Polypin Management

[Invalid Stout]

1. Is a polypin sturdy enough to be dragged on a sheet across 5' of kitchen floor and then manhandled down 4 steps (I'm guessing it is as breweries sell polypins of beer!). Also, would it be like trying to move a giant jelly?
2. Does anyone know of something I could use as a 'bund' to place a polypin in in case it springs a leak.

If you keep it in the cardboard box it comes in moving it isn't a problem.

[Dennis King]

1. Is a polypin sturdy enough to be dragged on a sheet across 5' of kitchen floor and then manhandled down 4 steps (I'm guessing it is as breweries sell polypins of beer!). Also, would it be like trying to move a giant jelly?
2. Does anyone know of something I could use as a 'bund' to place a polypin in in case it springs a leak.

If you keep it in the cardboard box it comes in moving it isn't a problem.

I`ve always found the cardboard boxes a pain in the arse, shame because as you say they are easier to move and would help in the tilt.

[antinomy]

I've been wondering if there's some way of combining a polypin with a rigid outer container which would constrain the expansion and hopefully prevent explosions (though that depends on the sturdiness of the tap I guess). I have a 36 pint wooden keg which I would love to re-use but I don't like my chances of getting it properly sanitised or reliably watertight. If it were possible to somehow get a 20l polypin inside it (say, by cutting a large hole in the back with a jigsaw so that it could be secured closed again) and get the tap sticking out the tap hole, is there any reason I couldn't use the resulting assembly more or less like a normal budget barrel, just much prettier? Any obvious gotchas I should watch out for?

[Dennis King]

Really have never found bursting barrels a problem. they can take a fair amount of pressure as my original photo shows. They only problem I`ve found is when they age. I tend to replace each one after about a year, they are cheap to buy. I`ve not had one burst for several years

[antinomy]

It's more that I'm keen to re-use the barrel, which looks brilliant, than out of any particular concern for the polypin. Any views on the plausibility of the plan..? How flexible are the poly cubes, will they deform sensibly to sit inside a wooden barrel?

[Dennis King]

sorry cant help on that one, always left them unshackled

[Horatio]

I think that would be a little like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Polypins are cubes and although they are reasonably flexible they are rigid enough to hold a cube shape without support. I think you would be trying force the cube into another shape (ie a barrel shape) and it would result in too many folds and creases in the cube. This would result in a severely reduced capacity in the polypin and may even cause problems getting the beer back out; possibly causing damage to the cube too?

[antinomy]

Hmm, good thoughts. Anyone got any experience of the bag-in-a-box devices? They seem lighter weight and might solve that problem, but I'm a bit worried about the tap, and it's recommended for wine and flat cider...

[Dennis King]

I thought they were the same as polypins, might be wrong.

[antinomy]

http://www.brew2bottle.co.uk/20l-bag-in ... efill.html

Might be wong but they look a lot lighter, and are sold as non-reusable.

[Dennis King]

See what you mean, never come across these so can`t give an opinion

[mshergold]

Hi guys. My Cotleigh Tawny Owl (from GW's BYOBB) is in secondary and will go into my polypin on Wednesday night. I'd like a bit of carbonation in it, but obviously need to be VERY careful. Arturobandini had this to say on the matter of priming:

I wasn't sure how much sugars to add for a decent cask priming so I plumped for about 25g for 23 litres, no idea why.

If arturobandini sees this, could he let me know if this was fine? Also, what does anyone else have any thoughts?

[Dennis King]

I use 80gms for 23lts move it somewhere a bit warmer, when its expanded to what I want, this is where the experiance kicks in, I move it to the colder garage, leave to settle for 2 days then drink. As a guide I would say poke it with your finger you should be able to feel some give, if its solid like a football let off some gas you want it more like a beach ball. Don`t be worried in 30 years I`ve had very few go and that's been mainly because they are a few years old. Because they are fairly cheap I replace them every year or so.

[mshergold]

I'm going to fill my 20 litre polypin tonight, but wondered if it might be prudent to only put 19 litres of beer in and squeeze all the air out to give the Co2 room, especially as this is my first time.

[Blackaddler]

I'm going to fill my 20 litre polypin tonight, but wondered if it might be prudent to only put 19 litres of beer in and squeeze all the air out to give the Co2 room, especially as this is my first time.

Just fill it and leave it with the tap uppermost. You can vent off any excess CO2 easily, without letting any air in. Then gently tip it over into its serving position when ready.