Advertise Here
Main · BrewSpace · Recipes · Wiki · Groups · Clubs · Gallery · Reviews · Video · Blogs · Store

Bottling wand for Perlick 525/75, AKA Bowie BottlerUltra Portable Kits - $74.95, Kegconnection.comMemorial Day Sale KegCo
Go Back   Home Brew Forums > Home Brewing Beer > Bottling/Kegging



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-21-2008, 08:43 PM   #1
Junior Member
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 1
Default room temp kegs?

Hi, new the formum but been brewing for a long time... Finally thinking about getting a kegging system. For a variety of reasons, I don't want to get a dedicated keg fridge. Will I be OK to store CO2-pressurized kegs in the garage, which stays fairly cool year round, and just fill a growler and toss it in the fridge whenever I want some beer? Or, for parties or drinking larger amounts can I just run the serving line through an ice bath to chill as it is poured? I'm also not averse to drinking garage-temp beer sometime, just wanted people advice about options to a keg fridge.

THanks!


dpscruz is offline Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 09:09 PM   #2
Member
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fulton, NY
Posts: 33
Default

it's going to take a lot more pressure to carbonate it. you will have issues with outlet pressure and foaming if it is not refrigerated. the grolsch's you fill will probably taste flat once they are refrigerated.

it's not a good system, you'll also end up going through a lot of co2, as you will need to keep high pressures to keep the beer carbonated, and then purge it back to 5lbs to dispense, then bring it back up to 35 or so psi.

it can be done, but i wouldn't recommend it.
carls47807 is offline Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 09:40 PM   #3
Senior Member
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Parma Hts. OH
Posts: 444
Default

What would the variety of reasons be for not getting a keg fridge? They can be had on craigslist for less than $100 sometimes and you'll have all the cold beer and pop you could ever deam of. Since it will be in the garage, it does not need to be a certain size or color either.
__________________
Primary - Apfelwine
Secondary - Niagara white wine
Kegged - AH Special Holiday Ale, AH Cream Ale, AH Honey Wheat
Bottled - Continental Pilsner, Island Mist Mango Citrus, Island Mist Wildberry Shiraz
Up next - AH Foster's clone, Labatt's clone, Hard Apple Cider,
The Independence Street Brew House
MikeInCtown is offline Reply With Quote
Old 03-21-2008, 11:00 PM   #4
Formerly Bike N Brew
 
FlyingHorse's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Evanston IL
Posts: 1,864
Default

You can do it (personally, I'd invest in the keg fridge, though)...depends how "cool" your garage is, and what styles of beer you drink (and thus how carbonated you want them).

For example, if you're shooting for 2.5 volumes of CO2 in your finished beer, you need roughly:
12 psi @ 40F
18 psi @ 50F
23 psi @ 60F
29 psi @ 70F

And you can dispense at whatever psi you're carbing at, by adjusting the line length, to avoid the lost CO2 from purging and repressurizing. Assuming a picnic tap held 4 ft above the center of the keg and 3/16" ID hose, you'd need approximately:
3.5 ft @40F
5.5 ft @50F
7.5 feet @60F
9.5 feet @70F

If there are big temp swings in the garage, you'll end up fiddling with the psi and swapping out different hoses, or just dealing with undercarbed beer (or foam).
__________________
No signature required.
FlyingHorse is offline Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2008, 12:38 AM   #5
kal
TheElectricBrewery.com
 
kal's Avatar
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 1,311
Default

Yup. While I'd never do this myself for the reasons stated, you may be able to do this if your garage temp stays within a ~5 degree range all year. If it doesn't, forget it. You'll be constantly having to tweak the pressure to add or bleed off CO2.

Just not worth it IMHO.

Kal
kal is offline Reply With Quote
Old 03-22-2008, 01:52 AM   #6
Senior Member
Recipes 
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 892
Default

I chill my keg and force carb and leave cold for a few days to make sure its fully carbed. Then if when i'm tired of that beer i put it in my closet and start a new beer.

Then after its aged a bit i'll take my co2 and DIY beer gun into my closet and fill a couple six packs up and enjoy them.

Works fine for me.


__________________
"Retail is for suckers."
Chello is offline Reply With Quote
Reply
Thread Tools
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Carbonating kegs at room temp? Bytor1100 Bottling/Kegging 16 06-18-2010 05:40 AM
After bottling, straight to cold temp or keep at room temp? CROM Beginners Beer Brewing Forum 16 10-30-2009 05:02 AM
Kegs at room temp? jagg Bottling/Kegging 7 10-05-2009 06:52 PM
kegs at room temp eazyebeneezer Bottling/Kegging 5 02-25-2008 11:55 AM
Room Temp Vs. Beer Temp Greenandsilver Beginners Beer Brewing Forum 11 01-24-2006 06:33 PM





Contact Us - Top - Privacy - All times are GMT. The time now is 08:09 PM.
Copyright © Group Builder, Inc - All Rights Reserved
Craft Beer & Brewery Forum