Newbie Pressure Barrel Problems

[Iainb]

Hi All,

This my first attempt at homebrew....My first Kit is a Coopers Draught

Fermentation went smoothly and lasted 7 days, I had a quick taste as I was transferring to the Beer Sphere. It smelled nice and tasted like beer, not vinegar phew although it was a bit watery tasting.

I am assuming the flavour will develop over the next four weeks

I am using a Hambilton Bard Beer Sphere for secondary fermentation which I started on Monday night, again all ran smoothly.

Here's where my problems have started....despite doing a pressure test with water and Co2 before filling with my beer and smearing with a ton of Vaseline I developed a leak around the tap tonight. I tried turning the tap hoping the nut would grip and tighten but it actually made it worse .

In the end I had no choice but to take the cap off and with very clean hands tighten the tap nut. Really annoying thing is that I had really good pressure in the barrel.

Do you guys think the brew will be OK and should I still be able to build up enough natural Co2? That is assuming I don't spring anymore leaks but I not to hopeful on that front.

One thing I did notice was white blobs starting to float to the top when I had the lid off, is this the norm??

Cheers

Iain

[richard_senior]

It's happened to most of us with the plastic barrels.
The last time it happened to me I did exactly the same thing and it was ok.
THe white stuff may or may not be bad
If it's a bacterial infection, it's usually greenish in tinge.
The real key to these pressure barrels is to make sure that the tap is on tight. I replaced all my taps with ones that had better threads and nuts, after many many bad experiences.

[oxford brewer]

The white stuff may just be clumps of yeast that rose up with the co2 escaping from the beer when you opened the lid.
Its not ideal to stick your hand into the finished product but,needs must when the devil drives
If you have any way of refilling the barrel with co2(sparklet bulb or s30 canister) then purge and regas,leave it for a week and then drink it PDQ ,in the meantime get another brew started to fill the Beersphere when it becomes empty

[Iainb]

I have the s30 canister so I use that to keep the pressure up if need be.

My main concern was that the beer would be flat and (or) off after 4 weeks of waiting patiently

Any suggestions on creating a good seal???

I noticed some posts where the barrels have been deforming......so it can be done!!!!!

My next brew is going to be a lager, which I will bottle!!!

[Iainb]

I will give it a blast of Co2 tonight and see how it goes

Cheers

Iain

[Iainb]

Well so far it has been a disaster.

Came home from work tonight to find the tap had been leaking again only this time a good few pints had leaked out. Luckily I had a towel under it which took most of the spillage but the cupboard now stinks of beer and we have a nice stain on the hall ceiling.

Needlessly to say I am not the most popular in the house tonight and she hasn't noticed the ceiling yet!!!

I replaced the tap for a new sterilised one and put the keg in the garage, gave it a few blasts of Co2, all seemed well.........checked on it 5 mins later to find beer spraying at high pressure across the garage

Once again tightened the tap and gave it a few blasts with the Co2 and so far so good.

If this brew turns out drinkable I will be amazed!

I am of to the homebrew shop tomorrow for a new kit

Lesson learned. Fizzy beer in bottles, Ales in barrel

[gullarm]

Are you sure your not putting too much pressure in.

When the keg is pretty full you dont need much to reach max pressure, did the release valve release any excess pressure??

Perhaps its knackered and stuck shut so the pressure has got to go somewhere.

I fitted a pressure gauge to both of my KK, works a treat.

[Iainb]

So far so good this morning....all the beer still in the barrel!!

I pulled the relief valve rubber back a little and gas did escape so I guess the relief valve is working OK.

I bought new rubbers and seals before I started as my barrels are second hand.

On further inspection of my empty barrel I noticed that on the inside where the tap nut sits the plastic comes to a point rather than a flat.

I had assumed that the rubber washer goes between the tap and the barrel on the inside, is it supposed to go between the tap and the barrel on the outside??? There is a flat surface there which looks like it would give a better seal.

Wish I had noticed this sooner…..

[kenny850]

Hi Ian, on my kk i put the washer on the outside of the barrel and have had no issues with leaking taps-did have a leaking lid but this was cured with a blob of vaseline

[Iainb]

Feeling like a bit of a plonker right now!!!

I am going to put this down to inexperience

Thanks for the help guys

Iain

[richard_senior]

Yeah.. I did that too

[fertilebert]

My KK tap leaked whilst on holiday , we came home to find the garage STINKING ! 10 litres drip drip drip all over the floor , and about a million little flies buzzin' around . Not happy