Keeping beer from going flat in a growler.

GNBrews · Dec 21, 2009

Suthrncomfrt1884,

So, if you were to remove that squeeze ball, you'd have a piece of metal tubing sticking out of the gizmo. Cut the tubing to a shorter, more manageable length, install a compression to NPT adapter like this:

Connect the threaded end to one of these:

Install an over-pressure relief valve on one of the other ports:

And finally, attach a shrader valve stem to one of the other ports:

That would allow you to use one of those cheap emergency bicycle tire inflators. Just set the relief valve for around your target serving pressure, and lock the nut down to keep the setting.

jeffmeh · Dec 21, 2009

It won't be inexpensive, but perhaps the easiest method would be to get him a carbonator cap and a small CO2 setup, and use 2 liter PET soda bottles.

Suthrncomfrt1884 · Dec 21, 2009

That's exactly what I was thinking too. Nice post to put it into pictures though.

JKoravos · Dec 21, 2009

The idea of decanting the growler into smaller flip top or PET bottles makes the most sense to me. It's pretty easy and it's free.

It would be nice to have a system that would allow you to dispense reliably from a growler, but it will be fairly expensive to make it safe. If you're willing to spend $200-$300 on the parts to do it, then go for it.

Suthrncomfrt1884 · Dec 21, 2009

JKoravos said:
The idea of decanting the growler into smaller flip top or PET bottles makes the most sense to me. It's pretty easy and it's free.

It would be nice to have a system that would allow you to dispense reliably from a growler, but it will be fairly expensive to make it safe. If you're willing to spend $200-$300 on the parts to do it, then go for it.

$200-300! That's crazy. Maybe our interpretations of safe are two different things. Maybe you guys actually intend on throwing these things around once they're filled and pressurized???

I'm already going to be careful with it even before it's pressurized...these german growlers are expensive.

I concider the 58psi rating to be pretty darn safe when it comes to something blowing up...so I'm not worried about it sitting on a table and suddenly exploding. Add on the fittings mentioned above (one of them a pressure relief valve that makes it more safe) and you're talking an extra $20. -$100 for everything. If I intend on buying the CO2 gauge mentioned on the last page for $135, then yes...it's a little pricey. I don't think it's needed though. The 12gram cartridges don't have enough co2 in them to create 58psi anyways, I don't think.