Fellow homebrewers, meet my new beer engine . . . - Page 9

**Homercidal** · 02-22-2008, 02:21 PM

I had a pulled ale a few years ago in Ann Arbor, and it (They, actually) was good, but I'd prefer to have my beer cold and fairly carbed. The place in AA had their casks in the basement and they had several styles. I wish I could remember the name of the place!

I am interested in the history and novelty of the thing.

dlauver · 02-26-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homercidal

I had a pulled ale a few years ago in Ann Arbor, and it (They, actually) was good, but I'd prefer to have my beer cold and fairly carbed. The place in AA had their casks in the basement and they had several styles. I wish I could remember the name of the place!

I am interested in the history and novelty of the thing.

Arbor Brewing Company most likely. Great beer!

GeorgeH · 04-17-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homercidal

I had a pulled ale a few years ago in Ann Arbor, and it (They, actually) was good, but I'd prefer to have my beer cold and fairly carbed. The place in AA had their casks in the basement and they had several styles. I wish I could remember the name of the place!

I am interested in the history and novelty of the thing.

I would guess it was Ashley's: http://www.ashleys.com/ I know they've done casks and firkins in the past, and I just got an email about a firkin event in the next month or two.

argyle · 04-23-2008, 06:16 PM

This is an awsome looking pump. Looks to work pretty good too! I'd like to make one. Does anyone have the plans for this still?

**Revvy** · 05-09-2008, 03:09 PM

I'm bumping this up (Thanks Ryan) becasue I'm trying to come up with something like this that looks like it would be used in the late 1800's at a vintage Base Ball game... I'm hoping SOMEONE has the 2 byo articles that supposedly contain plans for a beer engine-the May 1997 or The January 2005 issues.

Or any other ideas...

Please take a look at my thread to get an idea of what I'm talking about...

Thanks!

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/1800s-era-tap-systems-clever-fake-help-65335/

**drez77** · 05-09-2008, 07:59 PM

I have the byo magazine issue from 2005. PM me and i can get you a scan of it this weekend. I will say the article is a little weak, it talkes more about the box construction than anything else. But anyway, I can get it for you.

Mike

modenacart · 06-12-2008, 01:09 AM

How do Pubs keep up their beer engines? Do they self drain?

doomedplanet · 08-16-2008, 03:07 AM

This thread was inspirational. What an easy solution that will make me happy. I believe this is the best way to drink a beer hands down. When I lived in the bay area I drank cask conditioned ales every time I went to Magnolias or the Toronado. Now that I'm in Eugene, forget about it, I don't know of a single place that serves them(it is possible there is some place here I don't know about). I must make a version of this sometime soon. I would probably use a smaller vessel than my corny keg just because I would rather just cellar a couple of gallons, since I couldn't drink a full corny fast enough except if I had a party.

thanks!

Boerderij_Kabouter · 11-10-2008, 10:35 PM

This looks awesome!!!

Here is my idea.... taking an idea from this thread that discusses the 5L mini-kegs.

I would like to cask condition in these 5L mini-kegs and serve them with a pump system similar to the one described in this thread.

My idea is to take the extra mini/dorm fridge I have laying around, and convert it to a stand along mini-beer-engine. I would serve out of the 5L kegs so I wouldn't have to worry about oxidation as I would drink the keg within a week or so. So here are some pics to help....

I would mount the pump on top of the fridge and keep the kegs in the fridge.

My question is this: How do you maintain carbonation in the kegs while htey are on tap? I think I will need to make some kind of a tapper for the kegs that has a dip tube to the bottom of the keg, for the beer to be pumped from, and a breather to prevent excessive off gassing.

Any suggestions or ideas on how to make the tapper would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Boerderij_Kabouter · 11-10-2008, 10:58 PM

With a little searching I found this article:

BYO - Will using a beer engine result in flat homebrew?

It would seem that a traditional engine system relies on the lower cellar temperature to maintain the ~1.5 volumes of CO2 in solution. The beer IS exposed to atmospheric pressure but maintains its low carbonation because of the lower temperature. The head on the beer is formed by running it through the sparkler.

So here is what I am a-thinkin:

One two hole stopper:

One 1/4" stainless tube that runs through the center hole (dip tube)

and

One of these air filters to avoid air-bourne contaminants such as acetobacer: