First Time Kegging - ?

[TheCADJockey]

Could hardly sleep last night in anticipation of being able to try my first kegged beer. Fifteen minutes from now means it will have been at 30 psi for 40 hours. Going to remove co2, release pressure, put at 5 psi and try it. I really hope it works ok. The picnic tap kit came with a much smaller line than you are all mentioning.

 

[masonsjax]

It will serve just fine at 5 psi. Ideally you want a keg to sit at serving pressure permanently to maintain perfect carb levels, and allow you to balance the line length appropriately. If you're just trying it, or it will be gone in a day, 5 psi will be no problem.

 

[ericbw]

It will serve just fine at 5 psi. Ideally you want a keg to sit at serving pressure permanently to maintain perfect carb levels, and allow you to balance the line length appropriately. If you're just trying it, or it will be gone in a day, 5 psi will be no problem.

So if you're just trying it, then turn it back up to 10 until the party.

 

[Hello]

Could hardly sleep last night in anticipation of being able to try my first kegged beer. Fifteen minutes from now means it will have been at 30 psi for 40 hours. Going to remove co2, release pressure, put at 5 psi and try it. I really hope it works ok. The picnic tap kit came with a much smaller line than you are all mentioning.

I think my picnic tap was attached to a 5' line. Is that what you have?
Don't forget to burp it after you lower the pressure, like others said.

With regards to that personal fridge you have. You may be able to google the model number and see if you can frankenstein it into a kegerator. Lots of build threads on here as well. Just don't drill into lines and such and you can keep your CO2 tank outside the fridge as long as you drill a hole for the gas line to come into the fridge.

Congrats on a great purchase. The LHBS was not "wrong" per se about the kit coming with all that you need, but it would have been nice if they would have asked you where you plan to put the keg. Surely they knew that you were a first timer with kegging.

 

[TheCADJockey]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419794970.531688.jpg

First beer from keg. First beer with hops from garden. Used 6 psi and it's good. Going to turn it up to 10 for next two days until party. Although I'm half tempted to just watch football and kill that keg right now.

Refreshing quick little APA. 3 oz whole leaf nugget and some crystal. Little sweet little bitter very enjoyable low ABV. Great beer for football but hoping it will please a few bmc guys.

Yeah Hello. I think my brother and I might just tear that fridge apart and see what we can do. Ultimately id like to just get a little chest freezer tho I think.
An thanks again everyone. Quite pleased right now.

 

[Inkleg]

Congratulations on your first kegged beer. You're going to make a lot of people happy.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Filled a little 32 oz growler for a bmc drinking friend that won't be at the party. He said, "it's not bad at all, nice and light!" This is the feedback I get

I need to work on the actual beer now I guess. The keg is so much easier though, and I loved bottling.

 

[BigGuyBrewery]

It's amazing the feedback you get. I gave the same beer to a BMC drinking friend and to some beer drinking friends. The beer drinking fiends said it was great. The BMC drinker said "Dude, I think there is something wrong with this".
You need to educate a lot of people on what beer is.

 

[MarkKF]

BMC ???

I had a home brew friend make a cider that I thought was the best I ever had. I've tried a lot! My craft brew guru friend said I think there's something off. It had that great Belgian sour taste to it.

 

[BigGuyBrewery]

BMC: Bud, Miller-Coors

 

[Inkleg]

Filled a little 32 oz growler for a bmc drinking friend that won't be at the party. He said, "it's not bad at all, nice and light!" This is the feedback I get

Me: Well what do ya think?
Friend: It's good.
Me: Why is it good?
Friend: Well it just is.

That kind of feed back is why I started entering competitions. My friends don't have trained palates and can be jerks at times.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Alright so I filled that little growler for my buddy at 6 psi. Same rate that I sampled. All is good. Turned it up to 10 psi just to store thru next few days to New Years for the party. Came home after the football game and fridge has beer throughout. Did it leak from serving hose and it as simple as I should've just removed it? It's decent amount.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Well I removed the serving hose. I should've taken it off in the first place since I will not need it until New Years Eve, but now it's got me questioning what I have done.

You do keep the CO2 connected and valves open while it is just hanging out in the fridge right? I mean... You don't set it to the desired PSI and then turn it off, correct? Just hoping I do not come home after work to an empty keg and lots of explaining to do.

 

[ericbw]

Well I removed the serving hose. I should've taken it off in the first place since I will not need it until New Years Eve, but now it's got me questioning what I have done.



You do keep the CO2 connected and valves open while it is just hanging out in the fridge right? I mean... You don't set it to the desired PSI and then turn it off, correct? Just hoping I do not come home after work to an empty keg and lots of explaining to do.

The tap can get squeezed easily in there. Or you might have a leak at the keg or tap end.

 

[ericbw]

Or the tap unscrews at the top.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Now that I think of it, when I unhooked the tap hose there was some foam and bubbles on the pin connection. I don't know if that was just because of a little release when removing the hose or if that was the source all along. I guess we will see when I'm home in a few hours if there was any further leaking.

 

[Inkleg]

My guess is it leaked from the picnic tap. They can be sensitive at times.
I've learned I get a better seal if I allow the handle to snap shut at the end of the pour instead of slowly closing it. Plus I tap to on the edge of the glass to make sure it's seated. You might get one or to drops out, then it should quit.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Right on, thanks man. I was just worried, I lost a decent amount in the span of probably 2-3 hours when I left to watch the Steelers game.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Yikes. I lost more than I thought, but I didn't seem to lose any today. It must've slow leaked with the tap on it. Hopefully there is enough left to not disappoint at the party.

 

[masonsjax]

Well I removed the serving hose. I should've taken it off in the first place since I will not need it until New Years Eve, but now it's got me questioning what I have done.

You do keep the CO2 connected and valves open while it is just hanging out in the fridge right? I mean... You don't set it to the desired PSI and then turn it off, correct? Just hoping I do not come home after work to an empty keg and lots of explaining to do.

Once it's fully carbonated I usually, not always, keep the tank valve closed and just open it when pouring. Extra insurance against keg lid leaks or bumped faucets, things like that.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Ok guys quick question:

I just cleaned my keg after its first use. It will be about two weeks before it is refilled.

Should I leave sanitizer in it while it waits or just empty it?

 

[doug293cz]

Ok guys quick question:

I just cleaned my keg after its first use. It will be about two weeks before it is refilled.

Should I leave sanitizer in it while it waits or just empty it?

I'd be more worried about the two week hole in your pipeline

Brew on

 

[masonsjax]

I usually leave a little sanitizer in my clean empties. When you're ready to keg, shake em real good before draining to coat all inside sufaces just to be sure.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Ok guys quick question:

I just cleaned my keg after its first use. It will be about two weeks before it is refilled.

Should I leave sanitizer in it while it waits or just empty it?

Really doesn't matter if you cleaned it well. I tend to clean sanitize and flush with C02 all at once and that way next time I have to rack it's ready to go.