Kegging cider...?

[punkrawkgeek]

So I have three gallons of cider, which is done and nicely aged. I was planning on kegging it up, but I've never Kegged a cider before. Any suggestions on how I'd go about doing so?
Thanks!

 

[j1n]

Keg it like you would keg a beer...

I sanitize the keg, purge it with co2, rack beer or cider into the keg, purge head space after you seal it up, carb it with co2, serve.

 

[punkrawkgeek]

Okay. So nothing too different. That's good times. I might top up with some apple juice to sweeten it up a bit. Perfect!

 

[JonM]

You can also top it up with apple juice concentrate or honey (which is what I did two days ago). If you keep it cold, it shouldn't start refermenting. That's why I love kegged cider - it's so easy to make it sweet and carbonated.

 

[punkrawkgeek]

I guess I could kill the yeast, like in some wines and keg it with honey or juice. How do you prepare the honey???

 

[JonM]

I learned the hard way that you can't just dump it into the keg (It sits at the bottom and clogs the dip tube.)

I just dissolve it in a pint or 20 oz of juice. It helps to warm the juice and honey up in a saucepan on the stove.

I don't get fussy at all with the stabilizing/filtering/etc. when I'm kegging. If the temp in the keg fridge stays below 40, fermentation doesn't kick back up.

 

[punkrawkgeek]

Sweet. I'll have to play around with it. I like the idea of that.

 

[Archer]

I'm not worried about further fermentation, etc. but I have no room for keg in fridg, etc. right now...If I leaave the keg at room temp and put the CO2 on it @ 13-15lbs, about how long will it take to carb up?

 

[Yooper]

I'm not worried about further fermentation, etc. but I have no room for keg in fridg, etc. right now...If I leaave the keg at room temp and put the CO2 on it @ 13-15lbs, about how long will it take to carb up?

At room temperature, it will never carb up at 13 psi.

Here is a chart to help you set the pressure: http://www.kegerators.com/carbonation-table.php

For example, if your room temperature is 65 degrees, set the regulator at 29 psi and it will be at about a volume of 2.52. It will take about 10-14 days or so. Or you could prime it with sugar and it will be carbed up in 10-14 days or so.

 

[deanjlandi]

I am learning how to keg cider as well. I am planning on opening a Cidery house with 3 different ciders on tap. I'm guessing it would be good to have a small walk-in-cooler to store back up kegs.

Could anyone direct me to a simple setup or a distributor for a small 5 bbl system

Dean