know this because I want to buy a load more. They're basically mini Sankey kegs to look at but obviously without the spear etc. just a screw thread on top. They're on his twitter if you look through his pictures. Last I heard he said a couple of weeks. That was a week ago. So hopefully he'll have them in in a week or so.

[Belter]

I've never tried the 1.8L steel growler, these look nice but cost a fortune.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131115395992? ... 1423.l2649

Of course you could ship over a 1000 of these from China, if anyone did I group buy I'd try a few !
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/b ... 5.html?s=p

>>>>>>>>>>>>
I've recently bought a 2L growler from MrLard. They're on his twitter but he's out of stock ATM. I know this because I want to buy a load more. They're basically mini Sankey kegs to look at but obviously without the spear etc. just a screw thread on top. They're on his twitter if you look through his pictures. Last I heard he said a couple of weeks. That was a week ago. So hopefully he'll have them in in a week or so.

These are what MrLar sells. Only much cheaper!

[DeGarre]

I'm a big fan of mini-casks. I find them a doddle to clean and sanitise. If one can drink 4.5 to 9 pints a day then these are very handy. On a 3rd day the condition suffers somewhat. A gravity dispense - a cask ale experience.

I've avoided to scratch them, only have a few scratches on top around the vent hole so no contact with the beer. When empty, rinse with water until clean, also through the tap, then with the tap out and open put them in a starsan bucket and let them fill up a bit through the tap. Close the bung hole, shake them a bit, store away. Before bottling, empty them, also through the tap and from the top. How difficult is that?

I've used 10 of them during 3 years of brewing and only lost 2 of them when the sealed/pressed bottom egde/rim started leaking. So older ones best to let condition somewhere safe where leaks don't matter.

Some complain about foam. First couple of pints I pour very slowly, tap 1/4 open and glass tilted - no foam.

Only slight problem (not in my case) is that these are not meant for people who like to drink a bottle a day.

[Deebee]

I've never tried the 1.8L steel growler, these look nice but cost a fortune.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131115395992? ... 1423.l2649

Of course you could ship over a 1000 of these from China, if anyone did I group buy I'd try a few !
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/b ... 5.html?s=p

>>>>>>>>>>>>
I've recently bought a 2L growler from MrLard. They're on his twitter but he's out of stock ATM. I know this because I want to buy a load more. They're basically mini Sankey kegs to look at but obviously without the spear etc. just a screw thread on top. They're on his twitter if you look through his pictures. Last I heard he said a couple of weeks. That was a week ago. So hopefully he'll have them in in a week or so.

Now these are very interesting... comes to another question though.... How do you dispense and gas these?

[Belter]

If you're going to a BBQ or something then pour from kegerator and seal. If not then MrLard is soon to be selling growler fillers. Not sure how they'll work as I haven't seen them. I just primed mine as I had about 2l left when I racked my beer into a Cornie

[Deebee]

If you're going to a BBQ or something then pour from kegerator and seal. If not then MrLard is soon to be selling growler fillers. Not sure how they'll work as I haven't seen them. I just primed mine as I had about 2l left when I racked my beer into a Cornie

And dispense by opening and pouring like a normal (oversized ) bottle?

[Belter]

If you're going to a BBQ or something then pour from kegerator and seal. If not then MrLard is soon to be selling growler fillers. Not sure how they'll work as I haven't seen them. I just primed mine as I had about 2l left when I racked my beer into a Cornie

And dispense by opening and pouring like a normal (oversized ) bottle?

very much so

[Manngold]

Thanks guys, lots of great things to think about. I think I will buy at least one to try. Its good to know that you can just prime! Just another quick question, how long does the beer in them last once opened? A day?

[Belter]

Thanks guys, lots of great things to think about. I think I will buy at least one to try. Its good to know that you can just prime! Just another quick question, how long does the beer in them last once opened? A day?

I wouldnt have thought very long. The same as a Minikeg. I'd say if you couldn't drink less than two pints in one sitting then it wouldn't be worth buying one. I haven't got any proven results over priming yet but I'm waiting for a BBQ to take it up and open it.

[WalesAles]

Manngold,
You are looking to buy an empty mini-keg for £5.99.
Why don`t you buy a full one from Tesco, Asda, Co-op for £10 - 12, drink the contents then refill the keg with your beer?
New seals and caps are readily available on the www. if you need them!
WA

[Manngold]

WA, I have never seen one that cheap in my local. Will have a look at the weekend!!

[Maysie]

I can totally understand how some people find bottling a chore, but personally I find it really therapeutic and a really satisfying way of 'presenting' the finished beer. I am quite fortunate to have plenty of storage space for the crates/bottles/bottle tree etc, so have built up a nice stash of options now.
I like the ability to give a few bottles away to friends and family to try different brews. I might try the mini-keg and barrel option soon though to see if I like it. Will be interested to here how you get on.