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-   -   Keg carb question (http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/keg-carb-question-74946/)

kmlavoy 08-04-2008 03:28 AM

Keg carb question
 
So, I've been having some issues with getting a keg to carb (mainly due to my not checking for leaks). Got that all worked out. So, I've had this keg sitting for a while that I had some sugar solution in, and there's plenty of pressure. Tonight, just to be sure, I pulled a glass. Lots of foam. Flat beer.

Here's my questions: the keg was warm. Is that why there was no CO2 in solution (as I know that beers carb better cold)? Or should it be even somewhat carbed when I pull a glass? Again, loads of foam, flat beer, confused new kegger.

Followup, sort of unrelated question about the beer gun. If you transfer beer to a keg with priming sugar, then bottle the beer before it's carbed with the beer gun, should it not reasonably carb? Or is it just better to wait a week or two first, chill it, then bottle?

Donasay 08-04-2008 04:36 AM

define a while, the keg needs to sit unopened for 3 weeks, think of it as a big bottle. Additionally if you have leaks, the CO2 can get out and not properly carb the beer.

Slipgate 08-04-2008 01:10 PM

It is possible all your sugar was eaten up by the yeast when the leak was there so all that natural carbonation is gone.

I put my cream ale at 30 psi for 24 hours, then 15 psi for 3 days, then lowered to 10 and tried one. The temp was probably 45. A little under-carbed but very drinkable. The next day it was perfect. I never shook the tank at all - just let it sit.

I am not sure what all this 3 weeks of waiting is all about, I've never had to wait that long for my beer to carb - either naturally or forced.

Donasay 08-04-2008 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipgate (Post 784618)
It is possible all your sugar was eaten up by the yeast when the leak was there so all that natural carbonation is gone.

I put my cream ale at 30 psi for 24 hours, then 15 psi for 3 days, then lowered to 10 and tried one. The temp was probably 45. A little under-carbed but very drinkable. The next day it was perfect. I never shook the tank at all - just let it sit.

I am not sure what all this 3 weeks of waiting is all about, I've never had to wait that long for my beer to carb - either naturally or forced.

3 weeks if he is carbing naturally using sugar, while the beer is probably carbed after a week or 2 and will continue to carb once it is place on CO2, it is best to wait 3 weeks as if it were a giant bottle.

kmlavoy 08-04-2008 03:16 PM

Right. My sugar got all eaten up and lost in the leak. I fixed that problem. Re-sugared, no leaks. Loads of foam, but the beer isn't carbonated at all. Just flat beer sitting under the foam, with no bubbles in solution. Is that a temp issue, or should I just be waiting longer? It's been at least 3 weeks already.

As a caveat, I do have CO2 now. I suppose I could just force carb it, but that gets back to my main question. I wouldn't really be chilling the beer until I drink it. Does a warm (ie. room temperature) beer taste carbonated out of a keg? Or do you need to somewhat chill it before you get the bubbles?


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