Fermenting & Serving from Same Keg

[Whattawort]

Gonna try something new and try to ferment and serve out of the same keg without transferring. Anyone ever do this? I figure I can push a lot of the lees out with a quick blast of air. This is a for a cider, so I don't think I'm going to have much to worry about as far as krausen goes. All my buckets are occupied at the moment and I promised SWMBO I would have a cider kegged for her soon.

 

[NickTheGreat]

What about the trub in the bottom? I've never done a cider, so is that an issue?

 

[Whattawort]

What about the trub in the bottom? I've never done a cider, so is that an issue?

Yeah, this is new territory for me. I've done still ciders and meads, but this will be the first one I've carbed in a keg. The problem is I have nothing else to ferment in or transfer to and my buckets will be in use for several more weeks.

 

[JonM]

Here's a krausen on a one gallon batch of plain old Tree Top cider, so krausen might be an issue. You'll also get a lot of lees and I don't know if you'll be able to blast it out as easily as you think.

Sounds like a perfect excuse to get another bucket.

 

[BostonianBrewer]

You can blast the yeast out but it does run the risk of clogging the dip tube with such high amounts . I would cold crash the keg then rack it to another bottle clean the Keg out real fast and rack it back in and put under pressure ... May not be beef perfect but if you insist one one vessel it might help

 

[BostonianBrewer]

Or try adding a short piece of hose to the liquid dip tube and curling the hose you add up as to not give it a chance to suck up yeast

 

[Whattawort]

I have a feeling I'm going to come home with a new bucket this afternoon. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission sometimes. BUT maybe she'll have some mercy since I'm just trying to follow through on a promise I made to her. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I think for something like apfelwein there will be minimal sediment or krausen (i never get much). If you are going to have something that does contribute trub you probably want to shorten the dip tube. Also, all things considered, how are you going to handle the CO2/airlock problem? Do you have a spunding valve or are you going to try and put an airlock in where the PRV goes?

 

[Whattawort]

I think for something like apfelwein there will be minimal sediment or krausen (i never get much). If you are going to have something that does contribute trub you probably want to shorten the dip tube. Also, all things considered, how are you going to handle the CO2/airlock problem? Do you have a spunding valve or are you going to try and put an airlock in where the PRV goes?

I was planning on going the airlock route, but I ended up buying a new bucket. Shhhhh....SWMBO still hasn't caught on that I was using a new bucket!

 

[NickTheGreat]

I think for something like apfelwein there will be minimal sediment or krausen (i never get much). If you are going to have something that does contribute trub you probably want to shorten the dip tube. Also, all things considered, how are you going to handle the CO2/airlock problem? Do you have a spunding valve or are you going to try and put an airlock in where the PRV goes?

You could probably rig some sort of blow off tube on the gas in. Maybe gut a gas post somehow?

 

[DrunkleJon]

You could probably rig some sort of blow off tube on the gas in. Maybe gut a gas post somehow?

True. Just make a jumper hose and only put a QD on one side. Or put a larger hose over a poppit-less post

 

[dyqik]

I was planning on going the airlock route, but I ended up buying a new bucket. Shhhhh....SWMBO still hasn't caught on that I was using a new bucket!

"No, I've had this one all along - that one over there was stacked inside it!"