Bleeder valve

[killian]

Bleeder Valve

I just ordered one from NB.

I have 10 kegs I need to force carb with in 2 weeks. My plan is to chill the kegs to 38-40 deg F, hook up the gas and shake to dissolve Co2, then hook up the bleeder valve to adjust the Co2.

Do I need to let the beer rest to get an accurate reading of dissolved Co2?

I plan on adding a pressure relief valve to it eventually for spunding.

 

[salzar]

Yes or shake it when lowering the pressure, the excess pressure in co2 will need to diffuse upwards.

 

[killian]

Anyone else using one of these?

 

[Poobah58]

Totally unnecessary. Why do you need this to set pressure? You have a regulator on your CO2 tank.

 

[killian]

Well I'm trying to force carb 10 kegs with in 2 weeks I dont have time to wait for the Co2 to equalize with just over pressure.

 

[Poobah58]

Jack them up to 40 lbs and keep refreshing daily for 4-5 days. Then let the pressure out and set to 10 lbs. Carbed in less than a week!

 

[killian]

So wont the Co2 dissolve into solution faster if you shake the keg?

 

[killian]

If I chill the keg down to 40 F and shake it for 5 to 10 minutes with the regulator set at 13-14 PSI then let it sit for 24 hrs and attach the bleeder dialed in at 13 PSI wouldn't that give me around 2.5 vol?

 

[Lil' Sparky]

You still don't need all that. Fill kegs. Put in fridge and hook up to gas at whatever balanced pressure you need. Next day, kegs are cold, shake till you're tired. Repeat the following day (or two). Let kegs sit to clarify and finish carbing. They'll be ready in a week.

 

[camiller]

You still don't need all that. Fill kegs. Put in fridge and hook up to gas at whatever balanced pressure you need. Next day, kegs are cold, shake till you're tired. Repeat the following day (or two). Let kegs sit to clarify and finish carbing. They'll be ready in a week.

I don't think he has gas connectors for all 10 kegs at once. He is trying to get kegs ready for a party or something and trying to get more pressurized than he has capacity for. That is just a guess.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

oh, well in that case, I have no input.

 

[killian]

I don't think he has gas connectors for all 10 kegs at once. He is trying to get kegs ready for a party or something and trying to get more pressurized than he has capacity for. That is just a guess.

Yea thats about it.

really I'm just trying to figure out the best way to use a bleeder valve. I'm sure I can get enough dissolved co2 one way or the other. I'm thinking that this bleeder will help get the correct volumes dialed in.

 

[Droot]

I hook up the gas to a chilled keg. Set to 30 psi and shake for 4 minutes. Put back in fridge. The next day pull the relief pressure valve on the keg till it stops. Set your gas to serving pressure. Draw a pint to check carbonation. Should be close or even right on.

There is a sticky, that is how I learned.

David

 

[Yorg]

Read this:
Guide To Keg Forced Carbonation. - AussieHomeBrewer.com

 

[killian]

Thanks yorg that looks useful.

I'm still looking to hear from someone that uses a bleeder valve.

 

[beerocd]

You don't have a way to keep 10 kegs cold though, do you? That's really gonna screw with your carbonation I would think. It won't wreck your beer, just saying come serving time after your cold ones are out - not sure how well the others are going to flow; I'm guessing foam.

-OCD

 

[Catt22]

Jack them up to 40 lbs and keep refreshing daily for 4-5 days. Then let the pressure out and set to 10 lbs. Carbed in less than a week!

This is basically the same as the way I do it. Chill the kegs and give each a shot of gas at 30-40 psi. Give them additional high pressure boosts frequently for a few days then sample each. As soon as you can detect any carbonation bubbles, charge the kegs to serving pressure of something like 12-14 psi and keep it there with daily boosts until the pressure stabilizes. You can tell when you reach the stable serving pressure by pulling the pressure relief valve briefly. If the pressure is very low or nonexistent, then give it another boost at a slightly higher pressure. You can speed this whole process up by shaking the kegs, but that isn't necessary if you have the patience to wait a few days. I never leave the kegs hooked up to the gas continuously as even a tiny leak can empty the CO2 cylinder fast. Goose 'em at high pressure intermittently and sample the beer over the next few days until it's where you want it. Easy and foolproof method for me.

 

[killian]

I started this thread to see how people are using bleeder valves but my current carbing issue seems to be a more popular point of discussion.

for my current situation - I'm pouring 3 kegs at 3 separate events next week. The aussie ross method really seems to be working thanks again yorg

 

[Sigafoos]

Well, I think the conclusion you can draw from this thread is that HBT doesn't really use bleeder valves (I have no opinion one way or another, beyond not using them myself)

 

[killian]

thanks for your take sig

I realize that bleeders are not popular but I'm still thinking with a group of brewers this large some one else has to have one.