I've got a pressure barrel but ..............

[PaulEamonn]

Hi All

I'm new to the forum and to homebrewing ale so I'd really appreciate some help.

I fancied trying a Munton's Christmas Ale as I have fond memories (well partial memories) of Christmas ale from years gone by.

So far I've had it in the fermentation barrel since Friday. I had a look today but there are some smallish bubbles on the surface so I thought I'd leave it til tomorrow and have another look then as it says it is 'done' when the bubbles have stopped rising.

Can anyone tell me if it is supposed to look totally clear on the top, as in like a pint that has been left standing for a couple of hours? Or are there supposed to be small bubbles on the surface?

Also I'm intending on leaving it in the pressure barrel rather than bottling it. Can someone tell me if I need to use a Co2 cap and bulb or not with this ale. And if I am supposed to, when do I put the bulb onto the cap. Should I put it on as soon as I transfer the beer to the pressure barrel or do I wait to attach it just before I am ready to start pulling pints out of it?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Click on the link which says Kits at the top-right of this page.

[PaulEamonn]

Oldspeckledbadger - many thanks for taking the time to give me the heads up on the 'kits' page. It was very informative. I think my brew looks a lot like the picture shows after 3-5 days so I am encouraged.

However, one of my queries wasn't mentioned and that is the one connected to whether I need to use Co2 with the ale I am making and, if I do should I attach the bulb to the cap once I've transferred the ale to the pressure barrel or wait until I am ready to start drinking it?

[scottmoss]

Oldspeckledbadger - many thanks for taking the time to give me the heads up on the 'kits' page. It was very informative. I think my brew looks a lot like the picture shows after 3-5 days so I am encouraged.

However, one of my queries wasn't mentioned and that is the one connected to whether I need to use Co2 with the ale I am making and, if I do should I attach the bulb to the cap once I've transferred the ale to the pressure barrel or wait until I am ready to start drinking it?

Regards

-Pau Eamonn

Hi Paul,

Are you priming (secondary fermentation) the beer? If so you don't need to enter any gas until the flow of the beer from the tap starts to slow down.

What size CO2 are you using?

[OldSpeckledBadger]

However, one of my queries wasn't mentioned and that is the one connected to whether I need to use Co2 with the ale I am making and, if I do should I attach the bulb to the cap once I've transferred the ale to the pressure barrel or wait until I am ready to start drinking it?

Regards

-Pau Eamonn

I'm assuming that you've got a cap and holder for the 8 gramme CO2 bulbs. The priming sugar will generate some CO2 within the barrel. You'll probably find that this is enough for about 1/2 the barrel after which you'll need to inject CO2 from time to time. I use the larger S30 CO2 bottles but the principle's the same.

[PaulEamonn]

Hi Guys - thanks for the replies.

I am using the small Co2 capsules that fit into a plastic holder which is screwed onto the thread of the pressure barrel cap.

The instructions say that I need to add either sugar or light spray malt when I transfer the ale to the pressure barrel which I believe will cause secondary fermentation.

So as I won't need to use a Co2 capsule until I've got about halfway through the barrel, can anyone tell me how many capsules am I likely to use before the barrel is empty?

Thanks again for all your help, I really appreciate it.

[OldSpeckledBadger]

So as I won't need to use a Co2 capsule until I've got about halfway through the barrel, can anyone tell me how many capsules am I likely to use before the barrel is empty?

A litre of CO2 weighs about 2 grammes so each 8 gramme bulb will inject 4 litres so I'd say 2 or 3.

[PaulEamonn]

OldSpeckledBadger - thanks for your reply and all your help in the earlier posts.

I reckon I am all set now to get this ale into the pressure barrel which I'll do sometime today.

I'll post up again later and let you know how it all comes out.

Thanks again.

[mickhew]

You'll know when you need to add extra CO2, the flow will suddenly reduce to a trickle, STOP at this point, and inject some. If you don't, the tap with "glug" as air rushes in, to fill the void above the beer, oxidising it, and you don't want that. The idea is to keep some pressure above the beer, to push it out. The CO2 also protects the beer from infection to a degree. AND, when you screw the CO2 caplet on, leave it on for a while, if you take it off the CO2 may come straight back out again, as the rubber seal can get frozen for a short period.

[PaulEamonn]

Mikehew - thanks for the tips on Co2. I'll bear them in mind.

Today is the day I'm putting the bear into the pressure barrel and then I'll leave it for the required time. I wil report back on my results.

[scottmoss]

Mikehew - thanks for the tips on Co2. I'll bear them in mind.

Today is the day I'm putting the bear into the pressure barrel and then I'll leave it for the required time. I wil report back on my results.

Regards

Paul Eamomm

I don't think the RSPCA will be happy about you putting a bear in a pressure barrell!!

[lollypopp]

Get one of these,a one second blast when needed is much easier and cheaper than those little spaklets, don't worry it's not screwed on, just resting there for me to take the picture! Never leave it screwed to the pressure barrel, dangerous and expensive!!!

[PaulEamonn]

I don't think the RSPCA will be happy about you putting a bear in a pressure barrell!!

Yeah it put up a bit of a struggle but I got it in there in the end!! LOL

[PaulEamonn]

Get one of these,a one second blast when needed is much easier and cheaper than those little spaklets, don't worry it's not screwed on, just resting there for me to take the picture! Never leave it screwed to the pressure barrel, dangerous and expensive!!!

Lollypopp - is that one of the refillable ones?

Regard

-Paul Eamonn

[PaulEamonn]

Lollypopp mentioned that you shouldn't leave the large Co2 canisters attached to the barrel. Does that also apply for the small capsules in the plastic holder (which is the type I've got)? Or are they safe to leave on all the time?