Aging/leak in Keg question

[SevenFields]

In January I kegged a Dbl Chocolate Stout. I hit it with CO2 a few times and vented it, then hit it again and left it alone.
My question is, does the keg still hold that pressure even after a few months, or does the beer absorb the CO2 that was in the headspace?
Because yesterday I pulled up on the vent and heard nothing, does that mean I have a leaky keg?

 

[jeffmeh]

You may have a leak, or there may have been so little pressure from just hitting it with gas and venting that you could not detect any CO2 escaping when you pulled the relief valve.

I suggest that you hook the gas up at serving pressure or greater and check for leaks with a soap or Starsan solution. Remove the guess work.

 

[shortyjacobs]

If it wasn't carbonated, it's probably not leaking. That CO2 will absorb into the beer from the headspace. Figure you have 0.5 gallons headspace. Also figure you have 0.75 volumes of CO2 from natural carbonation, (fermentation) already in the beer at room temp. Your 0.5 gallons of CO2 at 30 PSI, (what I assume you sealed the keg with), will absorb into the beer. 0.5 gallons at 30 psi is 1.5 gallons at atmospheric pressure, which is 1.5 gallons into 5 gallons of beer, which is 0.3 volumes.

Moral of the story, it takes a LOT of CO2 to carbonate beer. I bet your keg is fine. To check, put it back on the gas and spritz with starsan or soapy water and see if you get bubbles.

 

[SevenFields]

If it wasn't carbonated, it's probably not leaking. That CO2 will absorb into the beer from the headspace. Figure you have 0.5 gallons headspace. Also figure you have 0.75 volumes of CO2 from natural carbonation, (fermentation) already in the beer at room temp. Your 0.5 gallons of CO2 at 30 PSI, (what I assume you sealed the keg with), will absorb into the beer. 0.5 gallons at 30 psi is 1.5 gallons at atmospheric pressure, which is 1.5 gallons into 5 gallons of beer, which is 0.3 volumes.

Moral of the story, it takes a LOT of CO2 to carbonate beer. I bet your keg is fine. To check, put it back on the gas and spritz with starsan or soapy water and see if you get bubbles.

Thanks for the reply. I couldnt find any leaks so no worries!

 

[AnOldUR]

Thanks for the reply. I couldnt find any leaks so no worries!

Hit it with a little more CO2 and gently turn it over and set it on dry paper towel. Let it sit upside-down for a while. If there are any brown drips on the towel, you have a leak. It's a lot easier to spot beer coming out than gas.