Interested in kegging....questions

REPO · Jan 31, 2014

So i am interested in getting into kegging some beer. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy everything at once.

my question is, do I need the co2 setup right off the bat? Or can i just buy a keg and put my beer into it, then add co2 at a later date?

duboman · Jan 31, 2014

In a perfect world you want to purge the keg with co2 prior to filling with beer so I would say it really depends on how long until you get the co2...........

That being said you can rack the beer into the keg and prime it as if you were priming a bottle. It is after all a large single vessel. The only difference is you would prime with 1/2 the amount of sugar you would if bottling. Keep the keg at 70 or so and in a few weeks time it will be naturally carbonated but you'll still need the co2 to dispense it

masonsjax · Jan 31, 2014

You'll probably want co2 to purge the headspace of staling air and to seal the lid. Priming won't work if the lid cant get a good seal, which usually requires a good burst of co2 at about 30 psi. For all of my 12 kegs anyway.

You can use it as another fermenter until you get the rest of the gear though.

mgudmastad · Jan 31, 2014

+1 Don't let it sit in the keg that long. You'd be better off leaving it in the fermenter until you get a CO2 tank rather than putting it in the keg without CO2.

dcodd87 · Jan 31, 2014

I started off with buying a used ge mini fridge off of craigslist for $50.

Next, i purchased a keg, regulator with the required hoses, then i purchased a co2 tank off of a buddy of mine.

Not finished as of yet because i want to buy another keg and the towers, but so far i have a simple functional keg orator and have only spent roughly 150$ if that.

If you have the money to jump straight in, go for it, if not buy the pieces as you have the cash.

REPO · Jan 31, 2014

That is what I kind of figured.

Would this do in a pinch to at least purge out the air? Or is this still not a good idea....

http://hopdawgs.ca/Equipment/kegging?product_id=176