First time power, storing bottled beer...

[TheChodja]

First time poster, I don't really brew my own beer (but at the rate I'm going with my tinkering and DIY attitude, I just might be inclined to do so sometime soon), but I do have a question for you guys.

I'm going to be modding out a computer case to work as a refrigerated beer tap. I found an article about reusing Heineken keg cans, but that would be too fat for the case. Then I found a thread on this forum pertaining to 2L bottles. That would actually be pretty ideal for what I'm trying to do.

My question is:
What kind of process would I have to undertake to get my favorite beer transferred into the bottles without ruining the beer? I'm assuming the contact with air and the foaming when pouring it in to a container would already hasten its ruin, so...how would I do this and still keep it fresh?

And would doing this in 2L be easy?

(Also, side question: how do I keep the pressure so that it continues to feed the tap? Just pressurize the individual bottles, or is there some other setup that will connect all the bottles?)

 

[Warped04]

Welcome to the forums. The system you speak of is called a carbonator cap, and it is used for a short term transportation of beer and not for serving. You can find it here.

http://morebeer.com/view_product/18250/102290/Carbonator_Cap

I don't mean to burst your bubble, I'm sure there is another approach to do what you want to do (all I can think about is a self cooled jockey box?), but you are going to have to have kegged beer to do whatever you want to do.

If you could fit a 2.5 gallon corny in your computer case, then I'd say you have a good shot at what you want, but you'd still have to start with kegged beer.

 

[BrewThruYou]

So you want to take already bottled commercial beer, empty them into a 2L bottle and then have it dispensed out of a computer case?

This sounds like a lot of work. I think you'll end up ruining perfectly good bottled beer.

 

[stanley1271]

I believe this is what he is talking about.

 

[TheChodja]

Thank you for the welcome, Warped, and yes, Stanley, something like that. lol. I got the idea while joking with friends and then this picture started showing up everywhere. I found another idea floating around to make the computer case refrigerated, but it dispenses cans. I wanted to try and one-up that if I possibly could.

The only work I see is the beer issue, if I want it to be on tap. Refrigerating the case is really easy. Probably an hour-two hour job. Just foam spray, Peltier cooler/heater blocks, and styrofoam sheets.

Mmk. So 2Ls are a no-go for extended party times... Hmm...
I remember someone getting a Heineken mini-Keg to be refillable, but I think he was reusing them to brew his own, so still leaves me in the dark. I guess I'll just have to look at getting a mini-keg that I can get refilled, then.

 

[BrewThruYou]

Have you looked into the Coors Light home draft thing? I think it's coors light...could be M or B light.

 

[Warped04]

Well then a jockey box will allow you to have a keg somewhere else.

http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=20981&source=base

Also here is the 2.5 gallon corny link

https://morebeer.com/view_product/18197

 

[stanley1271]

The problem I see with trying to put a 2.5 corny keg inside the case is that they are about 8.5" wide and most cases are only about 8 - 9 inches wide. The only way I could see this working is if a custom container were built to fit in the case. To me you would be asking for problems in try it with a custom container. You have to remember that the beer is under pressure in a keg.

If you could carb the beer as it came out of the container then you could solve that issue. Then you would only need a paintball CO2 tank some lines and a way to cool it. Not to mention the custom container. Maybe if your a welder or know someone who welds they might be able to make a custom sized container.

 

[TheChodja]

I don't really want a jockey box thing goin'. Just kind of feels like I'm cheating. Though, darn! The case I have is 8.25" wide, just wide enough to accommodate it, but not after I install the insulation. That's a bummer.

The case is also long, so I'll be able to accommodate some kind of mini-keg as well as a CO2 canister if that's the way to go.

BrewthruYou: I'm not really a fan of Coors or Bud Light. Just not my cup of tea. Those mini-kegs that they come in usually aren't refillable without modification. Though, if I drill a hole and fit a bung with a valve, would I be able to take it somewhere to get it refilled?

 

[LordUlrich]

I would do some case mode to fit a corney in the case. I suspect no matter how you go you will.need to fill your keg yourself from a sanke keg. Once packeged you.should keep the beer under co2 pressure. To transfer you would just need to setup a jumper between the full keg and your keg, put pressure on the full keg and vent the target keg. A local brewpub MIGHT fill for you but chances are you will need to fill for yourself.

Btw I think the 2 liter system you are thinking of is called.tap-a-draft

 

[Sacreddog717]

What about a tap a draft system. It is 7.5 x 15. http://www.williamsbrewing.com/TAP-A-DRAFT-STARTER-SYSTEM-no-air-shipment-P729C120.aspx

 

[TheChodja]

Upon reading the Tap-a-Draft description, I'm believing that that is my answer. I won't be storing beer for any longer than a week. If I'm not topping the day off with a relaxing glass, I'm generally throwing a party of some sort.

So, I could get these bottles filled at a place that fills kegs, right? Or is this something for brewing your own batches?

 

[BrewThruYou]

BrewthruYou: I'm not really a fan of Coors or Bud Light. Just not my cup of tea. Those mini-kegs that they come in usually aren't refillable without modification. Though, if I drill a hole and fit a bung with a valve, would I be able to take it somewhere to get it refilled?

I definitely wasn't recommending continually buying the kegs full of Coors light. There's at least 2 threads on here detailing on how to re-use those containers. Since they run on tiny co2 cartridges, they might be able to fit in a computer case.

 

[TheChodja]

I know, Brew. Though, as much as I dislike Heineken, I'd still pick that over the other two if I have to temporarily drink it. lol.

Although, the Coors and Bud Light draft bottles are plastic, so I could probably, literally, squeeze one in. The Tap A Draft bottles sound like they'd be just the right size, width-wise.

Hmm... Still leaves the question if I might be able to get them refilled without a problem using just a bung for access. If I can, then I might just go with either of the three mini-kegs (around here, the three are the only ones that get that special treatment. =\) because they're much cheaper.