Info on Kegging Beer

[Garth]

Tonights graft



after 23 kits and 10 all grains and bottling the lot, I am a bit sick of bottling, the novelty has definately worn off and I'm looking to keg the next brew but to be honest I haven't a clue, so i'm looking for some good advice.

I have some old gear given to me recently from a wine/beer maker which comprises of:- an old but clean burgundy colour keg (prob Boots), an ancient Hambleton Bard cylinder (1993 but full) and a few lids, one with an S30 connection on. The keg will need a new tap as it's very stiff and won't come off the barrel.

I am eventually going to use a hand pump (a la Jim), and possibly go down the corny route, I will still bottle 5-10 pints for friends and family, but at the moment can you knowledgeable lot give me some help how to keg my standard bitter with this lot, because i'm sick as 'owt of this bottling lark.

[Orfy]

Cheapest easiest option is to go for a pressure barrel and a widget type set up. Then look at cornies and a full size bootle and reg.

It can be expensive. It also depends how many brews you want to keep on draft.

I think the cheapest way though is to go for polypins and a beer engine.

[Reaper]

Hi Garth
I soon got sick of bottling, I when down the cornie route, best thing I did, its a bit of an expence but well worth it in the end. dont know if you have seen my little set up Norn on ebay is worth keeping an eye on. Ive had a few kegs off him, nice man.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CORNELIUS-DE-JONG ... dZViewItem

regards Reaper

[mysterio]

DaaB & Jim's page is a good start...

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/cornelius.htm

Cornelius kegs make the whole business very easy and fun. Keep your eye on ebay for the dirt cheap kegs, but Norm's £30 kegs which include a chrome tap and all the disconnects/tubing are one of the best deals you'll find. His email is normansplace@hotmail.com.

Then you'll need a CO2 bottle, which will take a bit of yellow pages and phoning around but it should be around the £15 mark and will last you months. You'll also need a regulator for the CO2 bottle.

[SteveD]

And on the twenty second day, after seven days and seven nights in primary, and fourteen days and fourteen nights clearing in secondary, the Lord did say unto the brewer. Keggest thou now, but if thou mustdst bottle, thou shalt not bottle in clear glass lest thy beer become skunked and thy guests will curse thee, wail, and gnash their teeth, such will be their wrath

Here endeth the lesson.

[mysterio]

[Andy]

OOps!

[PieOPah]

If you want to exclusively keg, I would suggest using the bottles to archive your beer.

Since I started AG brewing, whether I have bottled or kegged the beer, I have always ensured that I have 4 bottles which go into the loft. Each bottle is 'coded' so I can look it up on a spreadsheet. The code is simple - initials and date bottled eg MM271006 would be my Mighty Mild which was bottled on 27th Oct 2006.

I am looking forward to the day that I have a good 10-20 different beers and can then invite a bunch of mates around to sample them all.

Another great thing about this is that if I have had a 'bad' batch (only my christmas beer so far thankfully) I will find out whether time helped fix it or not.

[Andy]

...or a good sampling session at kegging time!

[Scooby]

Have you got a balaclav to go with that anorak PoP

[Garth]

Have you got a balaclav to go with that anorak PoP

I use 75% clear bottles and I don't think I've had a skunked brew yet, they never see the light of day see, I keep them locked in a wardrobe to warm condition then they come downstairs to the kitchen cupboard where they mature in the cool and I can tell you they don't stay in that cupboard for very long.

Especially after a day like today, battling with the steering wheel to keep the truck on the road. When you see at least 5 overturned artics, you tend to get a Mars bar in your pants.

[Garth]

so anyway, can I use the gear I have for the time being or should I be looking at some more stuff,? damn, I hate having to hide all these bank statements.

[Frothy]

I like the 23L brews because I can corny most of it and the remaining 4L can be bottle conditioned.

Garth did you have to drink a bottle for every bottle? These little sacrifices that we make

Frothy

[SteveD]

Have you got a balaclav to go with that anorak PoP

I use 75% clear bottles and I don't think I've had a skunked brew yet, they never see the light of day see, I keep them locked in a wardrobe to warm condition then they come downstairs to the kitchen cupboard where they mature in the cool and I can tell you they don't stay in that cupboard for very long.

Especially after a day like today, battling with the steering wheel to keep the truck on the road. When you see at least 5 overturned artics, you tend to get a Mars bar in your pants.

The key phrase being "they never see the light of day", skunking being caused by UV light acting on hop components. In your case that's fine, but if bottles are stored near a window, or a UV disco lamp, or the sun then skunking is a risk. I read somewhere that so much beer sold in clear and green glass is skunked that the public is used to the taste and notices when it's not there!

Being a fresh cornie convert I shall be bottling some beer once again..I'll be using the internal-screw stoppered brown quarts I've got in the shed.

[SteveD]

I'll be using the internal-screw stoppered brown quarts I've got in the shed.

surely they should be in the British museum by now

Perhaps, but they're very good for the purpose, and luuuverly! They're not having them! Not having them I say!