Making the jump to kegging

[Blue_State]

To answer your original question, you can definitely control costs by doing it a step at a time. You can start with CO2, 1 keg, picnic tap inside the fridge/freezer. Then as you modify the freezer, you can add taps 1 at a time. You should be sure to get a manifold early on in the process.

Thank you. That was exactly the answer I was looking for.

Any recommendation on what to use or just one of the ebay picnic tap setups to start?

 

[BowAholic]

I am going to look at that in about 2 hours. If it makes sense, I am going to go for it.

Plus, 10% discount for military members and veterans. Thanks Home Depot.

Looks like it has everything but a couple of 5G kegs...don't see how you could put a system like that together for much less $$...

 

[Blue_State]

No dice at Home Depot. I have a good shot at a $100 dollar chest freezer, 5 cf. That and a picnic setup and I get going very easily. That is the plan as of 2:10.

 

[ericbw]

Thank you. That was exactly the answer I was looking for.



Any recommendation on what to use or just one of the ebay picnic tap setups to start?

A basic picnic tap is fine to start. When you buy taps, I understand it's worth the extra to get perlicks because they stick less. I have chrome, not stainless.

 

[Blue_State]

Update on the move to kegging.

I purchased a new CO2, Dual Reg, Tubing, locks and Picnic Tap for $130.
I am going to grab a keg today, I figure for around $50...looking for 2.

I have a fridge in the garage with room, I can modify that without the wife shooting me.

So I am now into kegging for about $230. This was my goal to get into this without dropping $800. I will by the end of the year spend that, but this is easy to do this way.

Thank you everyone for the excellent advice.

 

[JohnSand]

Glad to hear it. Keep us posted. I'm still refining my own system.

 

[ericbw]

Look at adventures in homebrew fur dented used kegs. They look bad but work!

 

[nwbeer]

sold

 

[KokomoSam]

I am getting tired of bottling. It has to be the least fun step out of the entire process. I want to move to kegging, but I don't want to get up and invest $1,000 dollars overnight. Is there a way to start getting the components to keg without the huge upfront investment?

Basically, I am looking to do the same maneuver that got me into all grain. A part here or a part there that I was using for partial mash brewing until I got to all grain. Is this feasible?

Thanks for the ideas and thoughts.

I am in a similar boat and I decided to go the baby steps route to start with...


I purchased a kit like this...
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/25-GALLON-KEG-INJECTOR-SYSTEM-P3349.aspx

My thought is .. It easily fits in my 4.4 cubic foot beer fridge, could probably sneak it in the main fridge if I had to. It allows me to start the path to "full" kegging with a working system for the smallest investment. I usually only do 2.5 to 3 gallon batches, so this size of keg works fine for me. If I do a larger batch, I can just bottle the rest (still half the bottling). As I want, I can add a 5 lb tank, a Co2 regulator and then eventually permanent taps built into the beer fridge, etc...

 

[Blue_State]

I am in a similar boat and I decided to go the baby steps route to start with...


I purchased a kit like this...
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/25-GALLON-KEG-INJECTOR-SYSTEM-P3349.aspx

My thought is .. It easily fits in my 4.4 cubic foot beer fridge, could probably sneak it in the main fridge if I had to. It allows me to start the path to "full" kegging with a working system for the smallest investment. I usually only do 2.5 to 3 gallon batches, so this size of keg works fine for me. If I do a larger batch, I can just bottle the rest (still half the bottling). As I want, I can add a 5 lb tank, a Co2 regulator and then eventually permanent taps built into the beer fridge, etc...

I did something very similar except I went straight to the 5 lb CO2. Otherwise, I have the picnic tap as well. Also, I have a outdoor fridge which is pretty much for beer. I am going to build a shelf into the bottom of it to hold up my kegs.

I am hoping for my fall project to be putting together a kreezer.