Canoeing w/ a keg?

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Here's my crazy dream: I'm going on a canoe trip on Memorial Day weekend. I'd like to take homebrew with me, but as you probably know, bottles are frowned upon for float trips. I want to take a keg floating with me.

I can get one of those little CO2 chargers and bring my tap, my problem is how do I keep it cold and from rolling around too much? If I didn't have to worry about keeping it cold I could just bungee it to my yoke or something. Any ideas? I've seen those Neoprene things you can wrap around a corney, but I'm afraid it wouldn't keep it cool enough. It's going to be d@mn hot.

Also, would the rocking motion of the boat make it to foamy? It's not a class five by any means, but it has some rough sections. Including a 3-4 foot waterfall you have to go over.:rockin:

So cold and stable are my issues, what do you all think? Any input on those neoprene coolers?

 

[Kaiser]

If the river is cold enough, just floating in there will be the best option for cooling. Otherwise I'd look into getting a large cooler and ice. Make sure that there is no yeast in the keg as it will be brought in suspension by the rocking.

Don't worry about the foaming since the Keg will be under pressure and the beer will not gas out due to the shaking.

Kai

 

[Cheesefood]

Here's my crazy dream: I'm going on a canoe trip on Memorial Day weekend. I'd like to take homebrew with me, but as you probably know, bottles are frowned upon for float trips. I want to take a keg floating with me.

I can get one of those little CO2 chargers and bring my tap, my problem is how do I keep it cold and from rolling around too much? If I didn't have to worry about keeping it cold I could just bungee it to my yoke or something. Any ideas? I've seen those Neoprene things you can wrap around a corney, but I'm afraid it wouldn't keep it cool enough. It's going to be d@mn hot.

Also, would the rocking motion of the boat make it to foamy? It's not a class five by any means, but it has some rough sections. Including a 3-4 foot waterfall you have to go over.:rockin:

So cold and stable are my issues, what do you all think? Any input on those neoprene coolers?

Why does this sound like something that a true drinker would ask?

Go the Party Pig or Party Ball method. Or, better yet, fit a cooler to be leakproof and throw in a couple of freeze-gel bags to keep it cold.

Then again, you could always fill 2 liter bottles.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

It's a very cold river, the water comes from the bottom of the lake. I guess I could bring it in for the rough parts and toss it back overboard when it get's calmer.

I'll definitely be force carbing since I'm running out of time. So the yeast is no problem.

Now a more important issue. What to brew? I'm thinking a wheat, but this would be my first wheat and I'd hate to make something undrinkable for this trip.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Why does this sound like something that a true drinker would ask?

thank you, I take that as a compliment of the highest order.

2 liters isn't a bad idea. I guess they'd keep their fizz long enough for the trip, huh? Still, I can't get out of my head how cool would it be to float down the river with a corney keg!

 

[Kevin K]

I'd go the way of the 2 litre bottles also. Resealable, and you can trail them behind you on a string...surely the water will be cold enough to cool the beer.

 

[Cheesefood]

Now a more important issue. What to brew? I'm thinking a wheat, but this would be my first wheat and I'd hate to make something undrinkable for this trip.

Good question...something that can be drank at cellar temps, but not something too heavy or strong.

How about an Alt or a Kolsch? Light enough to kick back several. Or a cream or a saisson? Good session beers that also aren't heavy.

Personally, I think a trip like that calls for good old PBR or Old Style - good beers to drink with friends when you need to drink a dozen and not be weighted down or wasted.

 

[kornkob]

The corney keg in tow would be a good idea. Use an inner tube to keep it upright and above water. I do not think that a full corney is negatively bouyant. It woudl be a crime if you lost it.

If you put the neoprene wrapper on it it would help insulate it for those times you pulled it in the boat and protect it a little from any incidental contact with rocks and such.

You might also consider buying one of these for the keg: http://www.stupid.com/stat/UMBR.html Having a little umbrella over the top might help with keeping it cooler.

 

[Kaiser]

Now a more important issue. What to brew? I'm thinking a wheat, but this would be my first wheat and I'd hate to make something undrinkable for this trip.

You only have ~6 weeks for the beer to mature if you brew this weekend. As Cheesefood said, it should be a good session beer.

Wheats don't really do this for me. I like them, but can't drink to much of them in one session (I guess it's the higher carbonation). If it would be me, I'd be going for a Koelsh, low hopped APA, Octoberfets style Ale or even a lighter Lager like Pilsner or Helles (but for these you may risk that they are not ready yet after 4 weeks of lagering). These are styles I like to drink in the heat of the summer and I know they would also please my friends.

I might be going on such a trip too. At least I did this for the last few years. But I'm moving this year and none of my friends has stepped up yet to organize the trip

Kai

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I'd go with the 2 Liters or maybe 20 oz Coke bottles. Hauling a corny downriver sounds like too damned much work, not to mention the possibility of something getting wrecked. Besides, wouldn't it sink? I don't think there's enough air in a full corny to keep it afloat- that is, if you tried dragging the keg behind the canoe.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

I'd go the way of the 2 litre bottles also. Resealable, and you can trail them behind you on a string...surely the water will be cold enough to cool the beer.

I'd probably just keep them in the Ice chest. Have you ever put beer in a stream? It's amazing how the water will feel super cold to your skin, but is way too hot for beer. Not as much of an issue with good brew, of course, but it is kind of freaky how cold to the touch is definitely not cold to the drink. Also freaky is how fast the temp change happens when you put the cans in the water.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

You might also consider buying one of these for the keg: http://www.stupid.com/stat/UMBR.html Having a little umbrella over the top might help with keeping it cooler.

LOL!

Thanks for the suggestions on the beers. An APA sounds pretty good. Or I've been thinking about trying a Kolsch for a while also.

Kai - this is the tenth year in a row we've floated this river on Memorial day weekend. We've had as many as 20 canoes in our group and have never failed to party balls! It's a great time. Especially fun since someone almost always tips at the waterfall. Fun for me anyway. I've always said that if you're thinking about getting married to someone, you should go on a canoe trip with them first. If your relationship survives, go for it!

 

[Kevin K]

I sure have. I'd bet our water is a good bit colder than yours though. Didn't notice your location when I posted earlier.

 

[kornkob]

LOL!

Not joking on the umbrella. You'd be amazed how mich difference a little shade makes. Done my fair share of 'tubing' and the coolers with umbrellas over them usually have cold beer at the end of the trip.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

I sure have. I'd bet our water is a good bit colder than yours though. Didn't notice your location when I posted earlier.

Ah, nor did I yours!

 

[El Pistolero]

Still, I can't get out of my head how cool would it be to float down the river with a corney keg!

Strap a couple of life jackets or dock buoys to the keg and tow it behind you...it'll even add some stability in the white water.

 

[AHammer16]

How come no one has touched on the fact that 5 gallons is not enough beer!!

 

[david_42]

I'd make an APA and drink enough of it ahead of time to insure the keg will float!

 

[kornkob]

How come no one has touched on the fact that 5 gallons is not enough beer!!

Because I assumed that this beer was for the occupants of one canoe. The other members of the flotilla are obviously responsible for their own supplies.

 

[AHammer16]

Because I assumed that this beer was for the occupants of one canoe. .

I assumed it

 

[AHammer16]

Because I assumed that this beer was for the occupants of one canoe. .

I assumed it was for 1 canoe also. NOT ENOUGH BEER!!