I'm looking into getting a Homebrew keg and I have a few questions. 1) I have a kegerator set up already, I have to CO2 tank, tower, lines for the tower and gas. And a standard keg tap. So what else do I need other than the Corni keg. 2) how do you put the beer into the keg. I know this might be a stupid question but I just want to ask. 3) how do you carbonate the beer. I know you use the co2 but how? Also does the keg have to sit a while like you do bottling or is it ready to drink right away? 4) and finally when the keg is empty how do you release the pressure in the keg? I know some of these questions may seem dumb and some I might already know the answer for but I just wanted to ask and make sure. Thanks for the help!!!
Kegging questions
- Thread starter serrano07
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk:
You say that you have a standard kegerator. Is it designed to take a commercial keg? In other words, can you go to a liquor store and ick up a keg and tap it and dispense it from the kegerator? If so, that would be a Sanke style keg. I would suggest doing a search for sanke kegs.
No such thing as a stupid question.
1. I think you pretty much have it all already, just make sure you balance your system to prevent excess foaming. Here's a great guide to balancing your system: http://www.iancrockett.com/brewing/info/kegbalance.shtml
2. You just rack the beer from your fermenter to the keg. Be sure to purge the empty keg with CO2 first so your racked beer is not exposed to O2.
3. Set CO2 regulator and kegerator temp to match your desired carbonation level, connect gas line to the keg and leave it on like that for 10 days.
4. If you have a ball lock type keg, pull the ring on the lid to purge the CO2 out. If it's a pin lock type, use a screwdriver or anything pointy to push down on the poppet valve.
Hope this helps
1. I think you pretty much have it all already, just make sure you balance your system to prevent excess foaming. Here's a great guide to balancing your system: http://www.iancrockett.com/brewing/info/kegbalance.shtml
2. You just rack the beer from your fermenter to the keg. Be sure to purge the empty keg with CO2 first so your racked beer is not exposed to O2.
3. Set CO2 regulator and kegerator temp to match your desired carbonation level, connect gas line to the keg and leave it on like that for 10 days.
4. If you have a ball lock type keg, pull the ring on the lid to purge the CO2 out. If it's a pin lock type, use a screwdriver or anything pointy to push down on the poppet valve.
Hope this helps
Look into "keg conversions" on http://www.kegconnection.com/ or I think the other one is http://www.birdmanbrewing.com/. You will need the liquid out QD for your type of keg and the gas in for you type of keg. Also advisable is keg lube and a gasket set for each keg if they are not already rebuilt.
To fill there are a couple of options. I use an extra liquid out connector, attach the hose from my racking can/autosiphon and open the pressure relief valve on the keg. Although you can purge your keg ahead of time, using this method it is not really required. The amount of CO2 that comes out of solution (unless you beer spent a lot of time in secondary) as the beer hits the bottom of the keg is sufficient to self purge the keg.
To fill there are a couple of options. I use an extra liquid out connector, attach the hose from my racking can/autosiphon and open the pressure relief valve on the keg. Although you can purge your keg ahead of time, using this method it is not really required. The amount of CO2 that comes out of solution (unless you beer spent a lot of time in secondary) as the beer hits the bottom of the keg is sufficient to self purge the keg.
IvanTheTerribrew
Well-Known Member
So if what you mean is that you now want to put Cornelius kegs instead of sanke, then you will need to appropriate connections for one first of all. There are pin lock(coke) and ball lock(Pepsi) style Cornelius kegs and they each have different connectors to the gas and beer connectors. Decide which you will go with and keep all of your stuff the same. I personally like ball lock kegs.
You will need a gas and a liquid quick disconnect per keg. And of course gas line and liquid line and you say you already have it but you will need to be sure it is possible for you to change the connections on them. I'm personally not sure what they are for sanke never used them.
Most Cornelius keg lids come with a pressure relieve valve which is how you remove excess pressure. Of you happen to have a lid without a PRV then you will need to engage the gas in post by pressing down on it to release the gas. If you need to do this just be sure to press the gas one and not the liquid one.
To carb your beers, just make sure all connections are leak free and use a carbonation chart (Google) and select it based on the temp and carbonation level you will want. The chart will tell you the PSI you need. I chose the "set it and forget it" method of carbonation which is simply: fill the keg, seal it, put 10psi into it, release all the pressure by opening the PRV or disconnecting the gas line and engaging the pin. This will remove oxygen that is I the headspace of your beer. Also known as burping your keg. Do this 3,4 times in a row. Once it's done, set the PSI to what you found on the chart, chill it, leave for a week and that will slowly build up the carbonation to what you want. Hope this helps.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
