Keg Aging

[6midgets]

I recently acquired four used ball lock corny kegs. I already have three kegs that I use in my three tap kegerator. I was wondering if I could age beer in my kegs. The one thing that stops me from making big abv. beers is that I don't want to tie up my fermenters for long periods of time. Could I transfer from my primary fermenter to a keg and age my beer for twelve months? Would I just purge the headspace with co2 and cellar it?

 

[NeoBrew]

Yes.

Be careful that it is truly done fermenting. You might also consider priming with sugar and keg conditioning it. That should help scrub some O2 and help the beer last longer.

 

[6midgets]

thanks Neo that's a good idea.

 

[jalc6927]

Is it true we shouldn't store kegs with co2 at room temp?

This is when priming sugar works best, or just a myth

 

[Morrey]

Is it true we shouldn't store kegs with co2 at room temp?

This is when priming sugar works best, or just a myth

Not sure there is much to the myth, but if I can find room in a keezer or kegerator to put a keg on gas for carbing/aging, I never gave it much thought. If I don't have room for a keg in a cooling chamber on gas, I'll just use priming sugar and let it carb up and condition naturally in a closet. Also beer takes on carbonation at differing rates depending on the temps, so maybe that is where the myth come from.

Kegs have a high burst rating (and prv's) so "keg bombs" are not as risky as overcarbing may be with bottles.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

Kegs have a high burst rating (and prv's) so "keg bombs" are not as risky as overcarbing may be with bottles.

Although that could be a truly spectacular YouTube video. (Where's myth busters when you need them?)