drummerboyas157

Recipes 

So i have bottled a few batches and have to say bottling has worn me out. I am hoping kegging will be less work since there is less to sanitize no capping etc, is this true? I read a couple overviews of kegging and was wondering if I want to carb naturally do you need to have a co2 tank still? I know force carbing you need it but is there any way you can do it without one? I am short on money right now and want to get into it slowly to see if i like it. Any suggestions?

johnsma22

Recipes 

You can naturally carbonate in a keg, but you'll need a CO2 tank setup to be able to dispense it.

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Cheers,
John

Seven

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Ideally you'd want to have a C02 tank because once you rack the beer to the keg, C02 is then used to pressurize the keg which helps seal the lid. It is also good to purge the headspace to replace the air in the keg with C02. Both of these apply even when naturally carbing with priming sugar.

MrGoodbar

Recipes 

This weekend was my first experience kegging, and I loved it. Sanitizing and cleaning were very simple, read through the FAQ Sticky about kegging. I am force carbing instead of natural. You have the initial investment of around $160, but then really the only recurring cost you could have is CO2.

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"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'"
-Deep Thought, Jack Handy

solbes

Recipes 

20 minutes tops to keg a batch and 60-75 to bottle a batch. Personally I will continue to do both, though I must admit I smile a little when I realize I will be kegging this batch instead of bottling.

If you naturally prime with sugar, one slightly cheaper option is to dispense with the keg charger system (~$20-25), usually used for kegging on the go. You will probably need 4-6 of the 16 gram cartridges to dispense one keg. About a buck a piece. After dispensing 3-5 kegs worth, you will be wishing you had just bought the tank first. If you were planning on buying a keg charger later on, this might get you kegging cheaper on the front end.

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Primary #1: Umlaut my Kolsch III #2:Empty
Secondary #1: Russian Imperial Stout#2: Empty
Kegged: Irish Red, Sunset Wheat clone
Bottles: Piker Liker Porter, Dubbel, Carmelite Tripel, Belgian Tripel, Apfelwine (Windsor)
On Deck: Dusseldorf Alt, Queen of Hearts SMaSH, Honkers Ale wanna-be, Stella clone, Oktoberfest

drummerboyas157

Recipes 

Thanks for the great info everyone

drummerboyas157

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So I bought my keg setup. Should be here in a week or so. I am excited!

msal

Recipes 

If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up going with for a keg setup? I'm fairly new to homebrewing, and have just started researching all of the different options...

Thanks

drummerboyas157

Recipes 

I went with this kit
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/kits/SHPCK-BALL_1keg_homebrew_party_kit.shtml

I probably will get a door tap pretty soon after I get this, and probably another keg but I was low on money so this is what i started with. I added the 5lb Co2 tank as well

MrGoodbar

Recipes 

That is great! I really like my set-up from Bev Factory, and I have been enjoying my beer fresh from the tap.

Just a heads up: I had to replace all of the O-rings, the kit comes with a set and it was really easy.

__________________
"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed - Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, 'It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver.'"
-Deep Thought, Jack Handy