Keg fermentation

[hilljack13]

I have three kits I purchased almost one year ago and I need to get them done. I have four kegs, two Spike Flex+ FV. I have never done a keg ferment because I don't like the idea of the funk and gunk at the bottom. I use Flotit to dispense and have never had and issue with them.

What should I expect if I run through these kits and need to ferment in a keg? Just set everything up and pressure ferment? I don't have a way to spund. I just have the PRV for the Flex+. I mean, in reality I have gone a year, so would another month or two really make the grain in these kits worse off? They have been stored at room temp 62-75F since purchase.

 

[redrocker652002]

While I have never done keg fermenting, it is on my to do list. As I understand it, you just hook up a tube from the gas post and run it into a jar of Starsan. But, as I have also read up, be careful as the krausen can get into the poppet and clog things up. I will let the pro's chime in, but that is how I understand it.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I picked up a couple scrap keg covers with the pressure relief valve removed. In the hole I added a rubber plug with a blow off tube.

You still could have an issue getting junk into the poppets, just be careful how much you fill the keg.

Also on my two fermenting kegs, I cut about 3/4" off the bottom of the beer side dip tube so it picks up less trub. Your using a floating gizmo, so that's fine.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I ferment in a keg and then push the beer into another keg for dispensing. A floating dip tube works fine for this.

I quit buying Flotits because they seem to be no better than cheaper products.

 

[Knightshade]

I ferment in a keg and then push the beer into another keg for dispensing. A floating dip tube works fine for this.

I quit buying Flotits because they seem to be no better than cheaper products.

Yep...exactly this. I ferment in 6G Torpedo kegs with floating dip tubes. I put in a couple drops of Fermcap when I remember when I'm transferring the wort to keg but I also forget quite often. I've definitely had plenty of occasion when I'm pushing yeasty krausen into the blowoff jar, but it ends up being fine.

 

[Yesfan]

I ferment 2.5 gallons in 3 gallon kegs. I have done a couple of 3-4 gallon batches in a standard 5 gallon keg. What I do different is add a floating dip tube, change the prv valve to one with lower rating, and use a spunding valve on the gas post.

Talking about the beer kit, I'd hold off until one of your fermenters opens up. I don't think another month or two will matter. Sure you could probably ferment a 5 gallon batch in a 5 gallon keg, but I'm not that ballsy. I like to keep at least .5-1 gallon of head space depending on what I'm brewing when fermenting in kegs. If you have the funds, you could always get a Fermzilla All Rounder and a spunding valve to run those kits. Sometimes, More Beer runs a special where you get a free Kegland spunding valve with Fermzilla purchase.

 

[hilljack13]

Appreciate the replies. With 4 kegs and never having all full at once I should be able to use two, with one being the transferred to keg. Or could use the 6 gal to clear headspace. Normally when I fill the kegs, I get too close to the top and have had some go back into the gas line.

 

[Ramjet]

I pressure ferment in a 5 gallon corny keg. I put about 4 1/2 gallons in and run a blowoff tube for the first day or two. Then put on the spunding valve. This has worked well so far. I also use the flot it dip tube. A 6 gallon torpedo keg is on my wish list. If doing ales I just run the blowoff tube.

 

[odie]

I'm doing full 5 gal batches in the keg without any issues. a corny has 5.5 capacity.

Ales I'll use a 1/2" silicone blow off tube on the gas side and really don't get much of anything in the jar of water the tube sits in...unless it's a Hefe. after a few days I'll pull the blow off tube and replace the dip tube (I shorten the gas dip tube to almost flush, all it does is hold the o-ring) and QD post and use a red/25psi PRV and let it finish.

Lagers I'll skip the blow off tube and go straight to pressure with a blue/10psi PRV. After a few days swap to a red/25psi PRV and let it finish.

You can use a floating dip tube or not. It won't matter other than to harvest yeast on the first couple of pints or wait until the keg is empty to harvest yeast.

shorten the gas dip tube to prevent beer/foam back flowing into the gas line. But if you release the PRV too much too fast, it will foam and it's going into the gas line anyway regardless how short the dip tube is.

 

[odie]

As I understand it, you just hook up a tube from the gas post and run it into a jar of Starsan. But, as I have also read up, be careful as the krausen can get into the poppet and clog things up.

remove the gas post and dip tube. just slip 1/2 silicone hose over the threads and other end in a jar of water. After it slows down you can replace the post and let it carb up as it finishes. either with a spunding valve or red/25psi PRV.

 

[Willy]

I have done keg fermenting using a 6 g torpedo and a 6 1/2 g cheapo china keg. Worked just fine every time. During the active phase (days 1-4) I just use a blowoff into starsan (no issues with more headspace). Then I will carb it up for days 5-14 so it is ready to serve after transferring to the 5 g corny keg used for serving. Really like the stainless steel vs. the plastic buckets... I almost always end up with a cleaner and clearer beer.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I always ferment with Fermcap. I haven't had anything blow out yet, as far as I can recall. No problems with poor foaming.