Pressure Barrel worries

[lollypopp]

I've managed to go to the shop today and come back without the small shiny little C02 thingies or what ever they are called, well to the query I have? I poured a 1/2 pint of my nog on thursday, well with my son there and all his little mates, I ended up drawing about 6 pints, by the end it was begining to suck air, well at lunch time I drew another 1/2 pint and it shot out, but with none of the foaming there was last time, does anyone have a cure?

[Jim]

Could you post pics of your injector and CO2 valve (the bit on the top of the barrel) so that we know what type it is?

It sounds as though you have lost pressure when you pulled the 6 pints and let air in - which is not good, as it can make the beer go off. It also sounds as though you lost the condition (dissolved CO2) in the beer while the pressure was down. As you can't force condition very well in a plastic barrel you may have to reprime.

[lollypopp]

This is the Chap!

[Jim]

OK, that's an S30 valve. What CO2 cylinder are you using?

[lollypopp]

The little shiny one that came with the kit, but have used it, and forgot to get another one, the beer in question is Nog, I will be able to get one tomorrow, best I don't draw any beer to then?

[lollypopp]

How would I re-prime it, would I put 85 grams of sugar in, perhaps with yeast nutrient? then put the heat belt back on? don't really want it to turn to vinagar, I don't mind it being a little flat either or as I like to say? More like real Ale!

[lollypopp]

This is how much is in this Barrel? I would guess about 30 odd pints, would hate to lose it, if it does have to be tipped on the garden, I will ask our Vicar to bless it's little lost soul?

[Jim]

If you're happy to drink it almost flat, that's fine. Just get some more CO2 bulbs so that you can keep positive pressure inside the barrel as you use the rest up - that way it'll take longer to go off.

If you intend to brew regularly, it might be best to invest in a proper S30 CO2 cylinder - they're much more economical than the small sparklets bulbs (which is what I'm assuming you're using at the moment).

As it's already had some air in, it would be best to finish the barrel off fairly quickly - say within a week. You may need help for this!

[lollypopp]

Thanks Jim for the help, and having a great site!!!

[timothio]

I've got one of there barrels but have yet to use it. At the moment I'm brewing lagers, which I believe are better bottled than barrelled, so am going to stay on the bottling route for the time being.

Do barrels always lose pressure over time (meaning you have to squirt CO2 into them)? Does this mean that the beer inside will not only lose its carbonation (become flat), but also wont physically come out of the barrel when you turn the tap on? My barrel didnt come with a CO2 injector cap thingy, and I really cant be arsed to fork out even more cash for one (15 quid ish at Wilkos), should I just stick to bottling and forget the barrel?

If only I still had the receipt...

[beer]

hi all exactly the same thing has happened to me today except i don't have the type of top you have barrels at the same level.half way thru pouring a pint and it stops so i panic unscrewed the lid a bit and the flow started again have i ballsed it up don't know how i'm going to get Thur the rest of it if its going to go off.is this going to happen every time

[mat69]

i know i`m not helping here but these barrels seem more trouble than there worth..

[techtone]

hi all exactly the same thing has happened to me today except i don't have the type of top you have barrels at the same level.half way thru pouring a pint and it stops so i panic unscrewed the lid a bit and the flow started again have i ballsed it up don't know how i'm going to get Thur the rest of it if its going to go off.is this going to happen every time

If you got 6 pints or so out in one go, then a vacuum will have been created. It can take a while for enough co2 to come out of suspension to reduce the vacuum in order get the beer to flow again. The alternative is that you get some extra co2 into the keg. If you can get the co2 cap and add some co2 you should be ok and the beer will still be good for a few months. If you don't get a new cap, then keep opening the existing one and gravity will feed the beer out of the tap but it will only be good for a week or so. If you only have a pint a day you can get at least half a keg out before needed extra co2 but you can add extra co2 at any time to keep the fizz up.

If you didn't get even close to 6 pints out and the beer has had enough time to condition then you may have a leaky cap which is usually caused by either too much vaseline on the seal or by overtightening the cap.

[lollypopp]

Umm! Just say? I decided to reprime? how would I go about it? Don't think a beer swilling me, can get thru' 30 odd pints in a week? Don't get me wrong, I'll do me best! but just in case? HOW?

[Benson_JV]

Umm! Just say? I decided to reprime? how would I go about it? Don't think a beer swilling me, can get thru' 30 odd pints in a week? Don't get me wrong, I'll do me best! but just in case? HOW?

30 Pints? One Week?

Easy, You can do it, go on