Three things I should know by now...?

[LateraLex]

I went straight to kegging, and here are a few questions I still haven't picked up yet:

• Can I simply use a bottle wand attached to my picnic tap to 'bottle' some beer? (it's already carbed in my corney keg). If so, do you try to fill it right to the top so as to not leave any air in the bottle?
• Can beer in secondary and/or bottles be 'conditioned' at any temperature? (or must it be kept in the same range as during fermentation)
• For my birthday (today!) I received some really cool handmade handles for my future keezer faucets. They are pretty heavy. Any suggestions on what faucets to buy in the hopes that they don't just pour themselves? http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/chrome-faucet-brass-lever.html or http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/chrome-faucet-s-s-lever.html or http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-perl-faucet-stainless-steel.html The reviews on the 'new' perl faucets make me a bit nervous.

Thanks!

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

1) I use a racking cane attached to a cobra (picnic) tap to fill bottles off the keg. Just use the tap to control flow
2) It's best to bottle condition at room temp, ~70 degrees, until they're carbed and conditioned. After that, temp isn't so important.
3) Happy Birthday!! My recommendation for faucets would be Perlick 575s. That's what I use and I love 'em.

 

[LateraLex]

Do you happen to know if the Perlick 575 is the same as the one NB is selling?
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-perl-faucet-stainless-steel.html

Some of the comments complain that the 'newer' version isn't as good as the old one.

 

[LateraLex]

And here is the homemade tap in question, a 'mean looking' bluefish - which are my favorite fish to catch.
http://imgur.com/UGx0C

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Do you happen to know if the Perlick 575 is the same as the one NB is selling?
http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/the-perl-faucet-stainless-steel.html

Some of the comments complain that the 'newer' version isn't as good as the old one.

Appears to be very similar if not the same.... Here's a link to the 575 at Midwest where I got mine. They're great faucets, nice pour, great for beergas (co2/nitrogen blend) carbed beers too. And they look really nice on the kegerator. The 525s are very nice too, and about $5 less.

 

[LLBeanJ]

I believe the Perl's are 525s. The 575s are known as "Creamer" version.

Ritebrew has the best prices I've seen lately on Perlicks.

http://www.ritebrew.com/category-s/1909.htm

Edit: I just discovered that both the 525 and 575 are "Perl", but only the 575 has the "creamer" feature.

BTW... I have 575s on all three of my taps and I like 'em.

 

[LateraLex]

So, what do you think about my giant tap handle? It weighs about 1.5 pounds... would the 'creamer' function just be asking for trouble? Does the 575 lock into the top position firmly, or would I run the risk of it rocking back (or forward!) with the big handle on there?

 

[LLBeanJ]

They should be fine. The creamer feature (push back to pour) is spring loaded, while the standard pull pour is not. There's also a noticable "catch" or detent when closing the faucet after a normal pour that stops you from going too far and inadvertently activating the creamer feature.

 

[LateraLex]

Right on - thanks. Appreciate the link to ritebrew, good prices there. I think I'll get all my keezer parts in one big order.

 

[Yooper]

You can bottle from a keg with a tube and picnic tap, but it works even better if you use a bung to hold counterpressure. Like this: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/we-no-need-no-stinking-beer-gun-24678/

Beer ages faster at room temperature, so if a beer tastes like it needs some time room temperature is fine. Cold conditioning has other benefits, like clarifying and smoothing out flavors, plus it slows down the aging process.

 

[passedpawn]

Happy Birthday!