Portable Cask Serving Station Build

**DubbelDach** · 02-10-2011, 02:17 PM

Inspired by the exploits of Schlenkerla and BioBeing, and my love of cask-conditioned/real ale, I built a Portable Cask Serving Station (PCSS)! Quickly, to the pics...

Started with purchasing 3 one-gallon cubitainers (polypins) from Northern Brewer with spigots. Added a length of 3/8" beer line, and the "cask" was ready. I figure that when I do 5 gallon batches, I can pull 1 gallon off and keg the rest.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LE43NY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001LEC3XG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1A2R1A9W41A6EZHFDC69. This is the perfect size to hold a 1 gallon cube with room for Igloo ice blankets around the sides.

The pop-up top is cool, because I drilled a hole for the beer line to run up to the pump, but my making my tower removable, I can close the top when I am on the move.

The Tower:

**DubbelDach** · 02-10-2011, 02:17 PM

The tower is three sections of 4" PVC. The lower tower looks like it's for rainspout applications, as it's rectangular on one end, round on the other. I attached brackets to the inside with 3/8" machine screws and then attached the brackets to the cooler with 1/2" machine screws. Definitely measured, as I didn't want the screws protruding too far.

The http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-Products-RP800-Chrome-Rocket/dp/B000BGM2XG is connected to a 4" end cap.

The pump and cap then fits snuggly into a 4" coupling. All three of these PVC parts are very sturdy and fit very snug. I thought I would have to glue it all together, but I think I can just let it as is to facilitate cleaning and easy removal of the tower for travel.

Finished product:

Going to test it this weekend with beer filled off a tap. I don't have anything conditioned yet. So we're just going to fill it and serve. In the filling process, I believe some of the carbonation will drop out, and I really just want to test the pump, determine if I need to build a sparkler, and really just give 'er a test drive.

Will post more pics after the weekend!

robbiex0r · 02-10-2011, 02:24 PM

Pretty cool, very simple, I like that. What is a sparkler though?

Jaysus · 02-10-2011, 02:32 PM

I am a big fan of the racing stripes!

**DubbelDach** · 02-10-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaysus

I am a big fan of the racing stripes!

I thought that electric tape was the perfect accoutrement for this 98.5% plastic build... And I like color!

And thank you for donating the test beer for Saturday:

**wilceaser** · 02-10-2011, 02:38 PM

Well Done!

**DubbelDach** · 02-15-2011, 01:44 PM

Video of it in action on Saturday... We pulled a growler of jaysus' brown ale and then just poured it into the polypin. Just wanted to test everything out. The pump leaks a little bit right where the handle goes into the body. I heard that about these pumps. It's not real bad, but might try to see what I can do there...

YouTube

**jbrookeiv** · 02-15-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DubbelDach

The pump leaks a little bit right where the handle goes into the body. I heard that about these pumps. It's not real bad, but might try to see what I can do there...

Mine did the same thing, except it literally shot liquid out of the side of the pump from the handle. I returned it, waiting for a replacement from Amazon.

I also called Valterra, the manufacturer of the pump, and I think they are going to send me a new one. Evidently, this is a very common issue with these pumps, and they are trying to fix the issue.

Great setup, by the way. I am about to build the exact same setup, so this will be very helpful.

**DubbelDach** · 02-15-2011, 02:07 PM

Me filling the cube from a growler, lol:

One concern is that it needs a sturdier/heavier base... It wants to tilt forward when pumping. Not sure what to do there... I want to keep the portability of it.

NEXT step is to condition something in the cube... I made a 5g batch of Irish Red on Saturday, so that's the leading candidate. May end up pulling 1g into a pin, then serving the other 4 on draught.

**jbrookeiv** · 02-15-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DubbelDach

One concern is that it needs a sturdier/heavier base... It wants to tilt forward when pumping. Not sure what to do there... I want to keep the portability of it.

I think that's why I'm going to go with a rectangular cooler instead of a cube, more stability when pumping.