"Real Ale" style dispense - new regulator?

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PeeBee
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"Real Ale" style dispense - new regulator?

Post by PeeBee » Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:04 pm

Established forum users probably already know of my preference of using variable LPG regulators over "breathers" for dispensing "Real Ale" style home brew (emulating "Real Ale", which is otherwise impossible to re-create at home; unless you've plenty of mates to help see off a cask in rapid order). Well I've located a new source of regulators to make this emulation even closer. These:
20200611_184847_WEB.jpg
Hang-on, aren't they the same as I previously blagged on about? Novacomet (Cleese) BP1813 regulators. The difference is the originals were variable from 50 to 150mbar (just over 2psi) whereas these are rated 20-300mbar.

So what? These close the gap between what can be achieved from decent secondary regulators (about 5psi, but most secondary regulators wont hold 7 or 8psi) and what has been the maximum from variable LPG regulators (about 2psi).

2psi should hold a carbonation of about 1.1v/v CO2, which might be ideal for a "Real Ale" emulation. But I found I would go into Pubs and their "Real Ale" popular beers (bitter) would be more carbonated than that. This would be the result of inefficient (or intentional!) venting. These 20-300mbar regulators would allow emulating those "less than desirable" situations.

At the other extreme (to placate some die-hard "Real Ale" drinkers, but perhaps send some apoplectic), the higher output pressure could drive 60/40 mixed gas and create carbonation levels as low as 9psi … absolute psi that is (relative to a vacuum, not atmospheric pressure). You could do this with a breather, but would have no control of the speed of change, and breathers are "problematic" for gravity dispense and very risky with Corny kegs.


They are not easily available through "domestic" gas retailers, but are used by chick rearing establishments (for chickens or game birds). I got them here: https://gasolec.co.uk/webshop/game-m-ty ... -game-5-8/, price (about £5 more than the 50-150mb ones) includes VAT and delivery (also available here: https://ebgasservices.com/product/cless ... -20-300mb/ and other places no doubt). They come with the dreaded "POL" attachment (hose barb on other end) which are very difficult to remove (thread lock compound used). Takes a bit of effort and I suppose it would be possible to strip the threads. 7mm Allen key removes the "POL" adapter.

It is near impossible to effectively manage such low pressures without LPG regulators. Note LPG regulators must be connected to a suitable primary regulator; do not connect them directly to a CO2 cylinder.
Cask-conditioned style ale out of a keg/Cornie (the "treatise"): https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwzEv5 ... rDKRMjcO1g
Water report demystified (the "Defuddler"; removes the nonsense!): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

McCoy
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Re: "Real Ale" style dispense - new regulator?

Post by McCoy » Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:14 pm

Interesting!
How much pressure would beer engines handle without leaking?
What primary CO2 pressure would you recommend?

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PeeBee
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Re:

Post by PeeBee » Thu Jun 18, 2020 7:33 am

McCoy wrote:
Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:14 pm
Interesting!
How much pressure would beer engines handle without leaking?
What primary CO2 pressure would you recommend?
I don't know! My pumps (Angram CO and CQ) complain audibly when subjected to 4-5PSI (judder, creak, etc.). The demand valves I use are rated for 45PsI! But high pressured beer from a hand-pump (some pubs do do it!) is an abomination in my eyes.

The input pressure for those Clesse regulators is rated up to 16BAR. My fixed output primary regulators push out 3 and 4-5BAR (1BAR roughly 15PSI).

Cheers!
Cask-conditioned style ale out of a keg/Cornie (the "treatise"): https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwzEv5 ... rDKRMjcO1g
Water report demystified (the "Defuddler"; removes the nonsense!): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

TheSumOfAllBeers
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Re: "Real Ale" style dispense - new regulator?

Post by TheSumOfAllBeers » Fri Jun 19, 2020 9:51 pm

Saving this. My 50-150 lpg regulator is the most used regulator in the brewery.

Someday I will get my handpull sorted to use it to push real ale out of my kegs.

But would defo use an adjustable with a higher range

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