Kegs arrived, 30l

[barneey]

Last word of caution regarding couplers, make sure you buy one with ALL the fittings, quite a few on eBay are sold bare, with out the necessary internal parts (beer flow non return or gas non return) - or even without the threaded John Guest fittings, what might seem a "cheap" coupler may soon prove otherwise / cause damage elsewhere.

[dean_wales]

After much ado and slooooow turnaround by Crusader my kegs arrived by overnight courier today.

At a glance they look great, came with a load of spare seals, have spears removed and are the seemingly-preferable-square-notched type. Invoice to follow at some point apparently.

Happy days.

Dean.

[barneey]

That took a little while to get your kegs mate, I`m sure your be more than happy with them.

Now all thats needed is a quicker outlet for the kegs? Homebrew shop anyone? Now why hasnt anyone thought of that?

The homebrew market isnt as large as I thought.

BTW if you like the newly delivered metal ones, for the cost of ONE shiny there were 150 plastic ones available.

[barneey]

Been playing around with the pressure settings for a 20ltr keg and think I`ve finally found a good flow rate V gas V pipework - pipework approx. 1m of 3/8 + 300mm of 3/16

Clicky on picture below for video - (for pouring a half) - maybe not the most exciting video but a fair example of my "now" preferred setup.

[leedsbrew]

Nice work fella! What pressure are you carbing and dispensing with?

[barneey]

My technique at the moment is :-

Everything in the kegerator is around the 5 to 6 centigrade as soon as the "traditional" keg goes in its connected at 1 bar (15psi) for the first 3 or 4 days. I then disconnect the keg / switch off the gas supply.

To serve the gas is still switched off, after say 6 to 10 pint draw off / things get a little slow at pouring. I squirt a little more co2 into the keg for 10 to 15 seconds - switch off the gas again and continue.

I`m sort of using the traditional keg as a firkin/pin except the demand valve is me - if that makes sense.

With the traditional beer keg you have no fear of say a corny lid leaking due to the lack of pressure.

Its not an exact science more of a gut feeling if you like but for the way I like the carbonation of my beer it works + there isn't a lot of beer line used.

The slight haze is prob chill haze as it clears when warmed.

The beer pictured / pour is also unfinned - I let temperature drop the beer for me - chuck the first pint and continue from there.

[Fil]

Nice Pour.. and good to see someone else leaving it to auto pour, a real ale 'snob' (his only character flaw) pal of mine snorts when the glass isnt held tilted to the tap, and cos i havent got a hand pump i dont have real bear either !!! well i let him keep his fantasy and just keep quiet his glass seems to empty quickly enough..

[leedsbrew]

Nice Pour.. and good to see someone else leaving it to auto pour, a real ale 'snob' (his only character flaw) pal of mine snorts when the glass isnt held tilted to the tap, and cos i havent got a hand pump i dont have real bear either !!! well i let him keep his fantasy and just keep quiet his glass seems to empty quickly enough..

Ah! the unfortunate legacy of the CAMRA

[barneey]

Not that I consciously do pour a pint down the glass but without a camera in the hand, I normally do, but I don't really care too much what method is used as long as the pint is poured. The auto pour however from a height is a good way to determine if I have my pressures OK. Only downside to my method is the time it takes to pour a pint.

Finally the / a kegerator makes all the difference

[alexlark]

Looking good Clive! I've got approx the same flow rate using my party tap (I know!)
I've gone through 2 brews so far that required a higher carbonation. I've got a Yorkshire Bitter on the go now which I want only slightly carbonated. I've also dropped my fridge down to it's lowest setting (warmest). I had the reg set to 10 psi for a week but it wasn't carbonated the way I like so lastnight I upped it to 15 psi. I think a daily sample is in order so I know when I've hit the sweet spot Love the kegs though, no problems with seals or leaks. Lets you get on with brewing and drinking! !

[swiggingpig]

First of thanks to the OP for starting the thread and everyone else who have put a wealth of information into this thread.

I thought I should add my experience and use to the thread.

After reading this thread I contacted Crusader Kegs, who were a delight to deal with, and ordered 2 of the slimline 20 lt kegs which arrived quite quickly and with the easier spears. Fully understanding the implications I've removed the safetys from the spears to prevent the agro each time and bearing in mind that I will not be using them under pressure. I bought them to use at atmospheric pressure, more like a cask than a keg.

I have a number of cornie kegs and I find then great to use if you are serving beer under pressure but are pretty pants with a beer engine and an aspirator valve. I found that the condition was being 'knocked' out of the beer, presumably by the restriction of the poppet valve and that more times than not the seal would fail and allow air/oxygen to be drawn in instead of co2 which of course spoiled the beer quite quickly.

The first beer has been 'tapped' from one of the new kegs and the difference is very noticable, the beers 'condition' is much better. Time will tell with the beer spoiling but because the sealing method doesn't rely on internal pressure the way a cornie does I very hopeful.

Cheers

[barneey]

Another convert

BTW don't forget "when" asd (Simon) starts selling his plastic kegs there will also be a cheaper alternative for anyone wishing to at least try a keg / to use kegs. So if you cant afford stainless there should be a very viable alternative available.

[alexlark]

As it's almost 6 months since the last post in this thread I thought I'd give an update.

Kegs are excellent, still on the same set of seals from new. No leaks at all. As I have 2 kegs any only 1 tap I am alternating every 1 -2 weeks between the kegs (I only have the odd pint in the week and a few on the weekend). Very easy to swap the kegs, 1 connector job done! I now use my 2 plastic pressure barrels to store my beer and allow all the sediment do drop, connect a length of pipe to the PB tap, other end in the keg, undo the cap on the PB and open the tap full. No splashing and easy, clear beer transfer.

Clive, you'll be pleased to know I have retired the party tap and now have a dalex tap on a brushed chrome bracket

So, If anyone is in the market for a gas-keg setup I can highly recommend the Sankey keg.

[barneey]

Yep still using mine to great effect.

The only thing I would add to this thread for discussion is the corny AEB BRAND NEW kegs, which of course being brand new should be much better at sealing. Poppets on older corny kegs always to me seem the most likely point of failure.

[dirtymonkey29]

Im giving up home brewing due to lack of time. I have 5 brand new unused 30l sankey kegs with the correct spear for easy removal (basin wrench to undo and 5p under coupler) if anyone is interested.