kegging balls-up?

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moondaisy

kegging balls-up?

Post by moondaisy » Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:26 am

Hi guys,

Can anyone advise please, whether I might have ruined my first brew (Nelson's Revenge - started at nearly 1050, finished 1014, hurrah!) whilst kegging it last night? My FV has a tap, ran tubing from there into my keg, all good but when the beer in the FV reached the level of the tap rather than either tip the FV up to get more beer out OR turn the tap off I sat there and watched as there was a big 'slurp' and a load of foam / bubbles / air went down the tube. I don't think much would've made it into the beer in the keg (as presumably as soon as air enters the tube suction is lost anyway) but probably a bit did. THEN I realised I'd forgotten to add the priming syrup I'd made up before - so had to add that after. Managed to add that with only a tiny 'plop' or splash but again, might've got a little air in with it. Oh and I didn't have a sterilised spoon at the time so didn't stir the syrup in... :roll:

My question is - how much air is needed to oxidise beer and if I have got some air in there how quickly is it likely to go off? I'm only bothered because I tasted some of the inch or so beer that was left in the FV (because I hadn't tipped the FV when transferring) and was absolutely gobsmacked my how good it was already, and I want it to get better in the next 4 weeks or so, not worse!

Worst case is I have to drink it sooner rather than later - its definitely plenty drinkable so not an awful prospect! Oh and I'll learn from this next brew of course...

SiHoltye

Post by SiHoltye » Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:42 am

Well it sounds like you know what you should have done so that's good. As the beer conditions the suspended yeast eat the priming sugars and will also hopefully scavenge an accidentally added O2, so I wouldn't worry too much :) If you were concerned the priming sugars were just a lump at the bottom of the fermentor, you could sanitize a long spoon/paddle (not wooden) and give the brew a mix this morning. Do it now though rather than later as the first 2 or 3 days are when the majority of the 2ndry fermentation takes place, otherwise it might be as well to re-prime, but you're prolly OK for 12 hours.

moondaisy

Post by moondaisy » Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:18 am

Thanks for the reassurance there. I think I lost my composure a bit with my excitement that a woodfordes kit hadn't stuck and it tasted good already! Next time, I'll stay cool 8)

My priming sugar solution was fairly dilute I think so I don't think it would've been a glob at the bottom of the barrel. Given I'm at work now, think I'll cross my fingers with this one - suppose I might check to see if there's any rpessure in a day or so and if not then re-prime perhaps...

Cheers!

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