New Kegs and Pin Sized Casks

[deadlydes]

pick up a couple more pins (4.5gal) and kegs (30l) on monday from cypher.
just thought i would show you
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/desdeadly/a ... 2356908876
(the last 8 pics)
even got my name and brewery name printed on the pins!

[steve_flack]

I had 4 bevkegs turn up last week. Very nice. Even better that I managed to find a source that only wanted £7 each for Sankey couplers.

[maxashton]

Where'd you get the pins from?

[deadlydes]

http://www.cypherco.com/
talk to Val and mention Des the brewer from s wales gave you the details
pins are £20 + vat and kegs are £17 + vat if i remember rightly

how much was postage steve?

[steve_flack]

£20 for 4.

[maxashton]

Where do you get the dispensing equipment?

[steve_flack]

Other than the couplers the dispense equipment is the same as for a corny keg system. You can get the couplers from ebay. CypherCo will ask what type of couplers you want on a BevKeg - I went with Sankey. Sankey couplers can be found on ebay for £7 each.

[prodigal2]

des, I like the "drunk dragon brewery" on the pins.

Keep us informed as to how you get on with them.

Shame they are holding back on the Home keg, it would be a great option, to most homebrewers.

[maxashton]

well, i know what i'm getting for me birthday!

i could make a kegerator!

[charlie]

I visited a commercial brewer yesterday who confirmed what I already knew, that due to quality issues causing leaks and pure durability, most brewers are returning to metal casks. But, if you get a good one, then the bevkegs look good for the homebrewer.

If they ever come out, and are at a comparable price, I'm planning on moving to the Home keg.

[steve_flack]

I visited a commercial brewer yesterday who confirmed what I already knew, that due to quality issues causing leaks and pure durability, most brewers are returning to metal casks.

That may well be true but it is also true to say that kegs and pins in the trade are treated rather less well than those at home. Generally homebrewers don't drop their kegs down into cellars for a start...

As it is I'm not getting rid of the cornies. I intend to use the BevKegs for 'running' beers - one's I have on all the timet, that are low gravity etc - and to use cornies for one-offs and for beers that need to be kept a long time - like the Durden Park recreations.

[deadlydes]

i get on with them fine. i have had a bevkeg for a while now and its faultless.
i have a couple of mates who swear by the casks.

and i agree with steve that we dont chuck the keg/casks around so it wont be a problem.

from talking to cypher though i almost have to disagree that breweries are stopping using them. they said they are being asked for more casks by more and more breweries. they cant make them quick enough!

i must say they look solid!

[maxashton]

They look like heavy grade poly to me.
What are they polycarbonate?

Should be pretty robust so long as they're not actually being HURLED when fully laden.

I've got to say, i've never noticed plakky barrels in a pub cellar before, but i'm half blind.

[steve_flack]

I've got to say, i've never noticed plakky barrels in a pub cellar before, but i'm half blind.

They aren't incredibly common but I know McMullens in Hertfordshire uses them. They do have a definite advantage for a start up brewery in that they are cheap so there's no such a huge amount of capital tied up in casks. Also being plastic I guess they're less attractive from a theft point of view.

It seems to me that a lot of the new small breweries buy them when they start out but perhaps move on to metal casks as they get a more secure cash flow.

[SteveD]

I nearly shat myself with delight when I saw the pic 26.10.06! I didn't notice the red card surround on the thumbnails and thought you'd found a source for real oak pin casks! I'd give both my right arms for one of those.

What a prat!