Priming vs Force Carbing - Page 2

**Yooper** · 01-18-2012, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badbrew

Do you priming people ever just dump the sugar in the keg straight?

I never do- I dissolve it in about 1 cup water or so, and then rack the beer into it in the keg. The sugar won't dissolve well if you just dump it in, and then you'd have to stir it or agitate it to mix it up.

mattyb85 · 02-06-2012, 03:38 AM

Just wanted to say thanks to all the advice you guys gave I kegged my first two beers this weekend, an IPA & a red ale. I decided to go force carb and combo-ed the fast carb and the set it and forget it. 30 psi yesterday after kegging until about 30m ago when i lowered it to 12, ill leave it there for the rest of the week and try it saturday which will be 1 week from kegging. I'll post to let you know how they turn out.

**dinnerstick** · 02-06-2012, 07:43 AM

one thing to add, a bit late but oh well, co2 refills are a pain for me to get (think bicycle), sugar is easy, i always prime my beer kegs, save the co2 for dispensing and for carbonating cider, skeeter pee, etc. don't know how much of the tank i save with each primed keg, probably not much, but a 2kg tank lasts a good many kegs

**Brewnoob1** · 02-06-2012, 01:35 PM

I've read that in an ideal setup where you have zero leaks and everything is perfect, a person uses right around half a pound of co2 per 5 gallon keg. That is for both force carbing and serving. So, with a 5lb tank, you'd probably not see more than 10 kegs carbed and served. Obviously, this is ideal situations. You'll probably see realistic numbers in the 5-7 range with a 5lber.

mattyb85 · 02-14-2012, 12:26 PM

So I kegged my first two beers. A red ale & an IPA and they came out great just gotta figure out the best pressure. My next two are another IPA & a maple pale ale. Now the maple I'm supposed to use maple syrup to prime. I think I read somewhere that for kegging you use less sugar to prime is this true? Meaning I would use less maple syrup to prime?

**copyright1997** · 02-14-2012, 12:33 PM

Yes, use about 1/2 the amount you would use for bottling. Also, since you are kegging, you can always add CO2 (if not carbonated enough) or vent a few times (if over carbonated).

LMGK · 02-14-2012, 12:39 PM

Just refilled my 15 pound tank, last refill was sept 2010. My guess is approx 30 cornys force carbed in that time span and at least 6 to 8 sankeys have been through it. Make a lot of seltzer as well as brew. Also use to clean kegs also.

**ValleyBrew** · 02-14-2012, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Yes, use about 1/2 the amount you would use for bottling. Also, since you are kegging, you can always add CO2 (if not carbonated enough) or vent a few times (if over carbonated).

I agree. That is what's so awesome about kegging. There is no way to mess it up...permanently. And ultimately, when you start serving, the volumes of CO2 will end up in line with your pressure/temp combo. Even if you get a perfect priming carb from your sugar, the volumes will change some depending on those factors.