Polypin Management

[Dennis King]

I normally get through mine in around 2 weeks but have known to last around 3-4 weeks. You may find the last few pints come out a bit flatter in that sort of time. It's a bit of experimenting to find the level of priming to suit your needs and taste.

[Dennis King]

I normally get through mine in around 2 weeks but have known to last around 3-4 weeks. You may find the last few pints come out a bit flatter in that sort of time. It's a bit of experimenting to find the level of priming to suit your needs and taste.

[DerbyshireNick]

Thanks Denis. Ill aim at the smaller end then so that I dont get into drinking just to get through stuff.

Would I be right in assuming that if left sealed the shelf life will be longer (i.e. 2-3 months)?

[Dennis King]

Would I be right in assuming that if left sealed the shelf life will be longer (i.e. 2-3 months)?

Never kept any more than about 6 weeks myself.

[Dennis King]

Would I be right in assuming that if left sealed the shelf life will be longer (i.e. 2-3 months)?

Never kept any more than about 6 weeks myself.

[Horatio]

I've left a brew in them for over four months before with no detrimental effects. I have also lagered in them for 3 or four months at zero degrees without issue too. Don't use them for serving though so can't comment on that.

[injac]

Sorry Guys I think I'm going mad here.

Let me check I got this right:

Syphon from FV to bag.
Close and allow to inflate - gently release exceess Co2 if needed.
Prime 10 days before serving with 80g Sugar
Move to serving position 2 days before

[scotia]

I am drinking a porter now that I put into pins on the 1st of September almost 9 weeks ago I never added any sugar, I expelled any froth and air before screwing the lid on, I checked that the bag was not getting too big if so I placed the outlet to the top and applying slight pressure to the bag gently opened the tap releasing any pressure and removing the void left after doing so.

[BrewMason]

Hi

I have read this thread back to front quite a few times over the last few months whilst setting up my handpull and polypin rig, it's been really helpful so thanks for all the contributors. I thought I would try to help others who are in the position I was in a few months back, by posting my set up, where I bought the stuff from and how it looks.

I am based in the UK (in Burton on Trent) and I am fond, as Dennis is, of proper cask beer which isn't massively carbonated so my setup may not suit if you want keg style beer.

So here goes, if you have any questions feel free to message me!

This is a photo of my overall setup, as you can see it isn't complicated, I don't have any temp control yet as the weather is just right at the moment but that will change soon. The overall cost was less than £100
[img]https://i.imgur.com/l9qharZ.jpg[/img]

I brew 19 litre batches so I bought two 10 litre polypins from here - http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/10-litre-polypin/ . This way I can keep half fresh whilst drinking the other half.

I sit the polypin in a holder I built out of wood with a hole for the tap, it's held up by chains so I can hike the back end up to get the last of the beer out.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/uzFMu3Z.jpg[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/1717tkc.jpg[/img]

My main line is 6mm (all sizes are internal dimensions) food grade piping, I bought a meter from eBay, link here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-ID-CLEAR ... 2749.l2649
I also bought a 'sample' size 10mm pipe from the same seller to connect the 6mm to the polypin tap, link here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10mm-ID-CLEA ... 2749.l2649
[img]https://i.imgur.com/CXpGDI0.jpg[/img]

You will also see in the above photo I have a john guest one way check valve hooked up to the 6mm main line. The main reason for this is when I have finished pouring for the night, I pull the 6mm tubing closest to the polypin out of the fitting and pull the beer from the line through the hand pull, this way I don't lose much beer and it isn't messy, link here (6mm fits 3/8ths) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Guest-3 ... 2749.l2649

Next I step up the 6mm pipe to 12.5mm to fit the hand pull, I bought this to do that - https://www.twowests.co.uk/13mm-to-6mm-tube-reducer
[img]https://i.imgur.com/5QEefDk.jpg[/img]

I got a meter of the 12.5mm pipe from the same seller as the other piping, here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-5mm-ID-CL ... 2749.l2649

This then connects to the hand pull with a jubilee clip
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Qz4O3Zv.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/4ix41Os.jpg[/img]
My hand pull is an Angram CQ model, I picked it up off gumtree for a bargain price of £40!

When I set up the system, I run some wilko oxi plus unfragranced cleaner though the lines, rinse it out with clean water then run star san through it and let it sit for 5 minutes. If you use warm water with the star san it will soften up your 10mm pipe nicely so it will fit the polypin tap easier.

I have used this system twice now and can't praise it enough! I get fresh cask style beer whenever I want.

I rack my beer to the polypins once FG has been hit, then condition it in them and vent as needed, if the pins don't expand I prime with a little sugar.

I hope this helps!

PS, here's a photo of my bar for those interested, I made it out of reclaimed pallet wood
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ByclAtg.jpg[/img]

[Dennis King]

Great post

[scotia]

I have found that when using the pins for an extended period of time that there is a taint in light beers, I have come to the conclusion that the bag is causing the problem maybe breaking down ? Another problem is getting the taps to seal. I have had mine for well over a year now though. I use stainless pins now, only problem with that is I have 5 gallon to drink in three days!

[Dennis King]

I have found that when using the pins for an extended period of time that there is a taint in light beers, I have come to the conclusion that the bag is causing the problem maybe breaking down ? Another problem is getting the taps to seal. I have had mine for well over a year now though. I use stainless pins now, only problem with that is I have 5 gallon to drink in three days!

Never had any of those problems.

[scotia]

Must not be using them enough!!

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

When using the stainless pins, fill the polypin with CO2 and use it as a cask breather for the actual cask.

[orlando]

Hi

I have read this thread back to front quite a few times over the last few months whilst setting up my handpull and polypin rig, it's been really helpful so thanks for all the contributors. I thought I would try to help others who are in the position I was in a few months back, by posting my set up, where I bought the stuff from and how it looks.

I am based in the UK (in Burton on Trent) and I am fond, as Dennis is, of proper cask beer which isn't massively carbonated so my setup may not suit if you want keg style beer.

So here goes, if you have any questions feel free to message me!

This is a photo of my overall setup, as you can see it isn't complicated, I don't have any temp control yet as the weather is just right at the moment but that will change soon. The overall cost was less than £100




I brew 19 litre batches so I bought two 10 litre polypins from here - http://www.lovebrewing.co.uk/10-litre-polypin/ . This way I can keep half fresh whilst drinking the other half.

I sit the polypin in a holder I built out of wood with a hole for the tap, it's held up by chains so I can hike the back end up to get the last of the beer out.


My main line is 6mm (all sizes are internal dimensions) food grade piping, I bought a meter from eBay, link here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-ID-CLEAR ... 2749.l2649
I also bought a 'sample' size 10mm pipe from the same seller to connect the 6mm to the polypin tap, link here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10mm-ID-CLEA ... 2749.l2649


You will also see in the above photo I have a john guest one way check valve hooked up to the 6mm main line. The main reason for this is when I have finished pouring for the night, I pull the 6mm tubing closest to the polypin out of the fitting and pull the beer from the line through the hand pull, this way I don't lose much beer and it isn't messy, link here (6mm fits 3/8ths) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Guest-3 ... 2749.l2649

Next I step up the 6mm pipe to 12.5mm to fit the hand pull, I bought this to do that - https://www.twowests.co.uk/13mm-to-6mm-tube-reducer


I got a meter of the 12.5mm pipe from the same seller as the other piping, here - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-5mm-ID-CL ... 2749.l2649

This then connects to the hand pull with a jubilee clip



My hand pull is an Angram CQ model, I picked it up off gumtree for a bargain price of £40!

When I set up the system, I run some wilko oxi plus unfragranced cleaner though the lines, rinse it out with clean water then run star san through it and let it sit for 5 minutes. If you use warm water with the star san it will soften up your 10mm pipe nicely so it will fit the polypin tap easier.

I have used this system twice now and can't praise it enough! I get fresh cask style beer whenever I want.

I rack my beer to the polypins once FG has been hit, then condition it in them and vent as needed, if the pins don't expand I prime with a little sugar.

I hope this helps!

PS, here's a photo of my bar for those interested, I made it out of reclaimed pallet wood

Pictures now showing.