How much beer is left?

[r8rphan]

Is there a way to tell how much beer remains in a corny keg?..

Lifting it to judge the weight is highly deceptive and shakes up sediments..

I tried wiping a sponge with hot water on the side to see if condensation would give it away, similar to the technique of pouring hot water on a propane tank will do, but that didn't work...

Surely if we can send men to the moon there must be a simple way to measure remaining beer in a corny...

 

[Nateo]

Much like life, beer is sweeter if we're not sure how much we may have left.

 

[user 19629]

If you really need to know couldn't you open it and look inside?

 

[kornbread]

You could weigh the keg empty then full. Then leave the keg on a scale in the fridge. That way a glance at the scale and some quick math would tell you how much beer is left.

But, to me, half of the fun is wondering how many more pints before it "kicks" and thinking with each of those last few pours what I'm going to brew next when I finally have another empty keg.

 

[tekknoschtev]

But, to me, half of the fun is wondering how many more pints before it "kicks" and thinking with each of those last few pours what I'm going to brew next when I finally have another empty keg.

Its like a game, and every beer you get after you think it should be empty is a bonus at the end of the game

 

[Token]

I have seen a strip you can put on your keg to determine how much beer is left. It looks kinda like a thermometer strip you stick on a carboy. I can't remember where I saw it, but it's out there. I'll leave the Googling up to you.

 

[wildwest450]

Lifting it to judge the weight is highly deceptive and shakes up sediments..

Not really, lifting is very accurate if you do it enough. I can gauge down to the last 3 to 4 pints. Never sediment problems.

 

[chefmike]

i saw a picture on here once with a guy who had a scale under each keg. it was hooked to his computer and calculated volume remaining from the weight.

Like this: http://www.kegworks.com/product.php?productid=173660

I just try to keep lots of beer in the pipeline!

 

[akthor]

You can tap on it with your knuckle and kind of tell the level. Also take it out of your kegerator and put it at room temperature for a few minutes and moisture will collect on the keg but only to the level of the beer inside.

 

[Pappers_]

Much like life, beer is sweeter if we're not sure how much we may have left.

You, sir, are a brewer-philosopher.

 

[motobrewer]

when you pull the tap and nothing comes out, it's empty

 

[jackers252]

I have been looking for a small scale (8 inch pressure plate) with an external read-out for a while now. They are hard to find and very expensive. I just haven't seen anything out there that would allow for a multi-keg system that's worth the investment.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

I don't find tapping on the side works very well for me. Sometimes I can tell but sometimes not. I either lift the keg or pull it from the keezer to let the condensation form. I think I might need one of those gauges. Anyone have a link?

 

[wildwest450]

I don't find tapping on the side works very well for me. Sometimes I can tell but sometimes not. I either lift the keg or pull it from the keezer to let the condensation form. I think I might need one of those gauges. Anyone have a link?

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

If you use a chest freezer they aren't much good, unless you can stand on your head inside there. I have one on a corny, never used it.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

If you use a chest freezer they aren't much good, unless you can stand on your head inside there. I have one on a corny, never used it.

Hmm.... well that stinks. Maybe i'll have to get better at lifting them to determine the volume. What about a lifting scale that measures by lifting and deduct the approximate tare weight of a standard corny? I would think a luggage scale would work for this. I'm going to try to search for one.

 

[BBBF]

Unplug your fridge and left the door open for a 15 minutes and you should get condensation on the keg. They'll be more where the liquid is.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Unplug your fridge and left the door open for a 15 minutes and you should get condensation on the keg. They'll be more where the liquid is.

Not a bad idea.

 

[devilishprune]

I just open them and look in there. That's probably the simplest thing, and that way you don't have to shift it around too much.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

I just open them and look in there. That's probably the simplest thing, and that way you don't have to shift it around too much.

Yeah but that wastes quite a bit of CO2 if you want to check all your kegs. Especially when they start getting low and you want to check them more often.

 

[Token]

Here it is:

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

 

[WAORGANY]

Just use some form of recording device and keep score...5 gallon corny holds 40 pints, so each time you pull a pint mark it down, or put 40 pennies in a bowl next to your keg when you are out of coins guess what you need to restock your beer..or you can do what I do is just wing it, and hope that you don't run out of the beer your wife is drinking that night, and if you do ensure that you have a suitable replacement keg chilled, and carbed waiting for her!!! All the best....

 

[MikeRoBrew1]

I just got a couple stick on LCD strips that are supposed to tell you the level. $6 tho..... Will report back when I try them, you have to stick them on when the keg is empty and warm (how often is that really) and of course u need to remember

edit - dang i got ripped off compared to the link posted above
edit - sorry http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

 

[r8rphan]

I just got a couple stick on LCD strips that are supposed to tell you the level. $6 tho..... Will report back when I try them, you have to stick them on when the keg is empty and warm (how often is that really) and of course u need to remember

edit - dang i got ripped off compared to the link posted above

Link?

 

[r8rphan]

Here it is:

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

Anyone tried it? It is advertised as 'reusable'... Which has me wondering how good the adhesive is.. I would want them to be permanently affixed to a corny (buying one for every corny keg)...

Thanks for the tip on letting it warm for a few minutes.... That's what I was trying to accomplish with the sponge and hot water...

 

[gicts]

Here it is:

http://www.micromatic.com/part-pid-SS100.html

Interesting! Think it could double as a poor man's sight tube?

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Hmm.... well that stinks. Maybe i'll have to get better at lifting them to determine the volume. What about a lifting scale that measures by lifting and deduct the approximate tare weight of a standard corny? I would think a luggage scale would work for this. I'm going to try to search for one.

I had to place an Amazon order today for other things. I decided to throw in a luggage scale. I need it for luggage plus I thought it would work well for finding how much is left in a keg, propane tank and CO2 tank. I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

 

[Daybis]

When I can tell I am starting to get low. I take a rag and soak it in the hottest water my hands can stand. I then place the rag up against the keg where I think level is at. After about 15 seconds, I pull the rag away and I feel for where the keg goes from hot to cold and this is how much beer you have in your keg.

 

[Clifton]

I used this http://www.amazon.com/Removable-Accu-Level-Propane-Gauge-Magnetic/dp/B0010P3OU2and it didn't work at all. Does anyone have experience with the micromatic product.

 

[wildwest450]

I used this http://www.amazon.com/Removable-Accu-Level-Propane-Gauge-Magnetic/dp/B0010P3OU2and it didn't work at all. Does anyone have experience with the micromatic product.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/how-much-beer-left-210080/#post2455678

 

[IffyG]

Anyone tried it? It is advertised as 'reusable'... Which has me wondering how good the adhesive is.. I would want them to be permanently affixed to a corny (buying one for every corny keg)...

Nothing a strip of packing tape can't help. That's how I keep my stick on thermometers on my carboys and buckets.