Full Keg storage (Year + )

[Lunarpancake]

Is it possible to store beer in a keg for periods of about a year or more?

How do I go about doing this? Does it need to be kept on c02 the entire time or can I just purge the oxygen and leave it?

 

[DKershner]

Is it possible to store beer in a keg for periods of about a year or more?

How do I go about doing this? Does it need to be kept on c02 the entire time or can I just purge the oxygen and leave it?

Either will work.

 

[MultumInParvo]

I have never actually done this for that long, however, if you are confident that your keg won't leak, you'll be fine taking it off the gas. My kegs are solid and I would have full confidence in leaving them for a year.

If you really want to there are places that sell post covers that you could put on them as well. But this isn't necessary. I always thought waxing the posts (like one would a bottle) would kind of be a fun/quirky thing though.

 

[Lunarpancake]

cool. thanks for the info. I have one keg that is in use right now that leaks from the liquid post every so often but my other kegs are tight.

I have never greased or done a take-apart on any of them. So maybe if I decide to keep a batch for a year + ill do it before kegging.

 

[MultumInParvo]

cool. thanks for the info. I have one keg that is in use right now that leaks from the liquid post every so often but my other kegs are tight.

I have never greased or done a take-apart on any of them. So maybe if I decide to keep a batch for a year + ill do it before kegging.

Fully disassembling them might be a little difficult the first time (at least it was for me). But after you've done it once, it is a breeze. Might as well taken things down, fully clean, and build back up before a long aging. It might help your leaking one as well.

 

[DKershner]

I have never greased or done a take-apart on any of them. So maybe if I decide to keep a batch for a year + ill do it before kegging.

Keg lube costs $4, lasts years, and takes 15 seconds to apply, I recommend just doing it to all of them. Taking apart is as simple as getting a right sized deep socket to fit around your posts.

 

[motobrewer]

i would definitely disassemble, thoroughly clean, and reassemble the keg before long-term storage.

 

[Bobby_M]

Throw a plastic bag over the top also to keep it from getting super dusty.

 

[mmb]

I'm sitting on a keg of barleywine that was brewed in October of '08. As long as the keg holds pressure you should be fine.

I force carbed and it's just hanging out in the keg cooler waiting to bottled, I just don't get around to it. Might still have about 2.5G left. *shrug*

 

[MultumInParvo]

Throw a plastic bag over the top also to keep it from getting super dusty.

I hadn't thought of this. Seems like a simple idea that'd work quite well. Good idea Bobby!

 

[DKershner]

I'm sitting on a keg of barleywine that was brewed in October of '08. As long as the keg holds pressure you should be fine.

You can test this by spraying possible leak spots with a spray bottle of star san (diluted).

 

[Lunarpancake]

You can test this by spraying possible leak spots with a spray bottle of star san (diluted).

good idea, I might pressurize all my kegs tonight and spray to see which ones I would refurb first. The place I got my last 4 kegs from sent me 4 full o-ring rebuild kits with them. So aslong as the hardware is OK im good to go after I buy some grease.

 

[DKershner]

good idea, I might pressurize all my kegs tonight and spray to see which ones I would refurb first. The place I got my last 4 kegs from sent me 4 full o-ring rebuild kits with them. So aslong as the hardware is OK im good to go after I buy some grease.

Oxygen is the enemy with aging. I find it much easier to keep out in a keg than a bottle. And MUCH easier to fix if some gets in.