Keg question

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jdt199

Keg question

Post by jdt199 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:07 pm

I have just bought my first beer kit (Woodfordes Wherry Bitter) and fermenter + accessories and am eager to start my first fermentation. After much research on this forum I think I am just about clued up on starting the fermentation but I haven't yet got a keg for the end. It seems that everyone here has a King Keg but what is the difference between a king Keg and a standard pressure keg that is considerably cheaper such as this? http://www.easybrew.co.uk/product_detail.php?id=1246

Also if I do get a king Keg should I go Top tap or bottom? I would prefer not to have to inject co2 but rather use natural gas from the priming as I am mainly going to be brewing 3kg kit ales so would a bottom tap be better to avoid topping up co2 or should I not worry about using co2 bulbs to re pressurise?

Thanks in advance
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maxashton

Post by maxashton » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:20 pm

King Kegs have a 4 inch opening so you can get your arm in for cleaning, and are generally better made than the budget barrels. The KK Top Tap has a Lastock Float system which draws beer from the top, ensuring that only the brightest available beer is drawn.

It also includes an S30 valve, allowing you to inject CO2 into the keg for dispensing.

I personally prefer KKTT's to Budget Barrels, but there's nothing wrong with the budget barrel if you don't want to drop the 50 quid or whatever they go for now.
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Jaoqua

Post by Jaoqua » Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:46 pm

I have a cheap poly keg (bottom tap) and when it came to it it wasn't airtight. Fair enough I didn't put Vaseline on the seal but I think the problem is more serious than that because when I screw the top on it tightens nicely but then at the end skews slightly.

I'm not saying all cheap kegs suffer from this problem, but it may well be the case that you get what you pay for.

Also, I don't know what others think, but I'm not sure that my keg will keep a beer for long once it's started to be drunk. As I pour beer out, air must be getting in to replace it.

Anyway, I'll be bottling next time. If you want 20 pints of flat Woodforde's Admiral's Reserve let me know, as I have some spare.
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jdt199

Post by jdt199 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:36 pm

Thanks for the advice. Think Ill go for the KK then as it seems I'm less likely to come across any pressure leakage issues. I understand the advantage of the top tap system (drawing beer from the float) but with ale am I likely to sustain the pressure required or will I have to top up with co2 all the time. What kegs do you vetern Ale brewers use?
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alefric

Post by alefric » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:44 pm

KK bottom taps.......they work fine but i do have to add CO2 as they run down.

NB....in my case veteran only refers to my age not experience.
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Damfoose

Post by Damfoose » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:46 pm

Im not a veteran but am now regretting not getting cornies to start with as I have 3 budget barrels ( nothing wrong with them at all though ) but nice shiney steel things look better.
Currently waiting on norman being around so I will ebay 2 of my budget kegs and get 3 more cornies.
Must add not one of my budget barrels leak they have worked as advertised since I have had them. Just make sure you get the barrels with the s30 top on them so you can top them up if need be with co2.
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jdt199

Post by jdt199 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:31 pm

Hmmm too much to choose from. It does seem that an extra £25 is a lot for a bigger gole in the top but I'm sure the build quility is better that the bufgets. I did look into Cornelius Kegs but am put off with the idea of having to do a second fermentation in a standard bucket and puttting the ale in flat and artificially adding the co2. Would be great when I move on to lager though. Should I have such hang ups about adding co2 artificially dunno why, I dont like adding unnecessary ingrediants?
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Prozac

Post by Prozac » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:34 pm

Damfoose wrote:I
Currently waiting on norman being around so I will ebay 2 of my budget kegs and get 3 more cornies.
Why wait? just pick up a couple of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORNELIUS-KEGS-5- ... 638Q2em122
bargain.... just check the shipping costs :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
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jdt199

Post by jdt199 » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:42 pm

Prozac wrote:
Damfoose wrote:I
Currently waiting on norman being around so I will ebay 2 of my budget kegs and get 3 more cornies.
Why wait? just pick up a couple of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORNELIUS-KEGS-5- ... 638Q2em122
bargain.... just check the shipping costs :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:
Almoast a great deal if it wasn't the £169 postage!!!
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