Aging in keg after carbing

hoppheadIPA · Jun 30, 2010

Okay, here's my dilema. I have a pale ale that went 3 weeks primary and one week secondary with dry hops. OG was 1.058. So I kegged it after 4 weeks, my 1st kegging experience so I think I jumped the gun. I had it at 30psi for 2 days at 40 degrees. I dropped it to 8psi after that and took a sample. The carbonation level was perfect, but the beer is green. What would be the best way of conditioning this? I was thinking, since it's already carbed, leave it in the fridge for a few weeks. Should I leave the gas on? Or should I just disconnect the gas and take it out of the fridge for a few weeks, then stick it back in?

Walker · Jun 30, 2010

hoppheadIPA said:
Okay, here's my dilema. I have a pale ale that went 3 weeks primary and one week secondary with dry hops. OG was 1.058. So I kegged it after 4 weeks, my 1st kegging experience so I think I jumped the gun. I had it at 30psi for 2 days at 40 degrees. I dropped it to 8psi after that and took a sample. The carbonation level was perfect, but the beer is green. What would be the best way of conditioning this? I was thinking, since it's already carbed, leave it in the fridge for a few weeks. Should I leave the gas on? Or should I just disconnect the gas and take it out of the fridge for a few weeks, then stick it back in?

You can just leave it in the fridge. You can take the gas off or leave it on. The beer is carbed and the regulator is set, so regardless of whether the CO2 line is connected to the keg or not, the beer will not be consuming any more CO2.

TipsyDragon · Jun 30, 2010

conditioning happens faster at room temp. like Walker said now that its carbed and the keg is pressurized you can just leave it in a warm place to condition.

tprokop · Jun 30, 2010

If it's fully carbed, you can definitely remove it from the gas. It'll stay carbed even with changes in temp as long as your keg does not leak.

I like to condition my IPAs and APAs cold because it gives me a clean, crystal clear beer, but you'll be fine either way.

kmk1012 · Jul 1, 2010

I was about to ask the same question but got beat, great replies-thanks!

wildwest450 · Jul 1, 2010

To be honest, a month is perfect for most pale ales, they like to be consumed young. You may think it's carbonated perfectly after 3 day's, but it's not even close. It will take at least 2 weeks, over which time the taste will change.

And don't arbitrarily drop the co3 pressure, find a carbonation chart and match the psi to the volumes of c02 and temp you want for a pale ale.