Kegging safer than bottling....

[MountAiryBrew]

So i have had my beer fermenting for a little over 2 weeks. In my last post i stated that the gravity was around 1.020, so i continued to let it sit for another 5 days and took another reading. it has stayed constant at the 1.020. i have heard the stories of bottles exploding if the process is not completely finished. is there any problems if you keg your beer? I am looking into getting a system. Curious if this would benefit me, especially when it comes to this firtst batch that hasnt gone exactly perfect.

 

[govner1]

I keg all my beers. In fact, I keg condition them all as well. You'd have to have an extraordinary ( read impossible) catastrophe to burst a keg. So from that standpoint it's definitely safer.

 

[n240sxguy]

I believe my pin lock kegs are rated for 130psi before the rupture disc goes. So, yes, much safer from that standpoint. I don't know what a bottle can handle, but I assume its less than 20.

 

[501irishred]

What was your expected FG? Sounds like i could be done, in which case it's your call to bottle or keg. Give it another week, check SG, bottle at will!....... Unless of course you would like to use this as a good excuse to get a kegging setup. In that case I'm sure bottle bombs are inevitable, and you should proceed to Kegconnection ASAP!

 

[MountAiryBrew]

Yeah i pretty much want to get one either way, so i guess this is the best excuse i can get ha but what kind of kits do you recommend? i am looking around and it looks like around 175 for a decent kit.

 

[n240sxguy]

I second kegconnection. There's a thread on here where they are having people do beta testing on their new site. There was a 10% discount code as a perk for giving them feedback on the site.

 

[BigFloyd]

Yeah i pretty much want to get one either way, so i guess this is the best excuse i can get ha but what kind of kits do you recommend? i am looking around and it looks like around 175 for a decent kit.

You're not in danger bottling your 1.020 beer. It's not unheard of for an extract batch to hang there. Prime to 2.4-2.5 volumes of CO2 and you'll be fine bottling it.

I do both. Probably 2:1 keg vs. bottle. There are advantages to each. I'm afraid that getting into kegging will cost you quite a bit more than $175.

 

[n240sxguy]

I'm afraid that getting into kegging will cost you quite a bit more than $175.

This^^^

You may be able to get the absolute most barebones system that you piece mill together for not much more than that. My setup from kegconnection was a little over $450. 5lb aluminum tank, double regulator, 5 kegs, and some misc lube, fittings, and orings.

 

[kh54s10]

I'm afraid that getting into kegging will cost you quite a bit more than $175.

This^^^

You may be able to get the absolute most barebones system that you piece mill together for not much more than that. My setup from kegconnection was a little over $450. 5lb aluminum tank, double regulator, 5 kegs, and some misc lube, fittings, and orings.

If he is talking a single used keg, single economy regulator, 5# co2 cylinder and picnic tap. It is doable. I got my 2 keg system for $240 something shipped. The last I saw it was up to $240 + shipping.

 

[Brewnoob1]

Not to mention some way of cooling the keg to drinking temps. You're looking at the 250 or so just for the kegging equipment. Then need to factor in the cooling apparatus whether it's a converted freezer or fridge. Don't get me wrong, I only keg and absolutely love it. Just know it's the startup costs that hurt the most. After you have everything, you'll never go back to full time bottling.

 

[MountAiryBrew]

Well i have an extra fridge that i am going to use that has a large bottom pull out freezer. I feel like it should be perfect for storing.

 

[DrunkleJon]

I seem to be a little late to the party but am going to throw this advice in anyway.

If your beer is in the fermenting temperature range for the yeast and the gravity does not change over 3 or more days it is done fermenting. So long as you do not overprime, the chance of bottle bombs is negligable.

If you are convinced to go to kegging, by all means do it. True, overcarbing is less of a safety issue, yet it still has its annoyances and complications. If you have decided to go to kegs, do you really need an excuse? Additionally, in my opinon, fermentation temperature control is much more important than the method of packaging so if you do not have a method of that yet I would spend the money there. I wish I had gone with temp control before I went to kegging.