Question about a keg

geno_47 · 02-07-2012, 06:45 PM

First off, this is my first time posting. I have been on hbt for about 2 weeks now. What a wealth of information. Getting back to my topic, a family member gave me this keg today. Ive been trying to figure out how to take out the fittings so i can clean the inside. It says Firestone on it but i have yet to be able to find instructions on how to do it. So here are some pictures. Any help would be wonderful. Thanks in advance.

**GodsStepBrother** · 02-07-2012, 08:32 PM

That is a cask keg, made to poor real ale. If you haven't heard of that Google it. Basically you bottle condition in the keg and serve with a gravity spigot. Pretty cool you might be able to use that one day if you want to make a cask beer.

wailingguitar · 02-07-2012, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GodsStepBrother

That is a cask keg, made to poor real ale. If you haven't heard of that Google it. Basically you bottle condition in the keg and serve with a gravity spigot. Pretty cool you might be able to use that one day if you want to make a cask beer.

Not quite... This is what is called a Golden Gate style keg, it was the industry standard before the Hoff-Stevens valve. The fitting on the top is CO2 IN the bottom fitting is BEER OUT... the hole in the side is where the keg would be filled and would then have a wooden bung pounded into it. Google Golden Gate keg and you will find info and you MAY be able to find the fittings to make it work.

**GodsStepBrother** · 02-07-2012, 09:19 PM

Well there you go, a local brewery has a bunch of these and still use the. Always worried about the wooden bung though. Seems like it would be really hard to sanitize that thing.

geno_47 · 02-07-2012, 09:47 PM

Well i have found a lot of information now that i know what kind of keg it is. I also found another thread.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/how-do-i-open-keg-what-type-valve-163090/

So my understanding is that this is for cask conditioned ales. If i get this cleaned up well, could i use this as a primary for fermentation? Once fermentation is done transfer it to either another vessel or bottles? The equipment to make this an operational keg will cost around $110 bucks and the condition of the parts are "as is" so who knows if they are functional.

I appreciate all the help.

TravisT · 02-08-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wailingguitar

Not quite... This is what is called a Golden Gate style keg, it was the industry standard before the Hoff-Stevens valve. The fitting on the top is CO2 IN the bottom fitting is BEER OUT... the hole in the side is where the keg would be filled and would then have a wooden bung pounded into it. Google Golden Gate keg and you will find info and you MAY be able to find the fittings to make it work.

I went to big horse brew pub in Hood River, OR . They prob have a 2bbl brewery and I took a little tour. They used just this type of keg for there brewery/restaurant. Had a few stacked in a corner. Might not be the best keg for what we as "small" homebrews use them for.

**TopherM** · 02-08-2012, 04:16 PM

They make great cask kegs, like someone else already said. They also make great fermenters, just bung the hole and drill the bung. Some ambitious types have also put an element in there and turned them into HLTs.

Hot rod enthusiasts often use them as gas tanks.

Rivenin · 02-08-2012, 05:29 PM

McMenamins over here in the PNW uses them, they make a crap ton of beer.
prolly got a good deal on them is why they use them instead of the normal kegs.