Keg use vs. Bottle

[OkanaganMike]

So I've cracked a few bottles now and enjoyed the fruits of my labor (and patience waiting and waiting til its time to drink), and wonder how the relationship between the settled yeast and the pouring from kegs work. Do you lose the first pint when you hook up a keg? Last pint? Only seen my Sanke keg and the take off tube is at the bottom leading me to think the first pour(s) of home brew will be full of yeast. How does this work?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Yes kegging is basicly cold crashing.I get some trub/yeast in first pint.not enough to worry about.I drink it and think nothing of it.

 

[802_Brews]

Great question, but sorry I have no answer. After 25 years of homebrewing I am just now getting into kegging (The last few parts I need are actually on the Fed-Ex truck for delivery as I type this). I have been reading up on the subject quite a bit lately though and one interesting thing I read was the suggestion of cutting the last inch or so off the dip tube. After cutting I guess it requires an oxidation period so it will not rust on the cut end. Would love to hear opinions from experienced keggers before I go and cut my dip tube!

Thanks.

 

[OkanaganMike]

I don't have a keg yet..............but I sure wouldn't want to cut my "dip tube"!!!!

 

[Yooper]

I don't cut my diptubes, either!

Once I keg the beer, I put it in the kegerator and let it sit for about 36 hours. Then, I pour off about 2 ounces of yeasty/sediment/stuff, dump that and the rest of the keg is totally clear.

The thing is, if you move the keg, you'll restir up all the sediment that fell to the bottom as when you pour a beer you only 'suck up' the sediment right around the diptube. When the keg is gone, and I go to clean it, there is a 'clean spot' right around the diptube and a little yeasty sludge on the rest of the bottom. It's not much at all, but if the keg was moved around like in and out of the kegerator, it would resuspend and need a day to settle down.

I do move kegs, of course, when I have to. But I try not to move them too much if I'm having a beer shortly thereafter.

 

[802_Brews]

 

[802_Brews]

I don't have a keg yet..............but I sure wouldn't want to cut my "dip tube"!!!!

Hmmm. try again.
I fully support not cutting your dip tube Mike!

Yooper. Great answer, thanks!

 

[Tegra]

If you look at the concept of "pressure fermenting", many will primary in a Corny or Sanke keg. This means a dip tube imbedded in sediment. If it has been cooled for long enough only the first bit will have sediment and then the rest will run clear and can be put into the serving kegs.

However, after a serving keg is finished and opened for cleaning I always find a layer of sediment adhering to be bottom. But the area around the dip tube is clear and the beer has been, for the most part, crystal clear even without any fining agents.

Tom

 

[PrinceOfThePoint]

I try not to rack too much sediment from the carboy into the keg, and sometimes I'll pour out the first couple ounces, but honestly the pours are nice and clear from the get go. You might get cloudiness momentarily when the keg gets moved aggressively, like Yooper said