Formulating a keg plan

[crosschk]

Yes... get CMB connectors. Your gas connector looks white (like the cheap ones) and not grey (like the nice ones made by CMB) I've had stuck, leaking, and falling apart off-brand ones, but never a problem with CMB. A lot of vendors don't specify make of connector and those that carry both will often charge a dollar more for CMB's, but worth it for me.

I'll look for those once i feel comfortable with my setup. I have 1 more keg coming this week and a 3rd by Christmas fun time indeed

 

[crosschk]

Yes... get CMB connectors. Your gas connector looks white (like the cheap ones) and not grey (like the nice ones made by CMB) I've had stuck, leaking, and falling apart off-brand ones, but never a problem with CMB. A lot of vendors don't specify make of connector and those that carry both will often charge a dollar more for CMB's, but worth it for me.

I ordered some metal barbed qd connectors to replace the plastic ones.

When I first ordered the keg for some reason I ordered the flaired ones as someibe pointed out i would still need another connector to connect to them. Those are going back and have ordered the, what I hope, no I'm sure, I think, are the correct ones. I can clamp down the hoses right on the disconnects

Stupid hobby, going to have to sell off some old hobby things to pay for new hobby things. Lol

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I ordered some metal barbed qd connectors to replace the plastic ones.

When I first ordered the keg for some reason I ordered the flaired ones as someibe pointed out i would still need another connector to connect to them. Those are going back and have ordered the, what I hope, no I'm sure, I think, are the correct ones. I can clamp down the hoses right on the disconnects

Stupid hobby, going to have to sell off some old hobby things to pay for new hobby things. Lol

I use the threaded QD's as I can remove the hose easier for flushing out the lines. I do have a few of the barbed ones, like on my keg washer system. So, keeping the barbed ones do have other uses in the brewery. With the flared ones you do have extra parts and extra costs but being able to remove them easier makes up for it. I keep a few hoses with the ends for transfer hoses like filling from one keg to another.

Just so it's clear, these are the flared fittings with the barbed ends to connect to your hose. "Black" is Beer, "Grey" is gas. If you get a QD on the wrong keg post, you'll have a difficult time getting it off, even with keg lube.

 

[crosschk]

I use the threaded QD's as I can remove the hose easier for flushing out the lines. I do have a few of the barbed ones, like on my keg washer system. So, keeping the barbed ones do have other uses in the brewery. With the flared ones you do have extra parts and extra costs but being able to remove them easier makes up for it. I keep a few hoses with the ends for transfer hoses like filling from one keg to another.

Just so it's clear, these are the flared fittings with the barbed ends to connect to your hose. "Black" is Beer, "Grey" is gas. If you get a QD on the wrong keg post, you'll have a difficult time getting it off, even with keg lube.

View attachment 783054

Thanks. Once I get a better understanding of what I am doing, I'm sure I'll see a lot of things i can do differently

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

It can be an uphill climb but you're on the right site to get lots of ideas and help. I'm sure we all started out the same way. Keep the questions coming and eventually things will fall into place. I've been brewing for a long time and I'm still learning with every brew I do.

I just finished milling 29 pounds of grain for an Amber recipe, Raptor Red. It'll be a ten gallon batch. I brewed it once before, the end of June in fact, wanted to add a little more maltiness to it.

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks. Once I get a better understanding of what I am doing, I'm sure I'll see a lot of things i can do differently

Measure once, cut twice?

 

[crosschk]

Measure once, cut twice?

I'm so bad I usually pay someone else to cut lol

I had to get something to start, i was paralyzed with confusion and indecision

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I'm so bad I usually pay someone else to cut lol

I had to get something to start, i was paralyzed with confusion and indecision

Well, it's certainly safer that way.

 

[crosschk]

Well frist keg is filled and on co2 for 2 weeks at 12psi

I had ordered the wrong tubung for my 4 way manifold so it will have to wait to get setup. I did make a batch this morning as well so in 2 weeks, I'll have another keg filled and ready to go, and hopefully I'll have all the proper parts to hook up 2 - 4 kegs

Again thanks for all the advice.

Edit - Even if I got soemthing wrong, I am going to stick with it. This was the fastest time i spent bottling ever and i aint going back easily

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Edit - Even if I got soemthing wrong, I am going to stick with it. This was the fastest time i spent bottling ever and i aint going back easily

When I first started using kegs I was the same; I gave all of my bottles away. Over the years I have accumulated some bottles but only on a rare occasion will I actually fill them. I like the flip top bottles for wine or mead plus they are nice to give away a special brew. You won't be disappointed filling a keg or two over the bottling fun.

Congratulations!

Might I suggest a rubber mat in the bottom of your beer cooler? You can pick up 12x12 mats at a home improvement store, then cut them to size.

 

[crosschk]

So, after 9 or 10 days getting bubbly, I did my first real pour tonight.

I used the tube length calculator and made a 30 foot tap line.

And the first cup was pretty good. It took about 7-8 seconds to fill a solo cup. A little foamy but drinkable

So the inevitable question, will that happen to those 9oz of beer in the tube ( I googled a volume calculator) will it keep for a day or two? I got 1/4id ez-flo tubing from lowes. Its in a keezer no light getting in there.

BTW I have to say thanks to the group of people answering all my crazy questions. This board is the best

 

[bracconiere]

A tiny smear of beer lube or simple petroleum jelly to the O rings will help greatly.

i've read petroleum jelly is bad for buna o rings? only to use silicone keg lube?

 

[jmstone617]

Planning my own kegerator setup and ultimately want to build a 2-tap system with a dual body regulator....can I just buy the dual body and 2-way distributor now and leave one side turned off if I plan on starting with just a single keg? Would hate to buy a single body regulator now just to have to buy another one 6-12 months from now, so hoping I can plan for growth early?

 

[crosschk]

Planning my own kegerator setup and ultimately want to build a 2-tap system with a dual body regulator....can I just buy the dual body and 2-way distributor now and leave one side turned off if I plan on starting with just a single keg? Would hate to buy a single body regulator now just to have to buy another one 6-12 months from now, so hoping I can plan for growth early?

I have a single regulator attached to a 4 way system, and i just close off the ones not in use. I would think you can do the same with a dual regulator system, just turn the one not in use all the way down

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Planning my own kegerator setup and ultimately want to build a 2-tap system with a dual body regulator....can I just buy the dual body and 2-way distributor now and leave one side turned off if I plan on starting with just a single keg? Would hate to buy a single body regulator now just to have to buy another one 6-12 months from now, so hoping I can plan for growth early?

With single regulator you could split the CO2 with a distribution block (2-4-6, or whatever) but you'll have a dropped pressure than what the regulator is set at. Split six times will have more drop than a single line. With a dual regulator, each branch should have a shut-off so you could shut one leg off and just use the other or have the two legs with the same pressure or something different. To be creative, with the dual regulator you could have a distribution block to each leg.

I think the single regulator would serve you fine for the two taps you intend to have.

I have a single regulator with a six way distribution block and it's fine for serving beer.

 

[crosschk]

distribution block (2-4-6, or whatever) but you'll have a dropped pressure than what the regulator is set at.

I noticed this the first time last week. I think it was the first time i had 2 kegs setup at the same time.

How much over the desired PSI do you normally go?

 

[jmstone617]

With single regulator you could split the CO2 with a distribution block (2-4-6, or whatever) but you'll have a dropped pressure than what the regulator is set at. Split six times will have more drop than a single line. With a dual regulator, each branch should have a shut-off so you could shut one leg off and just use the other or have the two legs with the same pressure or something different. To be creative, with the dual regulator you could have a distribution block to each leg.

I think the single regulator would serve you fine for the two taps you intend to have.

I have a single regulator with a six way distribution block and it's fine for serving beer.

Thanks! Ultimately I'd like the flexibility of serving at two different PSI (e.g. Belgian strong ale and a blonde, for example), so I think the dual body is the best (only?) want to do that.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I noticed this the first time last week. I think it was the first time i had 2 kegs setup at the same time.

How much over the desired PSI do you normally go?

The regulator is set around 12 psi. I get a good steady pour from this on my system. It'll vary some depending on your set up.

From the distribution block I have six lines about five feet long to the kegs. I'm using 5/16" CO2 hose from Rapids Wholesale. There's a lot of other CO2 hose types out there so stick with what you can find but buy some good stuff made for beer CO2 lines. You'll be dollars ahead buy good hose, the same goes for the beer lines too.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Thanks! Ultimately I'd like the flexibility of serving at two different PSI (e.g. Belgian strong ale and a blonde, for example), so I think the dual body is the best (only?) want to do that.

You won't go wrong having a dual regulator setup - I wish I had one. My single regulator serves beer for me just fine set the same for all beer styles. I know I'll get flak from some for not serving beer at the "proper" pressures but this works for me just fine.

I guess you could use a single regulator, set it for the highest pressure you want for one style of beer then use in inline regulator to reduce the other line. Not sure if that would save any money over a dual regulator unless you already have a single one.

 

[jmstone617]

I ended up going with the dual body. Like you said, it’s as much a matter of preference as anything else. And if you like pouring your Belgian strongs at the PSI you currently have, nothing wrong with that! I just figured if I was going to start off with something, I might as well start off strong