Can you use a Corny Keg as a Secondary?

[shayn80]

Hey everyone/anyone can you answer this question: Can you use a Corny Keg as a Secondary Fermenter or has anyone done that before or should I just stick with my two glass and then final in the Keg? I'm making Ales and just want the best way to keep my beer in the fewest containers from start to fisnish.

 

[boo boo]

In a word yes.

 

[samc]

I use them for Primary, secondary, lagering, serving. Can't beat it IMHO.

 

[Yooper]

Sure you can.

Really, when you think about it, a keg is just a big bottle. So, anything in the beer that will eventually fall out in secondary or in a bottle will fall out in the keg, too. There are some advantages to the keg, though. It's easier to carry for one, and it's easy to transfer under co2 if you want. You may have a bit more yeast cake in your keg from transferring from primary, but that's gone in the first pint anyway.

What I like to do is to keep my beer in the fermenter for about 3 weeks, then rack to the keg if it's clear. It's been working quite well for me so far.

 

[splendidus]

Sure you can.

Really, when you think about it, a keg is just a big bottle. So, anything in the beer that will eventually fall out in secondary or in a bottle will fall out in the keg, too. There are some advantages to the keg, though. It's easier to carry for one, and it's easy to transfer under co2 if you want. You may have a bit more yeast cake in your keg from transferring from primary, but that's gone in the first pint anyway.

What I like to do is to keep my beer in the fermenter for about 3 weeks, then rack to the keg if it's clear. It's been working quite well for me so far.

Do you just put enough pressure on to set the seal as if you were simply kegging it, or do you somehow affix an airlock?

 

[samc]

Do you just put enough pressure on to set the seal as if you were simply kegging it, or do you somehow affix an airlock?

For primary fermentation you can attach airlock to a gas QD with a short piece of tubing or you can take the post off the keg and attach tubing and airlock that way. You can also attach via pressure relief valve (of course this could be dangerous if it clogged and built up a lot of pressure). They also sell different lids set up for fermenting with an airlock port in them.

I use the QD/tubing/hose clamps/airlock method - works great!

 

[mordantly]

sometimes i leave a batch in the ale pail for 14 days instead of my usual 10 and a carboy. and transfer directly to a corny to clear for 4 weeks then put on the gas.

 

[Yooper]

Do you just put enough pressure on to set the seal as if you were simply kegging it, or do you somehow affix an airlock?

For secondary, you don't need an airlock.

 

[david_42]

If your cornies have relief valves, just vent occasionally. No airlock needed.