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Tiredboy · 07-28-2012, 06:59 PM

I have an IPA I am due to dry hop this weekend. The plan had been to leave the hops in for a week, cold crash for a day or two then move to my keg. This is the first time I will be kegging and having trouble getting CO2 and I'm concerned that the CO2 may not be ready when i am (it might be another 2 weeks away or longer). As I see it I have three options:

1) Leave beer in primary and don't start dry hopping until I have CO2.
2) Dry hop and hope CO2 is ready soon (meaning a potentially long dry hop)
3) do as planned and move to keg on schedule and leave it unpressurised if CO2 isn't ready.

Gut feeling is option 1 is best as option 2 could mean too long a dry hop and option three might expose the beer to oxygen for too long.

Any suggestions?

d_jabsd · 07-28-2012, 07:05 PM

I would dry hop, then pull the hops and use bottling priming sugar- 1 cup priming sugar , 2 cups water. leave it at room temp for a week and you get a decent carb built up.

**brettwasbtd** · 07-28-2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_jabsd

I would dry hop, then pull the hops and use bottling priming sugar- 1 cup priming sugar , 2 cups water. leave it at room temp for a week and you get a decent carb built up.

This will work if you know your keg can seal with some pressure. I would wait until you know you can get the CO2, then dry hop. May have to a wait a few weeks but it is the easiest.

d_jabsd · 07-28-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brettwasbtd

This will work if you know your keg can seal with some pressure. I would wait until you know you can get the CO2, then dry hop. May have to a wait a few weeks but it is the easiest.

if your keg is leaking pressure faster than residual yeast can create natural CO2 and pressure, then it is time to buy replacement gaskets/seals and rebuild your keg.

**Curtis2010** · 07-28-2012, 08:39 PM

My suggestion: dry hop using a bag so that you can recover the spent hops then, if no C02 available soon thereafter , carbonate by priming.

**brettwasbtd** · 07-28-2012, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_jabsd

if your keg is leaking pressure faster than residual yeast can create natural CO2 and pressure, then it is time to buy replacement gaskets/seals and rebuild your keg.

Some kegs that hold pressure without any problems still won't seal without a 15-20psi shot of CO2...submitting the keg possible oxidation. Not a huge or guaranteed problem, but potential nonetheless

**Sir Humpsalot** · 07-28-2012, 11:19 PM

Even if the keg won't hold pressure, you will still have a blanket of CO2 in the vessel. Once the pressure equalizes with the outside, nothing will really be going in or out

Sure, temperature fluctuations will cause a tiny bit of air exchange, but I doubt it is any worse than you would get with a plain old rubber carboy cap.

So it should be fine sitting unpressurized if that's what winds up happening.

**brettwasbtd** · 07-29-2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Humpsalot

Even if the keg won't hold pressure, you will still have a blanket of CO2 in the vessel. Once the pressure equalizes with the outside, nothing will really be going in or out

Sure, temperature fluctuations will cause a tiny bit of air exchange, but I doubt it is any worse than you would get with a plain old rubber carboy cap.

So it should be fine sitting unpressurized if that's what winds up happening.

Well if it doesn't seal, will the slow rate of natural carbing seal it? Otherwise the CO2 (although creating a blanket) will just go out into the air and the beer wont be carbed. I am not trying to say the OP can't employ this method, just pointing out potential problems that could be avoided by just having some patience

***Yooper*** · 07-29-2012, 12:40 AM

Can you get a co2 charger where you are?

They are like this: http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/couplers/homebrew/cornelius_home_brew_keg_co2_charger.shtml?CAWELAID =1068741017&gclid=CNeOquLSvbECFSMCQAodQEAAEw

Those chargers are nifty because you can carb the keg with priming sugar and then serve it with one of those co2 guns.

If not, I'd go with option #1.

**FATC1TY** · 07-29-2012, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d_jabsd

if your keg is leaking pressure faster than residual yeast can create natural CO2 and pressure, then it is time to buy replacement gaskets/seals and rebuild your keg.

Not really. Some kegs and seals need some pressure to seat them properly. Doesn't mean they are needing replacment.

Past that, it's not advised even if it seals up to do so. He can't purge the oxygen out of the keg without co2.