Kegs and their benefits to the brewer

[sirsloop]

yeh.... get the search on. I located a mint used sanyo 4910 for $65.

 

[WortMonger]

Chest freezer, door removed, bar built on top in place of door with taps. Sweet.

Like this!!!!

 

[vasie]

Ahhh.. but with only one pour lonely tap...

 

[Kayos]

The reason I (and I think most newer brewers) have not converted yet is not the cost of the kegs, but the cost of the kegerator. I have yet to see one for under $300 in my area. Then the CO2 canister and the regulators, tubing, taps and kegs.

The second reason is the scary notion that you can pour a draft glass any time you want. Sounds goooooood and sounds like a bigger gut in the making. That cap barrier is a pretty good wall. Life is full of maniacal decisions.

 

[WortMonger]

I have seen free freezers and fridges. All you have to do is pick them up. I love having people over to drink, and bottles would just be a horrendous undertaking for as much as we drink. I think the ability to bulk age is the best benefit a keg offers, even over the ease of filling and carbonating. If I didn't have to fill the bottles, I wouldn't care.

 

[RadicalEd]

Gah, the people in my area seem to think that just because they used something, the value increases. Seriously, it's a cold day in hell when you see a chest freezer of any size in any condition under $100. Even then, it's a "you haul it away" arrangement.

I suppose I don't really have room for a dedicated kegerator right now, though. Next fall I will, but that's a ways off for thinking about now. So for now I just deal with only having room for 1 shelf of food in my fridge, the rest occupied by 2 kegs .

 

[WortMonger]

What food do you need room for? LOL, I think if you could fit more beer in there you should. Isn't beer food anyways, lol? That sucks that you can't find a freezer for free. I see them all the time down here. Fridges are more common, but I have seen those huge freezers people just give away. I do hear you about space. If I was brewing at the place I am now, I couldn't be brewing. I have my kegerator over there and my brewery and stuff at my parents. Just sold my home out of town and will be looking for my new one here in March. Maybe I will find a great home for my first flip here since I moved back.

 

[BlackenedBrew]

The reason I (and I think most newer brewers) have not converted yet is not the cost of the kegs, but the cost of the kegerator. I have yet to see one for under $300 in my area. Then the CO2 canister and the regulators, tubing, taps and kegs.

The second reason is the scary notion that you can pour a draft glass any time you want. Sounds goooooood and sounds like a bigger gut in the making. That cap barrier is a pretty good wall. Life is full of maniacal decisions.

Yeah, cost is always an issue, but from the day I make my first batch to the day I make my 10,000th batch... I will never use bottles. I know that my SWMBO doesn't want cases after cases of bottles around, and that's cool with me. I also won't have to worry about my future father-in-law coming over and drinking the sediment in the bottom on the bottle because he refuses to use a glass... especially if it isn't stored in the freezer... oi.

Last, but not least, yeah I'm trying to watch my weight a little. Hell, I'm getting married in Maui in October, I'm trying to loose a few pounds. But I can't name a single dude that picks up a beer (whether it be from the tap or from a bottle poured into a glass) that says, "... gee Bob, I'd love to have a beer, but I want to be able to fit into my favorite pair of black jeans next Thursday..." I usually hear, "Hell yes I'll take a beer... Why do you even bother asking?!"

 

[ipatch]

I find them easier to get. Funny though, no place around me sells them with beer in them. You have to special order one and wait sometimes a week for it to get here. They really don't like to sell beer here in the buckle of the Bible-belt.

I thought Texas was the buckle of the bible belt.

 

[Wastaken]

kegs are so much easier and less time consuming to fill.

Hello WortMonger,

I'm new to the forum, I've got 1st post jitters...

The idea of utilizing sanke kegs for fermentation and dispensing really intrigues me. One question on sanitization. The only part that doesn't completely dissasemble is the dip tube/rubber gasket/ball lock assembly. I'm assuming that I just soak this entire piece, make sure I move the spring loaded ball lock around a bit to ensure I'm getting all of the nooks and crannies, and I'm all good?? Any other advise on sanitation procedures?

 

[WortMonger]

You got it down. Oxy-Clean or PBW and then Star-San works great for me. Sometimes I soak the kegs in the Oxy for a couple of days if they are bad. I just did a no-chill beer in a Sanke, so I must be doing something right with my sanitation procedures.

 

[Wastaken]

Fantastic! I just needed a little reassurance.

 

[cayergeau]

i just got a sanke keg from a friend, but i can't figure out how to tell which kind of coupler im going to need to buy for it. what should i be looking for? the keg isnt from one of the big breweries, so its not on one of the lists for what kind of coupler ill need, which is where im getting the biggest problem.

 

[OneHoppyGuy]

i just got a sanke keg from a friend, but i can't figure out how to tell which kind of coupler im going to need to buy for it. what should i be looking for? the keg isnt from one of the big breweries, so its not on one of the lists for what kind of coupler ill need, which is where im getting the biggest problem.

photos would be a great help

 

[WortMonger]

i just got a sanke keg from a friend, but i can't figure out how to tell which kind of coupler im going to need to buy for it. what should i be looking for? the keg isnt from one of the big breweries, so its not on one of the lists for what kind of coupler ill need, which is where im getting the biggest problem.

Chances are it is a type D, but without photos it is hard to tell. What brewery is it from? What does the keg say on it as far as wording? Does it have a brand, such as Spartanburg, Firestone, etc?

 

[cayergeau]

After closer inspection, I found the name Spartanburg on it. No idea how I've passed over that so many times since I've gotten it. Here's a picture, let me know if you need to see it from a different angle or something.

 

[jma99]

Whats a capper?

Oh yeah, that was that black thingie I gave away after I started keg

 

[Old_mil_guy]

Isn't there a clip/spring assy to remove ball for cleaning?

You got it down. Oxy-Clean or PBW and then Star-San works great for me. Sometimes I soak the kegs in the Oxy for a couple of days if they are bad. I just did a no-chill beer in a Sanke, so I must be doing something right with my sanitation procedures.

 

[cayergeau]

there is the clip/spring assembly on there, but the keg is still pressurized i believe, which is why i'd like to get the coupler soon so i can take it apart and clean it. as far as i've been able to tell online, the two ways to relieve the pressure is to use the tap or to push the ball lock, and im assuming the ball lock method is messy and probably dangerous. is this correct?

also for cleaning it im probably going to buy some star-san, since it sounds like god's gift to brewers everywhere. i dont know if that was a question or just a helpful statement on your post old mil guy.

 

[TJTHEBEST]

starsan is not a cleaner, its a sanitizer. Get both oxyclean and starsan and youll be good to go. Oxyclean to clean, and then after you rinse well use the starsan to sanitize.

 

[WortMonger]

After closer inspection, I found the name Spartanburg on it. No idea how I've passed over that so many times since I've gotten it. Here's a picture, let me know if you need to see it from a different angle or something.

yep, type D. That is the run of the mill connector for American kegs.

 

[cayergeau]

sounds good. i hope that picture helps anyone else looking to figure out what kind they need. for anyone else reading this thread, the spartanburg label was in the bottom left on top underneath the warning of not pressurizing too high. thanks to everyone that helped and offered advice

 

[mredge73]

I would recommend you get a tap that is all stainless steel construction.
I ruined the threads on my brass tap on the pressure relief valve during routine cleaning.
SS will be much more durable.

Here is the micromatic tap that I got as a replacement for Christmas:
Keg Tap Coupler, D System, Black
7485E-S - D System Keg Tap Coupler - Black Lever Handle | BeverageFactory.com

PS
while you are at it, buy a few replacement o-rings.
they last a while but when they give up...

 

[cayergeau]

Ill have to check this out. Going to see if my local store has them, but they just opened up recently so maybe, maybe not. I'd love to help them get off the ground though. Thanks