15 gallon keg. what should i do with it?

[AHammer16]

I just got a hold of a 15 gallon stainless bud light keg that is in great condition. I am not a all grain brewer so i dont think i want to make any related equipment. But maybe make it into a home kegging system. Who should i go to for the conversion And what should i have put on it?

Would there be a problem with brewing three 5 gallon batches and putting them all into the keg and then force carbing?

Any other uses for the keg?

If you guys think it is impractical does any one in the Chicago area want it?

 

[kornkob]

The challenge I see with using the keg (which I assume is a standard American Sankey 1/2 barrel) as is comes down to sanitation.

After you've removed the ball valve, you would have a 2 inch hole into which you would need to be able to get some sort of brush. Additionally, because if the size of that hole, you'd largely be working by feel only, as seeing anything but the bottom of the keg through that hole would be challenging.

On the other hand, taking it somehwere and having it turned into a cooking pot (by cutting the top out) would make it much more useful for large batches of beer even if you want to just keep using extracts to make your brew. The heavy stainless steel used to make those 1/2 barrels would make for an excellent pot.


And when you're not making beer you'd be the only guy on the block who could easily make 15 gallons of chili for the block party. : )


Or cut it in half the other way (top to bottom) and build a stand for it and you'd have a unique charcoal grill for the back yard!

 

[DeRoux's Broux]

it's too much hassel. just hang on to it. you'll go all grain one day andglad you saved it. ihad one for 5 years before i used it.....

 

[Orfy]

On the other hand, taking it somehwere and having it turned into a cooking pot (by cutting the top out) would make it much more useful for large batches of beer even if you want to just keep using extracts to make your brew. The heavy stainless steel used to make those 1/2 barrels would make for an excellent pot.

Good advice from the guys above.

I just got a 10 gallon keg and wanted to turn it into a kettle.

£6.95 for a 4.5" angle grinder, 2 x 20p grinding discs, 20 minute and a lot of noise later and I have a brew kettle.

If you're not using as A brew kettle, I'd cut it in half around it's waist and use the bottom for a pan for the 5 gallon stuff and the top as a yard grill or fire pit.

 

[david_42]

I second making it a kettle now. If you are used to making extract ales with small boils, going to a 6 gallon boil will make them even better.

It would be a pain to convert & clean. I'd rather have three different ales, personally.