1.75 Kegs worth it?

[412CiderGuy]

I started making 1 gallon test batches and I was going to buy those smaller 1.75 gallon kegs to force carb / store them but they are literally more expensive than 5 gallon kegs. I was thinking of just buying 5 gallons and growing into them. Is there any issue with headspace if I keg 1 gallon of cider in 5 gallon kegs?

 

[Still Brewn]

I got my oldest son his first keg for Christmas this year, if I remember correctly it was only $23 and was 4 or 5 liters right around a gallon. I got it off of eBay, has a screw on cap which can be changed with a tap and CO2 regulator. I also got him that and I think it was 50 something. They had various kinds, 18 gram disposable cartridge a and ball lock style among others. Worth a look , I plan on getting a few for myself because I would like to transfer kegs when they get low so I can brew more it also makes it much easier to transport a reasonable amount of beer when going to other places instead of taking a full 5 gallons.
I will look and see if I have links some where still and then I will post if I do.

 

[SEndorf]

If it were me, I'd simply bottle 1 gallon batches. That's a lot of head space to purge in a 5 gallon keg.
These smaller kegs are expensive but as Still Brewn says, you can find deals but you have to do some digging. I have a couple 2.5 G I use for parties and picnics. If you go this route, I'd recommend a regulator that uses paintball CO2 canisters. Very cheap to refill.
Here's my portable setup:

 

[ba-brewer]

I have a couple 1.75kegs, I use them more often for putting slow beers in to clear a 5gal keg, but I do some 1.5gal batches too.

I got a couple of these too.
https://www.amazon.com/Lamtor-G003-...=mini+keg&qid=1551741154&s=home-garden&sr=1-7

I got them from Williams brewing though and the plan was/is to do british low carbonation cask beer.

 

[Still Brewn]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Keg-B...559509?hash=item3fbb9cde15:g:aYMAAOSwzc1bvbCA
That is the one I got for him along with
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2L-Mini-Co2-Stainless-Steel-Mini-Keg-Spear-Beer-Growler-Keg-Dispenser-Tap-Faucet/173379869217?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=8c3b575bb2254993aaf5e897ae9160f2&pid=100005&rk=11&rkt=12&sd=273730559509&itm=173379869217&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
I got the keg for 29 and the tap for 47. If you look at those kegs you will find some that have 5 liter available also. 5 liter = 1.32 gallon

Here is the top if you want to use ball lock
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beer-Dispe...m=202601565844&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

[MarkKF]

I had a few 5 gal. but I bought a 2.5 for more $.

I use it for 2 - one gal. batches, to bottle uncarbed one gal. batches and to carry half a 5 gal. batch to a party (can push it with one CO2 cartridge).

 

[Still Brewn]

Another thing I should note.... Those 1.75 gallon kegs take up a lot more space than the 4 or 5 liter because of all the rubber on them. If you are trying to age some batches or trying to keep them in a fridge th he extra space they use could become an issue if you start getting a collection of them.

 

[412CiderGuy]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Keg-B...559509?hash=item3fbb9cde15:g:aYMAAOSwzc1bvbCA
That is the one I got for him along with
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2L-Mini-Co2-Stainless-Steel-Mini-Keg-Spear-Beer-Growler-Keg-Dispenser-Tap-Faucet/173379869217?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=1&asc=20131003132420&meid=8c3b575bb2254993aaf5e897ae9160f2&pid=100005&rk=11&rkt=12&sd=273730559509&itm=173379869217&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
I got the keg for 29 and the tap for 47. If you look at those kegs you will find some that have 5 liter available also. 5 liter = 1.32 gallon

Here is the top if you want to use ball lock
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Beer-Dispe...m=202601565844&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Thanks for the advice, I’ve been seeing those kegs and I’ve been nervous about the quality of the screw on tap system. I store mostly in my keezer and was nervous about the shelf life of those since they seem to be all over the Chinese wholesale sites.

Have you had any issues with the taps?

 

[412CiderGuy]

Another thing I should note.... Those 1.75 gallon kegs take up a lot more space than the 4 or 5 liter because of all the rubber on them. If you are trying to age some batches or trying to keep them in a fridge th he extra space they use could become an issue if you start getting a collection of them.

Good point - I think I’m leaning towards the rubberized ones because they look like more normal 5 gallon corneys. They look pretty wide though so might take up more room than I want.

 

[412CiderGuy]

I have a couple 1.75kegs, I use them more often for putting slow beers in to clear a 5gal keg, but I do some 1.5gal batches too.

I got a couple of these too.
https://www.amazon.com/Lamtor-G003-...=mini+keg&qid=1551741154&s=home-garden&sr=1-7

I got them from Williams brewing though and the plan was/is to do british low carbonation cask beer.

I read terrible reviews on the caps - did you install a new screw on tap?

 

[412CiderGuy]

If it were me, I'd simply bottle 1 gallon batches. That's a lot of head space to purge in a 5 gallon keg.
These smaller kegs are expensive but as Still Brewn says, you can find deals but you have to do some digging. I have a couple 2.5 G I use for parties and picnics. If you go this route, I'd recommend a regulator that uses paintball CO2 canisters. Very cheap to refill.
Here's my portable setup:

View attachment 615877

Awesome advice - where do you find a system that allows for paint ball CO2 tanks? Thanks!

 

[ba-brewer]

I read terrible reviews on the caps - did you install a new screw on tap?

Probably should of been clear the link I posted was a reference to a style of small mini keg. The ones I have came from Williams brewing and I did also buy the ball lock attachment. The kegs came with screw on caps that are solid without a vent. I have only used the ball lock top so far.

 

[TwistedGray]

I'd recommend a regulator that uses paintball CO2 canisters.

Details on that regulator please? I am using a fancier regulator with an adapter to the paintball canister. It's bulky and excessive, and the adapters are always prone to leaking out Co2 (at least all the ones I have tried).

Awesome advice - where do you find a system that allows for paint ball CO2 tanks? Thanks!

See my reply to Sendorf, but you can get Co2 adapters at your local brewshop or online. I tossed out the packaging on mine, but Google is your friend.

 

[SEndorf]

I was trying to find the regulator in my pic but it doesn't look like it's available anymore. It works great but is bulkier than current models.
If I were to buy one again, I'd take a look at something like this:
https://www.homebrewing.org/Mini-Pa...MI1t3AjvDp4AIVENbACh2uVQhJEAQYAyABEgKgwPD_BwE

If you're not carbing with it, and just pushing beer, a 20 oz. canister will last a VERY long time.

 

[SEndorf]

I've also heard bad reviews on the CO2 adapters. A good regulator should screw directly to the canister.

 

[ba-brewer]

This why I like the small kegs. When I build my keezer I made the collar short to keep the cold in, those smaller kegs sit nicely on the hump. I can fit 1 3gal kegs on the hump and 2 of the cannonball style 1.75gal kegs stacked on top of each other right next to it.

 

[TwistedGray]

I was trying to find the regulator in my pic but it doesn't look like it's available anymore. It works great but is bulkier than current models.
If I were to buy one again, I'd take a look at something like this:
https://www.homebrewing.org/Mini-Pa...MI1t3AjvDp4AIVENbACh2uVQhJEAQYAyABEgKgwPD_BwE

If you're not carbing with it, and just pushing beer, a 20 oz. canister will last a VERY long time.

I force carb with my 20oz, and by the time my half keg is done, I'm out.

 

[Still Brewn]

I force carb with my 20oz, and by the time my half keg is done, I'm out.

You might have a leak.... i use to carb and serve with those for about 3 years and I could do around 3 kegs with one even with purging the head space.
Used a hose like this one but didn't pay anything close to that got it at a sporting goods store.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Empire...i:sc:USPSPriorityFlatRateEnvelope!68502!US!-1
The regulator I got from harbor freight. This was several years before I had ever heard of ebay

 

[Still Brewn]

Didn't realize that said half keg.... how many gallons?

 

[TwistedGray]

Didn't realize that said half keg.... how many gallons?

Typed from my phone, so oops...half of a gallon! Yeah, something is wrong. I think it registers as 5000psi when I initially connect the regulator.

 

[Still Brewn]

I used something like this....
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Portable-Compressed-CO2-Regulator/1040295
only I got it from harbor freight and blew it out after about 3 years of service by turning the valve the wrong way when I wasn't paying attention.
At the time they were running around 50+ bucks..... at this price I think it's time for a new one it was nice because I could use it for my air tools also.

 

[TwistedGray]

Found this one, too - https://www.williamsbrewing.com/Paintball-0-30-PSI-Brewers-Edge-Mini-Regulator-P3933.aspx

 

[Maylar]

Cannonball mini keg in a dorm fridge. I love it.

 

[SEndorf]

Found this one, too - https://www.williamsbrewing.com/Paintball-0-30-PSI-Brewers-Edge-Mini-Regulator-P3933.aspx

That's the one I posted earlier. I would buy this one if I needed a replacement, but question the accuracy of that tiny gauge.

 

[TwistedGray]

That's the one I posted earlier. I would buy this one if I needed a replacement, but question the accuracy of that tiny gauge.

Yeah I don't necessarily care so much about the accuracy as I do not having to refill these takes after a half gallon of use when others can stretch theirs tanks so much further. My assumption is that I have a leak at the regulator.

 

[SEndorf]

FWIW... This one also looks impressive.
Direct mount to the canister. Beefier gauge. Looks like a Taprite regulator.
https://www.kegconnection.com/pinvalve-paintball-style/

 

[TwistedGray]

Thanks everyone - I just shot a msge to my brew shop to see if they will take back the regulator and adapter I bought so that I can get one of these. I don't see how I am using up more than 750psi to force carb, clear headspace, and serve off my miniature uKeg; whereas, you guys are doing the same with gallons and gallons of brew. Hopefully I don't get stuck with two regulators out of this

 

[SEndorf]

Good luck!
Keep us updated.