Kegging 101

[BigBry]

So I haven't kegged in several years, had even sold all my kegging stuff and have just been bottling. I have a real basic question as I set my newly purchased kegging equipment up.

Does the CO2 hook to the side that has the rod to the bottom or to the other side?

Thanks

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Normally, the keg will indicate the "In Post" with a notch, indentation, or marks on the post.

Yes, the CO2 goes to the short rod going into the keg. The long rod is for serving.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Some recommend initially hooking up the carbonating to the out post. Yes, this will bubble CO2 thru the beer inside the keg at the risk of having beer back-flow thru the regulator. Please don't ask how I know...

 

[AJinJacksonville]

Like @Tobor_8thMan referenced, some suggest plugging the CO2 line into the serving/out post for carbonating while doing rapid forced carbonations. The idea is, the CO2 will inject from the bottle up as the bubbles climb upward through the beer. I used to do rapid force carbs (when I was low on homebrew and wanted to be impatient), and never noticed a difference between carbing through the out post versus the in post. Plus, you run a higher risk of what Tobor mentioned.

As I've gotten older, I find that I'm more patient...I set it at 8-10 PSI and walk away for a week or two. No over-carbonation, no serving issues, etc. More often than not, I tended to overcarb when I did the rapid force carbonating process. Don't get me wrong, when you have a party in two days and need to get CO2 in there, it'll work (in a pinch).

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I initially push the keg lid closed with 30 psi. I then check for leaks. If things are OK, the keg goes into the keezer and carbonates at 30 psi to 1 to 2 days. I then dial down the regulator to the psi for the desired levels of CO2.

 

[myndflyte]

Well welcome back to kegging! But yeah, nothing more to add to what others have said.

 

[b-boy]

Nothing worse than beer backing up into your regulator. Make sure you have check valves on your manifolds. They aren't always on there - even the expensive ones.