can you secondary AND carb at the same time in a keg

[jangelj]

Ok, I am impatient. I admit it. Plus, I am building up my pipeline...so...
I am trying to hurry up a dark-IPA I brewed (recipe below) so I can use the carboy for something else (maybe this https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f85/blood-orange-hefeweizen-98579/.

After 2 weeks in primary (assuming FG is reached) can I transfer to keg, add priming sugar, and let it sit for a couple of weeks at 70F? I am not too concerned with clarity, i'll just pour off the first pint or so when I chill/serve. I figure after 2 or 3 weeks sitting with corn sugar at room temp that it will be not too green and carbed. Then i can just give it a day to chill and drink.

I know this is rushing things A BIT, but hopefully not too bad.
Here's the recipe

TYPE: Extract
Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Batch Size: 5.00 gal
Boil Size: 3.00 gal
OG: 1.063 SG
Estimated Color: 10.7 SRM
Estimated IBU: 49.1 IBU
Brewhouse Efficiency: - %
Boil Time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amount Item Type % or IBU
7.00 lb Light Dry Extract (8.0 SRM) Dry Extract 82.4 %
1.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 11.8 %
0.50 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 60L (60.0 SRM) Grain 5.9 %
2.00 oz Fuggles [4.50%] (60 min) Hops 19.0 IBU
2.25 oz Fuggles [4.50%] (30 min) Hops 16.4 IBU
1.25 oz Cascade [5.50%] (15 min) Hops 7.2 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (10 min) Hops 4.2 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (5 min) Hops 2.3 IBU
1.00 oz Cascade [5.50%] (0 min) Hops -
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale

 

[mojotele]

Yes, you can. It takes less priming sugar to carb things in a keg than a bottle - about half. There are calculators out there.

 

[TipsyDragon]

that will work. just let it sit one more week in the primary if you can stand it.

 

[albannach]

That will work perfectly fine but I would suggest the following:

1. Make sure fermentation has completed to avoid any potential over-carbing.

2. Cut about 1/4" off the end of the 'out' diptube so you don't pick up sediment in the first few pints.

 

[jangelj]

That will work perfectly fine but I would suggest the following:

1. Make sure fermentation has completed to avoid any potential over-carbing.

2. Cut about 1/4" off the end of the 'out' diptube so you don't pick up sediment in the first few pints.

1. Yep, i'll def. wait till FG is stable for a few days. I'm not THAT impatient.
2. I'll just dump the first pint, and see how it looks from there. I'm not ready to cup a dip tube (permanently) yet. It's mostly me drinking it, so if there is some sediment at first, so be it.

And, yes, I'll try to give it another week. That seems fair enough. 3 weeks is doable.

 

[kwaidonjin]

I asked a similar questiion to this a few weeks ago. My lhbs had kegs on sale for 16$ and I wondered if you could age in these until I get the co2 tank and everything else for fathers day. I was mostly told it was not a good idea...

 

[boostsr20]

I use this method alot. My last IPA was pitched onto an So4 yeast cake and it completely fermented out in 3 days. 1.064-1.010. I left it in primary for 2 weeks total, racked to a keg and threw it in the fridge with 15psi on it. 1 week later it was good to go and is very tasty.

 

[Hang Glider]

Don't really need to prime with sugar if you're kegging - CO2 pressure over a couple of weeks will take care of that. Mine is set to about 11 lbs...

 

[mojotele]

I asked a similar questiion to this a few weeks ago. My lhbs had kegs on sale for 16$ and I wondered if you could age in these until I get the co2 tank and everything else for fathers day. I was mostly told it was not a good idea...

Well, unless you have a CO2 tank and a picnic tap it's probably not a good idea. Your beer will kind of be stuck in the keg until you get it. Plus it can be hard to get a good seal without pressurizing the keg a bit.

 

[TheMan]

To the OP, why not just transfer to a keg for secondary. Seal it with 10 PSI, and let it condition in the keg at low temp. Then when you want it carbed just force carb it, this can be done via the "shake the begeezus out of it" method or simply putting it on 30PSI for 2 days.

 

[jangelj]

To the OP, why not just transfer to a keg for secondary. Seal it with 10 PSI, and let it condition in the keg at low temp. Then when you want it carbed just force carb it, this can be done via the "shake the begeezus out of it" method or simply putting it on 30PSI for 2 days.

no real reason not to do it this way...I just figured i could kill 2 birds with one stone and have it carb while conditioning. That way all i have to do is throw it in the fridge one morning before work, and it should be servable by the time I get home. I wouldn't be around for the shaking. I have force carbed in the past, but thought I'd try "natural carbing" with sugar to see how well it works, save some time, save some CO2, and save a little effort of shaking while force carbing.

I've found that when you force carb, even with a little shaking, rolling, etc, it still takes a few days to carb all the way. Now, maybe with severe shaking it is faster, but then you have to deal with gas lines and connections, adjusting the regulator up and down (I only have a single gauge regulator, and multiple kegs) connecting, disconnecting, shaking etc. I figure if I can carb while conditioning....sweet!

 

[homebrewer_99]

Sorry to tell you this, but impatience never brews good beer.

 

[BendBrewer]

That way all i have to do is throw it in the fridge one morning before work, and it should be servable by the time I get home.

From what I have read, the Co2 won't get into solution at warmer temps. I think you would want to have it in the fridge a little longer than a workday for optimum carbonation.

 

[mightynintendo]

Ok, I am impatient. I admit it.

That is pretty much the only mistake you can make when brewing.

After 2 weeks in primary (assuming FG is reached) can I transfer to keg, add priming sugar, and let it sit for a couple of weeks at 70F?

Yes, you can. I see no problem with this except I would probably let it sit another week in the primary.

Honestly you're not rushing anything too bad IMHO. You can definitely use a keg as a secondary.

 

[mojotele]

From what I have read, the Co2 won't get into solution at warmer temps. I think you would want to have it in the fridge a little longer than a workday for optimum carbonation.

True. The amount of carbonation is determined by the pressure AND the temperature. The same pressure at higher temperatures results in less carbonation.

And, as far as aging goes, I've read that aging doesn't seem to happen in the same way unless a certain amount of carbonation is present as well. The theory is that carbonic acid has something to do with it. In other words, letting something sit around in a secondary uncarbonated for 2 months at room temperature won't produce the same thing as letting it sit around fully carbonated in a keg for 2 months at room temperature.

 

[boostsr20]

Sorry to tell you this, but impatience never brews good beer.

So what in this process he is asking about makes bad beer? He's still Bulk aging, its not like he is asking if he can drink it a week after primary slows.

 

[david_42]

I never dump the first pint. I run the tap into a PET bottle, until it's clear. Cap the bottle and stick it in the fridge to settle.

 

[homebrewer_99]

So what in this process he is asking about makes bad beer? He's still Bulk aging, its not like he is asking if he can drink it a week after primary slows.

Actually, nothing concerning his process.

I simply stated that impatience makes you drink beer that is not ready to be drunk...a common mistake made by most new brewers. I am certain I did the same thing when I first started. The fact that I don't do it anymore is known as wisdom.

He admitted he was impatient...and I acknowledged it.

 

[jangelj]

After 2 weeks and 1 day in primary, i took a SG reading. 1.015. I chilled the sample and drank it. Man, that was freaking delicious. I could not be more pleased at this point. I'll check it again in a few days, and if it is the same, I'll rack to a keg with some corn sugar and wait for it.

 

[eddie]

After 2 weeks and 1 day in primary, i took a SG reading. 1.015. I chilled the sample and drank it. Man, that was freaking delicious. I could not be more pleased at this point. I'll check it again in a few days, and if it is the same, I'll rack to a keg with some corn sugar and wait for it.

When you do, set your regulator on 5lbs and pressurize the keg before you set it aside. This will help ensure a good seal and keep any contaminants out.