Any good?

[Tony Leworthy]

I am in Mexico and have returned to brewing cider and beer,
At the moment I bottle everything, but have a chance of buying kegs now for 25-30 USD each.

Couple of quick questions,
1 is it worthwhile doing? I would need to purchase the top valve? gas? maybe the pump handle?

Or forget it and continue bottling?

Thanks in advance

 

[redrocker652002]

Really depends on what you want. I do both, or at least I did until one of my bottle batches went bad on me. I like to keg just because is it easier for me. I have a kegerator that I bought used for about 50 bucks including tap, hoses and regulator. But, I did not bottling because then I could do different varieties and have them on hand when I wanted something different. So, long winded answer is, what ever you feel is good for you. Now, looking at your photo, you have a Sanke keg I believe. This I have no experience with, so I will let those who have dealt with them chime in. Good luck no matter which way you go.

 

[day_trippr]

For the life of me I cannot discern with any confidence what type of Sanke keg that is, hopefully someone can figure that out.

But, at the very least, to get a Sanke keg into service, one would need the appropriate keg coupler, a CO2 cylinder and a primary CO2 regulator, some tubing for the CO2 gas line, some type of faucet, with a "picnic tap" being the most cost effective, some beer line for it - and presumably some type of refrigerator to keep the keg cold. It's an investment...

Cheers!

 

[Tony B]

I tried to use some 6 gallon Sanke kegs I was given. They’re a real PITA to clean and sterilize without professional equipment. It can be done, but ball locks are way easier.

 

[MaxStout]

Looks like the threaded inlet part has been removed from the neck.

 

[Tony Leworthy]

For the life of me I cannot discern with any confidence what type of Sanke keg that is, hopefully someone can figure that out.

But, at the very least, to get a Sanke keg into service, one would need the appropriate keg coupler, a CO2 cylinder and a primary CO2 regulator, some tubing for the CO2 gas line, some type of faucet, with a "picnic tap" being the most cost effective, some beer line for it - and presumably some type of refrigerator to keep the keg cold. It's an investment...

Cheers!

Ok, thanks for the help, think I will carry on bottling!!!

 

[Tony Leworthy]

Looks like the threaded inlet part has been removed from the neck.

Ok, think it is to much trouble lol
Thanks for the help

 

[Tony Leworthy]

I tried to use some 6 gallon Sanke kegs I was given. They’re a real PITA to clean and sterilize without professional equipment. It can be done, but ball locks are way easier.

Ok, to much trouble I think lol

 

[MaxStout]

Why not get one to use as a boil kettle? Cut the top off. Search for threads on making a "keggle."

 

[Climb]

@MaxStout - It doesn't look like it needs a screw in spear to me. I don't see any threads. I like your keggle suggestion or use it as a fermenter.

 

[Broken Crow]

I took a look at your other posts and see you've expressed the possibility of getting a fridge to turn into a ferm cahmber, and here you're looking into kegging....Some thoughts:
I got into kegging myself for the purpose of force-carbing and bottling without priming mostly because I didn't want sediment in my bottles. As mentioned by others; Sankes make great fermenters and if you're going to build a ferm chamber a sanke-fermenter might be ideal for you so here's some possibilities: I can't identify the neck so you'll need to know that first: Most but not all sanke necks are compatible with 2"TC fittings. Turning a sanke into a fermenter is as simple as buying one of these TC caps with ball lock posts and a floating diptube: https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/sankeball.htm Since you're in Mexico, I don't know what it would cost to ship there, but this part is also available from Aliexpress, Amazon and ebay, or you can build your own head that includes a dedicated valve for blow-off (and avoid gunking up your gas post) https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...-fit-it-to-fermonster-sankey-whatever.704064/
Also, Batch size?.. A full size sanke holds 15.5 US Gallons (58.5 litres), 1/4 BBLs hold 7.75 G (30l) I use my full size one for 12G batches and eventually I wanna get a 1/4BBL for my 6G batches. That said, I'm in Canada and perhaps you too also have the smaller metric sized ones (50l). Just make sure it's appropriately sized for the batch size you like to make.
With a ferm-chamber, a ball lock equipped sanke fermenter and CO2 gear, you can ferment then force carb and use a beer-gun or tapcooler to bottle, or just mount a tap on the ferm chamber door.
Dunno if any of this helps fuel your long term plans or not.