More Corny questions

[iowalad]

I have four cornys sitting around and decided it was about time I put them to use. I also have a cask breather (via the Harmony Hut).
It looks like I will becoming into a chest freezer shortly as well.

I am toying with using some sort of pump in place of a beer engine.
Something like:
http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-Rocker-H ... 646&sr=1-2
I would like to get a beer engine someday but think it will be awhile.

Is a pump/beer engine worth the extra hassle or are there adequate alternatives?

If so what is the preferred method of use?


1) Use the Onlooker method (where is he by the way?) - use a blanket of gas but when dispensing leave PRV open. When the session is over shut the PRV then replace the gas blanket.

2) Use the corny with a cask breather? as per the Frothy Schematic:

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Or forget about the engine and dispense with gas assist?

3) Terry Foster in his book Pale Ale advocates - setting the req at 5 psi for a few days to let the beer equilibrate. Then he draws off a pint or two. sets the regulator at 10 psi opens the valve - lets the pressures balance then turns off the valve. The valve is then opened only when the flow of beer slows while serving and it remains open for just a few minutes.

4) Balance your system for cellar temp and serve like all other beer. If I go this route do any caronbation charts go down to 1.5 volumes at cellar temps?

How little PSI can be applied and still get an adequate seal on the corny? Will 3-5 PSI give you a good enough seal?

Any other thoughts?

[flytact]

I am toying with using some sort of pump in place of a beer engine.
Something like:
http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-Rocker-H ... 646&sr=1-2
Do you have the BYO article about this, supposedly it works well

Is a pump/beer engine worth the extra hassle or are there adequate alternatives? YES, worth it.

If so what is the preferred method of use?

1) Use the Onlooker method (where is he by the way?) - use a blanket of gas but when dispensing leave PRV open. When the session is over shut the PRV then replace the gas blanket.
I used to do this, it's a BIG waste of gas. Plus you've got a breather.

How about a 5th choice: Put the keg on its side with the bottom slightly higher. Maybe rest it on a 2x4. Hook up the breather to the OUT post and the tap to the IN post. Make sure the IN is on the bottom and viola, gravity fed, CO2 blanket dispense.

[flytact]

Sounds good to me although you might want to shorten the gas dip tube to get the maximum beer out.

But that would probably be the last pint. Just open the lid and pour into your glass.

[hotmog]

Personally I would go for a proper beer engine. They are specifically designed for the job, and come up on eBay all the time fairly cheaply, although postage can be quite high due to the weight. If you keep a lookout you should be able to find one at a car boot sale for around £10 - £15.

I tend to go for somewhat higher CO2 pressure of around 10psi going into the cask breather inlet, as I found with mine that the pressure differential wasn't always enough to cause the valve to open when beer was drawn off, resulting in a partial vacuum in the corny which can over time draw in air around the seal causing the beer to go off.

You will also need a check valve in the beer line between the outlet from the keg and the beer engine. This prevents the beer running on if there is a pressure build-up in the keg, and/or the keg is positioned higher up than the pump.

You don't need 1/2" tubing for the beer line. I use 3/8" with the appropriate John Guest fittings.

OoPs - sorry I just noticed you're in the USA, not dear old Blighty. That probably makes the car boot sale option rather more difficult, and there's nothing on eBay.com. If you can get a UK seller to post abroad, eBay.co.uk is probably your best bet, although it probably won't be as cheap as I had originally suggested.

[iowalad]

Thanks for the replies.
A reconditioned beer engine goes for $375 over here (I haven't looked up shipping). I will keep my eye on ebay.

I like the idea of gravity dispense but I don't have a proper cellar to store them. I don't think I could work gravity dispense in a chest freezer. I think Terry Foster suggests something similar in his book but when using the corney where the entire container will be drunk in a session.

Since I have a cask breather I am inclined to use it! Will the 1 to 3 psi in the Frothy schematic provide an adequate seal with a corny? Anyone else have hotmog's experience that the breather needs more like 10 psi?

Nice tip for the check valve - I think Jim had a similar experience.

I did find a carbonation chart that supplies info on carbonating at cellar temps. If I go the non-beer engine route.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/instructions/co2.htm

[hotmog]

I have a Homark beer engine surplus to requirements that I could let you have for £30, plus postage which is going to be around the £50 mark (it weighs over 8kgs without any packaging). That works out at around $165 all in. PM me if you're interested.

Here's a photo:

[jonnybeer]

Hi hotmog, must have missed this post.

Do you still have the beer engine for sale?

Cheers.

j.b.

[hotmog]

Hi hotmog, must have missed this post.

Do you still have the beer engine for sale?

Cheers.

j.b.

Hi JB

I never advertised the beer engine for general sale, but offered it to Iowalad in response to his original post because of the difficulty he faces in obtaining a reasonably priced one in the US. So he has first refusal, as I'm sure you'll understand.

However if he does decide to back out, you'll be next in line.

Cheers

Hotmog

[iowalad]

Hotmog,

Thanks for the offer. PM sent.

Iowalad

[flytact]

Iowalad, if you know anyone traveling overseas you may solicit their help. I bought my engine on ebay and the seller gladly held it for me for a few months and then shipped it to London where it was picked up by my sister. All I paid was local shipping. I believe the term is "and Bob's you uncle".