Barrell Query

[brewbie]

This is maybe a daft question but i will ask anyway.

I have my first lager kit in a pressure barrell at the minute and i have drank it nearly down to the tap....But what happens with the beer once it gets lower than the tap hole (Which on my barrell is about 2" up min!!) is this just wasted????

On a seperate issue how much gas should you need to use during the supping of a barrell of beer? (Primed barrell with 3oz sugar) Mine needed topping up after just 3 pints and now i only get 2 pints a time off before it needs another blast

[Madbrewer]

Obviously you dont want the beer level to go below the top of the tap otherwise the pressure will just seep out of the tap, there are two ways of dealing with this problem:-

i) Get a tube that goes from the inside of the tap to the bottom of the barrel (fitted before racking the beer into the Barrel).

ii) do what I do [low tech solution] and lean the barrell at an angle. Both the budget type and the HB type barrels both benefit from being tilted by using two VHS cassettes under the back two feet or the barrel. If you don't stand the barrel like this initially you will need to rest the barrel for two days after shifting it.

The 2 - 3 pints before co2 injection seems about right to me also.
I typically get 6 Barrels to a s30 cylinder but I am fairly wasteful using the s30 in a small corny keg and using this solution for transit. You just need enough gas to purge oxygen whenever you get any in the barrel by accident or a minute amount to allow pressure to push the beer out. You will probably get 8 barrel fulls if you are more miserly than I.

Now I have a question ..... How IS Lager out of a plastic Barrel? <- does it seem flat? I only use cornies or bottle for lager but am dying to know if it's 'doable'?

[brewbie]

Now I have a question ..... How IS Lager out of a plastic Barrel? <- does it seem flat? I only use cornies or bottle for lager but am dying to know if it's 'doable'?

Thanks for your prompt reply.

In answer to your question its not very good to be honest..I'm going to try a stout next using beer enhancer instead of sugar and see how that turns out

[chopperswookie]

you could try bottling the lager in 2lt plastic pop bottles. thats more like it.

[gullarm]

I have done a Coopers Bavarian Lager in a KING KEG, just bunged everything and let it go.

I have also done the same kit and used a BUCKET then BOTTLED into 2 Litre PET bottles from tesco ( 17p each )

The bucket is a lot more hassle but the end result is that you get a lager that looks and tastes like lager.

Well it is lager!

The King Keg produces froth unless the pressure is set really low, I have a pressure gauge on mine, so the beer is as good as flat.

Also getting the temp of the barrel and lager down is nigh on impossible, mine sits outside the back door all day and night, but on friday/saturday night the beer is not quite cold enough.

Whereas the bottles are in my shed then I transfer to the fridge for a couple of hours.

So in summer the keg is gonna be useless for lager.

[brewbie]

The barrell is also going to be useless in the summer for any brews so an alternative needs to be found....I like the idea of 2ltr pet bottles though because it has to be quicker and easier than filling 40 pint bottles.

Will it be ok to store a stout in 2ltr pet bottles??

How much priming sugar would be needed if storing in 2ltr bottles??

[macleanb]

Filling & capping 40 bottles - no worries. Washing & rinsing 40 bottles, now theres the rub...

[chopperswookie]

Will it be ok to store a stout in 2ltr pet bottles??

How much priming sugar would be needed if storing in 2ltr bottles??

i use a tablespoon of brewing sugar made into a syrup with pre-boiled water.

i once did some "Choppers'out" in a 2lt pop bottle just to see how it would come out. i prefered barrelling. there was little or no head and didn't quite have that "black stuff" feel to it. whenever i barrel my stouts to me it is more like what a stout should be.

[brewbie]

Cheers Choppers for reply

[brewbie]

Any tricks or tips on keeping a barrell cool in the summer time

[Madbrewer]

you could try bottling the lager in 2lt plastic pop bottles. thats more like it.

See this definetly gives better carbonation levels than i would imagine a platic barrell giving. But i find it very easy to disturb the sediment and get only half of the 2litres drinkable even though i am usually good at pouring gently and obviously I pour into a jug in one smooth action. Cornies definetely the way to go so far. (for me)