Bag in a box dispensing (Beer Engine)

[Nofolkandchance]

For anyone that’s interested, I’d thought I’d post my set up for dispensing beer from jigsaw bag in a box http://www.baginboxonline.co.uk/products.html and a beer engine.

Think there was a bit of bad press on here about these bags but I have to say that for home brew, and in my personal opinion, having already used a pin with a cask breather, and, polypins, this method is far more practical and shelf life of the beer is truly excellent. Also there’s no fvcking about with hose clips and screwdrivers or mallets and shive’s and spile’s.

Yes, there not as tough as a polypin as their disposable and therefore priced accordingly however if you keep the bag in the box that’s provided and tape up the box around the tap they are surprisingly quite sturdy. To date, I’ve cleaned out and reused the bags without any problems at all however if your flush and can afford the £3.50, you can dispose of it when empty so saving money and time on cleaning

My simple set up

The tap on the bag is connected to the line with a vitop connector (you need to buy this separately)

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

It snaps on to the tap and the top is clicked into place. Turn the knob on the top and that opens the tap and lets the beer flow into the line.

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Pull a couple of nice pints

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Let them settle then drink

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Cleaning is very simple, take the vitop connector off the tap of the bag and insert a “spare tap” Click the vitop connector on and turn the knob to open the line.

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

Dunk the opened tap into a jug of cleaner of your choice and pull the cleaner through the beer line (jug is empty in this instance its only to demonstrate).

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

I normally flush with water after cleaning, and if I’m not going to be having a beer for a few days, I have a spare bag with filled with videne solution in which I pull though to keep the lines nicely clean.

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

[Titch]

Nice thanks for sharing. Where did you get the rest of the bits ? Fl3bay ?

[Belter]

Thanks for posting. Very interesting. I've just acquired a beer engine so will most likely get some of these.

[ArmChair]

This looks interesting.

Do you have links to what you need?

Ive already got the beer engine, but what else would one need?

[Nofolkandchance]

Nice thanks for sharing. Where did you get the rest of the bits ? Fl3bay ?

All the bags and boxes and the connectors are from jigsaw.http://www.baginboxonline.co.uk/ Theres a minimum order if you do it online but if you ring up their happy to post out single items to home brewers.

The line is just pvc line from the local home brew shop.

Berr engine is from Colin Farrar Brewry Services (reconditioned) I got it with the olympus creamer tip. http://cfbsonline.co.uk/index.php/handp ... rkler.html Its superb as it keeps the turbulence in the beer when submerged. Perfect pints

I'd better mention that I put little to no sugar in for secobdary fermentation. I generally rack into the bag after I get two readings the same and theres plenty residal carbonation in the finished beer and just enough fermentables left to give a nice condition. Ive also added 20 grms of sugar to a 20ltr bag, for any beer thats been left in the fv too long which I didnt get round to bagging but had to bleed off every 2 or 3 days as co2 was billowing the bag out.

[Nofolkandchance]

Heres the link to the vitop connectors http://www.baginboxonline.co.uk/vitop.html

Please note that the one shown on the site are the old design. The new ones they sell (as shown in the picture in my first post) have the hinged top.

[Nofolkandchance]

Oops for got to mention theres a 3/8 John guest inline check valve http://www.stonehelmhomebrew.co.uk/Equi ... ac1d6bc7cc and 2No john guest push in hose tail connectors http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Guest-3- ... 1168021013


Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

I also have a check valve on the beer engine.

Untitled by Pabzki, on Flickr

[steambrew]

What a lovely post, I use a beer engine with firkins and all the kit but I feel your set up is first class much better than mine.
I will be doing the same bag in a box for my cider set up as I have a cider pump which has never been used but it will be now

[timbo41]

great post sticky please mods.
Also, not being greatly familiar with these bags, can you use finings in them, and do you totally fill or leave a.little.headspace for whatever co2 is produced during conditioning
Cheers

[Mr. Dripping]

Nice post and thanks for sharing the pictures.

Could you just confirm that I've got this right please?
The complete system requires:
Box (for beer)
Vitop Connector
Beer Line
JG Check Valve (3/8" in your case)
Demand Valve

Also, could you please clarify.....is the demand valve linked up to a CO2 tank?? i.e. is the beer under CO2 that is replenished every time beer is drawn?

It looks like that system would suit my needs perfectly

[Belter]

Not sure you need a check valve if you have a demand valve. They both serve similar purposes but the demand valve is vital.

[jmc]

Excellent post.

This week I was given a used 10L empty bag-in-a-box from a friend.
(It was full of Tring's Collies Dog initially)

It took me AGES to get the tap out but managed in the end.

Harvested yeast from dregs. Much better than from 5L mini-keg as no air added to container to dispense. Yeast going well.
The one I have has 2 layers (bag in a bag) and seems quite tough. I've left starsan soaking in it after a thorough clean.

I was wondering how I could use the box so your post was very timely.

[Nofolkandchance]

Not sure you need a check valve if you have a demand valve. They both serve similar purposes but the demand valve is vital.

Yeah your probably right. Just I had it available and thought I'd put it in the line near the tap just incase

[Deebee]

would this work on a dalx tap or are we dependant on a beer engine to pull the beer through. DAMN... another thing for the I must have list

[jmc]

would this work on a dalx tap or are we dependant on a beer engine to pull the beer through. DAMN... another thing for the I must have list

Others with direct experience may know for sure but as pressure is normally minimal in bag-in-a -box, I think it may struggle to push beer out via beer tube and Dalex.

It 'might' work with gravity if box above Dalex tap though.