Beginner at kegging

[6midgets]

I've. Been home brewing for the last 3 years now. I am sick of bottling my beer and every thing that goes with it. I want to get a good kegging setup that will work for me. I've been reading a ton of your posts on this subject over the past month. From what I've read it seems that this process is very difficult and problematic. Are there any educational resources out there for a beginner to learn all the "nut and bolts" about kegging? I am 100% green on this subject.

 

[CA_Mouse]

http://morebeer.com/articles/joys_of_kegging

http://morebeer.com/articles/forcecarbonation

http://morebeer.com/articles/kegging-homebrew

 

[duboman]

Might I suggest the stickies at the top of the kegging forum as well.?.

Lots of good stuff there as well as the more beer sites posted

 

[theck]

I just started this year as well... everything I've gotten was found on craigslist. You can find a lot of setups on there for barely anything. I got one for $40, had to haul out the fridge for the guy into my truck, pulled it all out and scrapped the fridge for $40, so if you keep an eye out you'll find good deals. Of course, you can also just get a setup from a place like northern brewer, beveragefactory.com, etc. You can also go with a picnic faucet as well instead of a shank/faucet though the fridge setup.

Once you get all the lines in check everything for leaks. I turned it all on, checked with a bucket of water and left it pressurized for a couple days with the tank off to see if it dropped.

Find cornys on craigslist as well... some need the seals replaced but that's simple and cheap. If you buy them at your local shop expect to pay $60-70 each. Online is about the same and new ones run $100+.

I have yet to quick carb mine (high pressure and roll) and if you put it into the system and just wait it will carb up on it's own by a week, sometimes two, depending. Make sure the keg is nice and cold too the co2 dissolves easier in cold liquids.

Good luck I love kegging and will never go back to bottles again.

 

[6midgets]

I just started this year as well... everything I've gotten was found on craigslist. You can find a lot of setups on there for barely anything. I got one for $40, had to haul out the fridge for the guy into my truck, pulled it all out and scrapped the fridge for $40, so if you keep an eye out you'll find good deals. Of course, you can also just get a setup from a place like northern brewer, beveragefactory.com, etc. You can also go with a picnic faucet as well instead of a shank/faucet though the fridge setup.



Once you get all the lines in check everything for leaks. I turned it all on, checked with a bucket of water and left it pressurized for a couple days with the tank off to see if it dropped.



Find cornys on craigslist as well... some need the seals replaced but that's simple and cheap. If you buy them at your local shop expect to pay $60-70 each. Online is about the same and new ones run $100+.



I have yet to quick carb mine (high pressure and roll) and if you put it into the system and just wait it will carb up on it's own by a week, sometimes two, depending. Make sure the keg is nice and cold too the co2 dissolves easier in cold liquids.



Good luck I love kegging and will never go back to bottles again.

Thanks for the advice. I have looked on Craigslist for kegging equipment and have had no luck. I guess with the recent home brew bill passing in alabama this is a new hobby. I have no clue about any of the terminology for kegging so i really don't understand much of what all are talking about half of the time.

 

[bhanson]

Patience, Craigslist and eBay over has scored me four kegs for under twenty dollars each shipped, but it is getting harder each year to find that kind of deal. Homebrew Adventures has had several decent deals this year.

 

[theck]

Thanks for the advice. I have looked on Craigslist for kegging equipment and have had no luck. I guess with the recent home brew bill passing in alabama this is a new hobby. I have no clue about any of the terminology for kegging so i really don't understand much of what all are talking about half of the time.

Search "keg*" without the quotes. The * is a wild so it looks for kegs, keg, kegerator, etc

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[Cider123]

IDK how much you have to spend because it can range from frugal to "Jesus, what did all this cost?" I spent a little extra and bought my kegging stuff new from kegconnection.com. I found an old fridge and bought a 2 tap fridge conversation kit with 2 new kegs. For the extra money I got everything practically set up for me. All I needed to do was drill the holes in the fridge. Everything is warrantied also. I don't work for them, but was very happy since I didn't have a lot of knowledge at the time and was happy to be walked through it easily. They have some online information on "how to" also. Got most of my knowledge from this site though.

And BTW, I have had very little trouble so my beer making and swilling world has much improved since kegging.

I also upgraded to SS shanks, perlick taps and taprite dual regulator and glad I did.

 

[theck]

Patience, Craigslist and eBay over has scored me four kegs for under twenty dollars each shipped, but it is getting harder each year to find that kind of deal. Homebrew Adventures has had several decent deals this year.

Just got 3 for $60. Cleaned new seals, sold 1 for $50. Get them while you can.

I shouldn't give up my secrets. Ha.

Sent from my SGH-T769 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[CRoth36]

I got quite the set up these days but started cheap and simple. I started with just two kegs and a 10lb tank and picnic taps. Found them packaged for like $100 which I didn't feel was too bad. Anyway since then I've added more kegs, faucets, shanks, etc. the more you have the more expensive t get but I find its not bad when you buy a piece whenever you can. Just like with brewing equipment. Started with a 90 dollar extract kit and no got a few thousand wrapped up and still piecing together. Takes time to acquire stuff.

 

[6midgets]

http://morebeer.com/articles/joys_of_kegging

http://morebeer.com/articles/forcecarbonation

http://morebeer.com/articles/kegging-homebrew

Wow. That is exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated.

 

[CA_Mouse]

Wow. That is exactly what I was looking for. Much appreciated.

Glad I could help! That is exactly what I read prior to buying my first setup. 20# CO2 tank from here, 4 Ball Lock kegs from craigs list, new regulator and picnic taps. All added to a free refrigerator. About $250 in and I will not go back to bottling (except sours).