Can I "Top Off" a keg? How long/often between cleaning?

[olie]

I'm brewing into a 1/4bbl (13+ gallon) keg, made a double-batch (10 gallons). So far, so good.

I'm wondering about, once it gets 1/2 empty or so, can I just brew another batch and add that 5 gallons to what's already in-keg (3-7 gallons)?

Obviously, I'd have to re-carbonate the new "mixed" batch (I'm doing forced in-keg carbonation), and I'd want to sterilize the tap area (60% alcohol + flame) to make sure I'm not pumping-in any bacteria from the join.

...But then, is it ok to do this? Is there some unimagined (for me) impact on the beer if it's mixed like that?

If I do that, it seems that at some point I should drain the keg & clean it out -- how often is that needed?

NOTE: I'm not looking for shortcuts or what I can "get away with" -- I want to keep good, quality beer! I just don't have enough 1/4bbls to fill the 2nd one when the 1st is almost empty, which means that, to re-use, I'd have to brew 2 batches and do keg-cleaning in the same day, so I'm looking for a way around that until I can get a second 1/4bbl.

Thanks!

 

[Blazinlow86]

Anythings possible. its a unusual way to do it but I guess it would work. id say it definitely IS a shortcut way to do it however.


i cant make sense of this part though.

NOTE: I'm not looking for shortcuts or what I can "get away with" -- I want to keep good, quality beer! I just don't have enough 1/4bbls to fill the 2nd one when the 1st is almost empty, which means that, to re-use, I'd have to brew 2 batches and do keg-cleaning in the same day, so I'm looking for a way around that until I can get a second 1/4bbl.

i think your better off just not brewing until your current keg is almost empty or buying some more kegs if im reading that part correctly. cheers

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I would not mix batches of beer in the same keg, even the same recipe. Each batch gets its own keg. How would you possibly re-create your latest award winning batch if it was a Frankenstein of 2 (or more) partial batches?

As to cleaning, I keep ALL of my kegs pressurized and purged of co2, both full and empty. When a keg kicks, I open it. Rinse it out with Starsan (2.5 gallons for a 5 gallon keg) seal it up and purge o2. Once it's ready to be used i'll give it a quick rinse again with starsan.

 

[mongoose33]

Agreed, I wouldn't mix the batches.

As far as cleaning...there are home brewers who don't clean kegs in between, and they have been successful. I did that once, took a just-emptied keg and put new beer into it. I didn't have any problems, but it's just a little bit far out for me to be comfortable with. Last night I cleaned 5 empty kegs using a keg washer. Thought about reusing uncleaned kegs. Didn't do it, but I thought about it.

 

[JohnSand]

I have combined two average beers to make a better one. (An unexceptional Belgian IPA and a Dubbel with too much dark sugar made a better Dubbel) I've transferred half a batch to a smaller keg to refill the 5. Because it was keg to keg I used a jumper and pushed it with CO2, so there were no oxidation worries. If you can do a closed transfer, I think it will not harm your beer.

 

[govner1]

I would not mix batches of beer in the same keg, even the same recipe. Each batch gets its own keg. How would you possibly re-create your latest award winning batch if it was a Frankenstein of 2 (or more) partial batches?

As to cleaning, I keep ALL of my kegs pressurized and purged of co2, both full and empty. When a keg kicks, I open it. Rinse it out with Starsan (2.5 gallons for a 5 gallon keg) seal it up and purge o2. Once it's ready to be used i'll give it a quick rinse again with starsan.

I agree with not mixing batches. I've done the same beer multiple times and even though they are very close each has its own character. Plus, the "old" beer has aged and changed as well.

As for cleaning, I rinse my kegs thoroughly then soak in B-Brite,flush through the beer out post, rinse with water, flush, then do a Star San rinse & flush & drain. I do not leave my empty kegs under pressure as this will shorten the life of your poppets.
Don't forget to remove your posts at least occasionally to clean & check gaskets.

 

[olie]

Re: cleaning -- I follow not to mess with empty or near-empty kegs; I was talking about topping-off a 1/2 full keg. (13.5 gallons, half empty, has almost 7 gallons of space. Add 5 gallons, re-carbonate...)

As to mixing batches. I get what you're saying, though I might just have to learn this lesson The Hard Way (you know how I can be... ) I've got it stuck in my head that (a) the goal is consistency so, if I can't hit that, I kind-a deserve what I get and (b) I prefer the extra conditioning that comes with a little time-in-keg, and mixing seems a way to "speed condition" a new batch with old batch.

It probably doesn't work at all like I have in mind, but I just realized that my brain is stuck-convinced and no number of you can talk me out of it, so I'm just going to have to "stub my toes" on this one until it sinks in. D'oh! (Apologies; I hadn't realized this at the time I posted the question -- I just noticed my reaction as I was reading y'all's answers <G>)

BlazinLow -- yeah, you interpreted me correctly and gave appropriate advice; I'll work on upping my keg-count soon.

 

[day_trippr]

Heck, we had one member that had a "continuous fermentation" thing going - apparently for months - where he'd draw off most of a batch for consumption then add fresh wort to the fermentor.
If one can pull that off, anything is possible (if not particularly sane - which is to say I don't actually recommend the proposal being discussed )

Cheers!

 

[olie]

Heck, we had one member that had a "continuous fermentation" thing going - apparently for months - where he'd draw off most of a batch for consumption then add fresh wort to the fermentor.
If one can pull that off, anything is possible (if not particularly sane - which is to say I don't actually recommend the proposal being discussed )
Cheers!

LOL! That totally sounds like something I'd try, except (a) I'd add wort after every pint or two drawn, so it was always 95% "beer" and (b) Hmmm... force carbonate 1 bottle at a time? Flat beer? Hmmm...

Well now you've got me thinking*!

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* Never a good sign!