Finally got my corny set up after a long drive to a dodgy bit of Edinburgh to pick up my CO2. Must say it was worth all the effort and expense now I've worked through a few pints of my 6% IPA testing the thing :stun
Oxyclean'd and Iodophor'd all the parts as per DaaB's instructions (ta). Seemed to remove the smell of the pepsi Norm had left in the keg :rolleyes: quite well, although the o-ring still stank. I also removed the foot of 3/16 line supplied with the keg and replaced it with an arbitrary 5 feet of same.
Then, I racked an extra-strong IPA that was sitting in a king keg that I had sort-of given up on as a test-brau. Pressurised it, and had the typical 'beer splurting everywhere' experience that most people seem to have. Tightened all the fittings and tried again. Shook the keg about a little, poured, and suddenly the beer tastes amazing and pours with a great head. Decided to experiment a little and screwed in the adjusting bolt on my regulator (which has no guage) and shake the keg again. As expected, I pour a glass of foam. So I bleed the keg slightly then pour a nicely fizzy glass of ale B) So, five feet of 3/16 seems to work very well for an ale at about 18C with a fairly low-ish carbonation.
It seems to pour with a tight Guinness-like head, is this normal? It makes me think that I have mixed gas, although it says just CO2 on the bottle.
Sorry for the long exposition, had to get that off my chest! :pink
Got my corny set up.
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Vossy1
Well done mysterio B) Isn't it fun
I've got the same head on both my Fixby Gold and Nelsons revenge with co2...and I like it.
It still gives me a broad, beeming, grin, everytime I pour a draught homebrew
I have to show the wife every time I pour a glass, I'm so proud
She looks at me with that loook that says, the novelty is starting to wear off and it's becoming annoying...leave me alone to watch corrie 
Even though my kegs were clean the o-rings stank of drinks syrup and I couldn't shift it. I ended up buying a set of corny o-rings from DaaB and that cured that.
I've got the same head on both my Fixby Gold and Nelsons revenge with co2...and I like it.
It still gives me a broad, beeming, grin, everytime I pour a draught homebrew
I have to show the wife every time I pour a glass, I'm so proud
She looks at me with that loook that says, the novelty is starting to wear off and it's becoming annoying...leave me alone to watch corrie
Even though my kegs were clean the o-rings stank of drinks syrup and I couldn't shift it. I ended up buying a set of corny o-rings from DaaB and that cured that.
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eskimobob
They are superb aren't they 
My standard tap produces a nice head on a bitter. My Guinness tap with creamer disk produces a proper Guinness style effect where the bubbles seem to be falling down the inside of the glass with the head slowly rising from the bottom - it's fun just watching it and then you get to drink it too
My standard tap produces a nice head on a bitter. My Guinness tap with creamer disk produces a proper Guinness style effect where the bubbles seem to be falling down the inside of the glass with the head slowly rising from the bottom - it's fun just watching it and then you get to drink it too
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IanRMartin
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PieOPah
Okay, okay, okay. You guys really do have me convinced. I am going to be getting myself a cornie keg!!!
If I get the money from my parents like I expect then hopefully SWMBO won't be able to complain about me buying it
What I want to know though is does the CO2 cylinder stay connected to provide a constant pressure?
If I get the money from my parents like I expect then hopefully SWMBO won't be able to complain about me buying it
What I want to know though is does the CO2 cylinder stay connected to provide a constant pressure?
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mysterio
Yeah, it stays connected. I suppose you could disconnect it or turn it off and move the keg out and have enough pressure for a few pints.
While it's connected, you can either bleed the pressure a bit so that you don't pour foam, or get a long (or thin) enough beer line so that the pressure drops on the way to the tap.
Since I don't have a regulator with a guage I have to go with the long (5 feet) beer line option but it saves me messing about with the pressure.
Definately go with the corny Pie, definately the best homebrew related thing I've bought!
Those bloody S30 bottles are a pain, each one I've had has started leaking before it has finished :blink:
While it's connected, you can either bleed the pressure a bit so that you don't pour foam, or get a long (or thin) enough beer line so that the pressure drops on the way to the tap.
Since I don't have a regulator with a guage I have to go with the long (5 feet) beer line option but it saves me messing about with the pressure.
Definately go with the corny Pie, definately the best homebrew related thing I've bought!
Those bloody S30 bottles are a pain, each one I've had has started leaking before it has finished :blink:
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jasonaustin
PoP, bear in mind that you don't necessarily require a big CO2 setup to use a corny. It is perfectly feasible to use them in much the same way as your budget barrels, with the added advantage that they are quite a bit more reliable. Therefore they may actually be slightly cheaper than buying a KK and sparkler tap, for example.
It is not essential to rack beer to them bright and force carbonate, although many (and I think the majority on this board) do. Cornies simply make it an option to force carbonate (and yes, having a big CO2 cylinder helps with this). It is perfectly ok to prime a kit or rely on slow fermentables in a full mash brew to bring the beer into condition and be able to dispense. Of course, at some point towards the bottom of the keg you may need another quick blast of CO2 but this can be done using an S30 valve, sodastream cylinder, widget world setup etc (or even mini sparket bulbs) - probably in the same way you currently do.
Another thing to consider is that some people (CAMRA for example) don't like a force carbonated beer, and therefore allow their beer to naturally carbonate in the corny. I, personally, don't force carbonate any of my brews (except for the odd stout) and simply use my big CO2 cylinder to top up the pressure for dispense only.
The corny system is great and I don't think you'll regret moving to them. But it's not essential that you get the whole big gas setup straight away. If you get a corny with an S30 valve in the lid, you can still 'upgrade' to big gas in the future.
It is not essential to rack beer to them bright and force carbonate, although many (and I think the majority on this board) do. Cornies simply make it an option to force carbonate (and yes, having a big CO2 cylinder helps with this). It is perfectly ok to prime a kit or rely on slow fermentables in a full mash brew to bring the beer into condition and be able to dispense. Of course, at some point towards the bottom of the keg you may need another quick blast of CO2 but this can be done using an S30 valve, sodastream cylinder, widget world setup etc (or even mini sparket bulbs) - probably in the same way you currently do.
Another thing to consider is that some people (CAMRA for example) don't like a force carbonated beer, and therefore allow their beer to naturally carbonate in the corny. I, personally, don't force carbonate any of my brews (except for the odd stout) and simply use my big CO2 cylinder to top up the pressure for dispense only.
The corny system is great and I don't think you'll regret moving to them. But it's not essential that you get the whole big gas setup straight away. If you get a corny with an S30 valve in the lid, you can still 'upgrade' to big gas in the future.
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PieOPah
ja, that sounds like the perfect move to me. I have always naturally carbonated my beers. Fair enough I have previously only ever used table sugar but now that I am AG brewing I will be looking to saving enough wort to prime with (amount dependant on OG).
I do top up my BB keg with CO2 when I need to. May look into using the cornie the same way I currently do. I am primarily looking for better dispensing as the BB is a bit useless (although I will keep it and use it - means more storage)
I do top up my BB keg with CO2 when I need to. May look into using the cornie the same way I currently do. I am primarily looking for better dispensing as the BB is a bit useless (although I will keep it and use it - means more storage)
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Andy
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QUOTE (PieOPah @ Aug 24 2006, 11:33 AM) Going to have to try and find a C02 provider near where I ilve now 
PoP - you're in Reading yes ?
Worst case for you then would be to go to Guildford where I (and DaaB) got my gas from. £16 a cylinder no deposit, no rental blah blah.
Or you may find something closer....
PoP - you're in Reading yes ?
Worst case for you then would be to go to Guildford where I (and DaaB) got my gas from. £16 a cylinder no deposit, no rental blah blah.
Or you may find something closer....
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PieOPah
