Calling on those who ferment and serve in the keg!

[odie]

When I use a hydrometer I’ll twirl it in the column. A quick spin is all it takes to get rid of the bubbles that attach to the bulb.

yep. that and up/down like a plunger.

 

[seatazzz]

I found the only thing that works for me, is pouring the beer sample back and forth between two cups several times. First sample tested out at 1.020; after the cup pouring thing, gravity dropped 6 points to 1.014.

 

[kadozen]

I found the only thing that works for me, is pouring the beer sample back and forth between two cups several times. First sample tested out at 1.020; after the cup pouring thing, gravity dropped 6 points to 1.014.

I tried that, and putting the whole sample into a jar and shaking it like a teenage parent and I recommend the vigorous pour method.

Jar took forever to stabalize

 

[Broothru]

I tried that, and putting the whole sample into a jar and shaking it like a teenage parent and I recommend the vigorous pour method.

Jar took forever to stabalize

I’ve tried several methods from letting a sample sit in a jar for an hour undisturbed to shaking it like it owes me money. What I’ve found works for me is to get a 2~3 oz sample in plastic cup. At 15 psi spunding pressure, the sample starts out as nothing but a glass full of foam, so I stir it with a dinner fork for a minute and let it stand for :10-15 minutes.

Then I slowly pour it through a coffee filter, collecting a shot glass full, and then run about 10 ml through an EasyDens. The sample is largely settled and degassed, at least good enough to get an reasonably accurate reading.

 

[odie]

the flatter the better. even tiny bubbles you can't see will skew the readings.

 

[beersk]

I found the only thing that works for me, is pouring the beer sample back and forth between two cups several times. First sample tested out at 1.020; after the cup pouring thing, gravity dropped 6 points to 1.014.

I have never seen a discrepancy that big. It's almost always as I expect. I let it sit a minute for the head on the sample to settle. When I take the sample from the keg fermenter, I swirl it a little in the measuring cup, but I don't take extra steps to get the co2 out of solution. Maybe I should... Maybe my beers are finishing at 1.006 instead of 1.010...but I doubt it.

EDIT: For the record, I typically ferment to carbonate fully. Lagers have been 1.5 bar at 62F.

 

[szap]

I know this post is a little old, but wanted to put in what I do with using a keg. I ferment in one of the Anvil plastic fermenters that has the lid with gas and liquid posts on it. I had a tip from a person who is the head brewer for a local brewery. Before I transfer, I add my dry hops to the keg. I then rack on top of them and leave them in the keg the whole time it is in my kegerator. With a floating dip tube this works great and IMO has caused no difference in flavor.

 

[T Murph]

I know this post is a little old, but wanted to put in what I do with using a keg. I ferment in one of the Anvil plastic fermenters that has the lid with gas and liquid posts on it. I had a tip from a person who is the head brewer for a local brewery. Before I transfer, I add my dry hops to the keg. I then rack on top of them and leave them in the keg the whole time it is in my kegerator. With a floating dip tube this works great and IMO has caused no difference in flavor.

Is it increasing your aromas significantly?

 

[moreb33rplz]

I've fermented and served my last 35-40 batches out of 5 gallon corny kegs. I really, really like it.

- I don't spund. I use blow off tube into starsan during fermentation then hook it up to gas in my serving freezer
- I use fermcap
- I haven't ever measured but I fill my corny keg up to about 3-4" below the gas tube, I think it's probably around 4.7 gallons ish
- I almost never transfer to a secondary
- I use 'crappy' versions of floating dip tubes with mesh screens, and at some point added some SS washers to the screen for more weight. The biggest problem I've had is 3-4 times I've had batches that sputter gas out into my pint glass instead of beer. To remedy I've had to depressurize keg, open lid, and use santizied tongs to push the dip tube back into 'proper' position. Big PITA, rarely happens though, someday I'll buy new 'good' floating dip tubes
- The first few tiems I used a normal dip tube cut off about 1-2" higher. Worked OK but still got some sludge
- If I dry hop or add gelatin I just open the lid and drop em in, usually after fermentation and right before I put it on gas

That's my speech