Mini keg experience

[tellyho]

I am surprised that I can't find any experience / reviews of mini-keg systems like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Keg-Reg...ocphy=9002019&hvtargid=pla-521706594649&psc=1

This is, of course, where someone links me to the thread I couldn't find.

I'd like a small-volume setup to take on the road. Any experience with the non-cannonball mini systems?

More to the point, there are super cheap options on eBay. Any experience with those?

 

[jschein]

https://www.homebrewing.org/Mini-Keg-with-Tap_p_2959.html

I used these before getting corney kegs and a kegerator

 

[ba-brewer]

I have two 2litre mini kegs from Williams brewing I had planned to use for doing british style cask like beers.
https://www.williamsbrewing.com/2-Liter-KegLand-Mini-Keg-P4625.aspx

The first couple beers I tried came out oxidized, one much worst than the other. I am not too anal with purging but I have never had an issue with larger kegs getting oxidized like that. The second try did not get oxidized so I am not sure what happed the first time, maybe such a small volume is more susceptible to oxidizing.

I have beer I plan to fill them with again today so I will see how this try goes.

 

[schmurf]

I've got several 5 and 10 liter mini kegs like that, because that fits the volumes I make. I like them a lot, in my (normal sized) fridge I can fit 5 10 liter kegs and 4 5 liter kegs.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

If you already keg this... https://www.homebrewing.org/AIH-New-175-Gallon-Ball-Lock-Keg_p_7547.html

Mini regulator and a couple 16g CO2 chargers your good to go and have a decent amount of beer to share and it’s easy to transport. Of course it is more investment than a $14 mini, but it will last, is easy to clean and won’t rust.

 

[tellyho]

I have two 2litre mini kegs from Williams brewing I had planned to use for doing british style cask like beers.
https://www.williamsbrewing.com/2-Liter-KegLand-Mini-Keg-P4625.aspx

The first couple beers I tried came out oxidized, one much worst than the other. I am not too anal with purging but I have never had an issue with larger kegs getting oxidized like that. The second try did not get oxidized so I am not sure what happed the first time, maybe such a small volume is more susceptible to oxidizing.

I have beer I plan to fill them with again today so I will see how this try goes.

I'd love an update, thanks! I like the price of that system, vs. the small cornys.

 

[pigroaster]

I built my own from commercial stainless steel and tig welded it up .. It has CO2 from a bike tube filler and gets bursts as needed. I keg it at 2.4 volumes and use a air filler hooked to CO2 to fill it up after I keg with foam coming out. Serves 16 bottles worth. Sadly I moved up to serving 5 gallon kegs and a plate chiller when camping.

 

[ba-brewer]

I'd love an update, thanks! I like the price of that system, vs. the small cornys.

Just refilled them I will let you know in a couple weeks.

I think if you transfer from a larger keg and consume in a couple days like you would with a growler there should not be any issues.

I am not sure if the price is any better when you finish it all off, the one you linked has a tap and regulator for not too much more than the keg and tapping top only. You could get one like you listed and then get just the kegs for storage and move the top between kegs.

I like this one as it has a pressure relieif valve, if the oxidizing thing is gone I will get a keg like this to try.
https://www.amazon.com/Lamtor-G003-...ome-garden&sprefix=mini+keg,garden,193&sr=1-7

 

[tellyho]

Yeah, the cap is the issue. This setup looks like it would be my choice, but no idea how well it works:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/163552314063

 

[tellyho]

Any report on outcome?

 

[ba-brewer]

Sorry for not replying back sooner, I was letting the beer age a bit before trying it and so I had nothing to report.

Tapped the kegs today, one keg is slightly oxidized the other seems to be OK. The oxidation seems less than the first time it happened but enough to easily pick it up. Next time I will try naturally carbing with the plain screw on cap then add the tapping cap later.

I did recently buy a 1 gal mini keg from amazon and another ball lock tap top. Hopefully this one works better

edit:

This is new top I got from Amazon. It has more little pieces than the Williams kegland top, I like the mechanics of the kegland version better I think. Also had to do multiple cleaning of one part to get mfg crap off of one nut that got rusty when soaked in water.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DY7KBKW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This the keg
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CMGSC1B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1​

 

[tellyho]

Interesting - I'm thinking of mostly using them in place of growlers. Very short term transport and serve.

 

[tellyho]

Thanks for reporting back!

 

[ba-brewer]

I am sure used as a growler they would work just fine.

I have a couple 1.75 cannon balls and they get used to empty the last of slow kegs more than holding fresh beer. That may be how I use these if I can't figure out how they are getting oxidized.