Chill beer before keg

[Broncoblue]

Im kegging a real ale tonight. Its at room temp right now so do I siphon it as is or get the primary cold first then siphon it to help take more yeast and stuff out of suspension. I has been in the primary since 1/1/11. If I get it cold first then I have to wait because i mixed up the trub right?

 

[Broncoblue]

Plus if i want this ready to drink or atleast drinkable by saturday should I put it on 30 psi till then or 20 or a mixture of both. I know there is a lot of views on this but want an idea from someone has needed it carbed in 5 days and i dont want to roll it on the ground for 30 minutes.

 

[mrk305]

I don't know how you are planning on chilling it, but I alsays keg mine at about room temperature. Just siphon it in as gently as possible. How were you planning on chilling before kegging?

 

[Broncoblue]

My only way to chill it is to stick it outside in the snow or out it in my deep freezer and hope its not a beercicle when I go to transfer it

 

[mrk305]

I don't really see any benefit in trying to crash cool it real quick and then filling the keg. I would just fill it at room temp and get it in the fridge and on the gas. If you do get a little trub in there don't worry about it. It will come out in the first couple of pours. Kegging is great!

 

[Broncoblue]

So I don't really have a fridge to keep it in while on gas. My plan was to get it in the keg and put it outside for a while the bring it in and put it on gas. It will probably hit room temp in a few hours. How does going cold then warm then repeating that process effect the beer. I have to stick it outside the chill it to drink so it goes through cold and warm temps regularly.

 

[Broncoblue]

So I don't really have a fridge to keep it in while on gas. My plan was to get it in the keg and put it outside for a while the bring it in and put it on gas. It will probably hit room temp in a few hours. How does going cold then warm then repeating that process effect the beer. I have to stick it outside the chill it to drink so it goes through cold and warm temps regularly.

 

[mrk305]

It sounds like it is time to make a collar for that freezer and get a johnson temp controller for it.

 

[ksbrain]

Yeah you really need a way to keep your keg fridge temp if you're going to make this work.

I am a set and forget guy but I think folks get beers carbed quick by putting on 30 pounds (at fridge temperatures) for two days, then dial down to serving pressure (typically 12 PSI - again at fridge temp) for the rest of the time.

While cycling temperatures between fridge and room temps won't really hurt the beer, if you can't keep the beer a stable temperature, you won't be able to get a stable carbonation level.