keg conditioning question

[cushdan]

I have a batch that has been in my primary for 3 weeks now. I would like to move it to a keg and let it condition for a little while longer at room temp before I refrigerate and fully carb it. This will be my first time kegging so I am wondering:

1. if I keg the beer and then hit it with some CO2 just to purge and seal it what PSI should I use
2. if I disconnect the keg from the CO2 how long will it stay sealed?

The main reason I wouldn't have it connected to the CO2 the whole time it conditions is because my regulator is leaking so I can use it quickly to purge the keg but would not want to keep it on since I'll lose all my CO2.

Thanks

 

[Yooper]

I have a batch that has been in my primary for 3 weeks now. I would like to move it to a keg and let it condition for a little while longer at room temp before I refrigerate and fully carb it. This will be my first time kegging so I am wondering:

1. if I keg the beer and then hit it with some CO2 just to purge and seal it what PSI should I use
2. if I disconnect the keg from the CO2 how long will it stay sealed?

The main reason I wouldn't have it connected to the CO2 the whole time it conditions is because my regulator is leaking so I can use it quickly to purge the keg but would not want to keep it on since I'll lose all my CO2.

Thanks

I often do the same- keg, but let it condition in lieu of a secondary. You just hit it with enough co2 to seal it- it doesn't really matter how much. I usually have it at about 20 psi, I think, but there really isn't any scientific reason for it, except that it seals just fine. I purge a couple of times, then seal it up. I use a spray bottle of star-san to check for leaks, and then put the keg away next to the kegerator to wait its turn.

If you disconnect the keg from the co2, and there are no leaks, it'll stay sealed.

Some people don't force carb- they add priming sugar to the keg so that it carbonates during this time. Since you've got an issue with your regularator, maybe that's something to consider.

 

[cushdan]

Thanks Yooper, my replacement regulator should be shipping out monday so looks like I'll be fine for the week or so until I get that set.