Naturally Carbing Mini Kegs and Sealing With Threaded Lid

[derekp83]

I bought a few 5 liter mini kegs, the more durable ones, not the cheap ones. I only have one tap dispenser. Can I prime the other with sugar and simply store it sealed with the threaded lid, or do I need to buy a ball lock lid adapter so that I just attach the regulator and tap to it and avoid switching when the time comes and exposing the beer to O2?

 

[TenaCJed]

If you want to use it on a tap then I would say get the ball lock fitting now, but that is me and not wanting to expose to O2.

 

[Knightshade]

If you want to use it on a tap then I would say get the ball lock fitting now, but that is me and not wanting to expose to O2.

I'd second this. The other benefit is that I'm assuming the ball lock lid in question would have a PRV, so you would get some level of release if you were to throw in too much sugar?

 

[derekp83]

Went ahead and ordered a ball lock lid with the fittings and a picnic tap. Thanks fellas.

 

[TenaCJed]

I have the kegland version of the mini keg (5 Liter) with the ball lock lid. So far it has worked out really well! I also got the micro regulator and have the kegland ball lock flow control and tap. This works great for going to others people houses, or capturing that bit of extra when I have more than 5 gallons.

 

[derekp83]

I have the kegland version of the mini keg (5 Liter) with the ball lock lid. So far it has worked out really well! I also got the micro regulator and have the kegland ball lock flow control and tap. This works great for going to others people houses, or capturing that bit of extra when I have more than 5 gallons.

Definitely planning on picking up a few Kegland 5Ls; they appear to be quality kegs.

 

[TenaCJed]

I would definitely wait until Williams Brewing has a sale on them. I picked it up when they had a good sale on the items, and the sale included all the addons like the ball lock lid and micro regulator. At standard prices it makes more sense to get one of the new 2.5 or 1.75 gallon kegs from AIH.

 

[derekp83]

Unfortunately I can't fit bigger mini kegs in my mini fridge. 10 L are too tall when you add the ball lock lid and fittings, and they won't fit lying on their side either. The 2.5 gal and smaller on AIH are 8.5" in diameter so they don't fit in my stupid mini fridge that decided to have a hump in the bottom. Specified dimensions are so deceiving.

 

[Knightshade]

The set I have was purchased from Williams Brewing as well. I have a 2/4/5 with ball lock lids for all. I like the fact that I can lie any of them on the side and still utilize a party tap if required due to lack of space. Used the 2L for a growler pick up at a local brewery just last Friday, kept it fresh til I finished it off yesterday.

They (WB) haven't had much on sale at all this year, so I wouldn't hold my breath for sales pricing if you're looking at them. Might be waiting awhile.

 

[derekp83]

The set I have was purchased from Williams Brewing as well. I have a 2/4/5 with ball lock lids for all. I like the fact that I can lie any of them on the side and still utilize a party tap if required due to lack of space. Used the 2L for a growler pick up at a local brewery just last Friday, kept it fresh til I finished it off yesterday.

They (WB) haven't had much on sale at all this year, so I wouldn't hold my breath for sales pricing if you're looking at them. Might be waiting awhile.

My mini fridge can fit two on the bottom upright, and two on a shelf on their side (all 5 liters, though I only own two right now). That's over 5 gallons of beer...not bad at all.

I've been curious about whether I have to buy the dip tube from Williams Brewing (for the Kegland brand) or do others have dip tubes that are heavier than beer? If not, that's a hell of a marketing scheme. It's the little detail in the description that has me scratching my head...

 

[derekp83]

Another question, since I'm getting close to bottling/kegging day.

I have one of these: Premium Dispense Kit for Mancan style Mini-Kegs

I'm not planning to force carbonate with the bulbs because that would be expensive, however, the problem is, if I simply put on this faucet-dispensing top, O2 will enter and CO2 will bleed out from the input for the mini regulator (might not have all the terms correct). In other words, it's not like the ball lock lids that open up when the fittings are placed on them.

My question then is, what if I just attach the mini regulator and twist on a bulb, but shut off/keep the CO2 pressure really low and let the natural carbing do its thing. Will that work? I'm just not sure how the bulb works exactly...can they be placed on, but shut off from pressurizing the mini-keg with CO2?

 

[rsquared]

If the regulator is turned all the way down, I believe nothing should be flowing in either direction. You shouldn't even necessarily need a bulb attached (but make sure the regulator is actually turned down, it will always read 0 without a bulb attached regardless of what it's set to)

 

[derekp83]

If the regulator is turned all the way down, I believe nothing should be flowing in either direction. You shouldn't even necessarily need a bulb attached (but make sure the regulator is actually turned down, it will always read 0 without a bulb attached regardless of what it's set to)

Thanks. So you're saying if the regulator is at least attached to the dispenser that I linked earlier, it's closed shut?

 

[rsquared]

Yes, attaching a closed regulator will close off that port.

 

[derekp83]

A little off topic, but it turns out I'm going to be able to fit 10L kegs in my minifridge. I will have to use a picnic tap lid and attach gas tubing so the regulator attaches to a paintball tank on the bottom of the fridge, on the side of the keg. I can probably fit two, or 1 and a 5L, or put a shelf back in and have 2 5L on the bottom and 2 on the shelf.

 

[Knightshade]

My mini fridge can fit two on the bottom upright, and two on a shelf on their side (all 5 liters, though I only own two right now). That's over 5 gallons of beer...not bad at all.

I've been curious about whether I have to buy the dip tube from Williams Brewing (for the Kegland brand) or do others have dip tubes that are heavier than beer? If not, that's a hell of a marketing scheme. It's the little detail in the description that has me scratching my head...

Yeah..I was digging around on their site months ago, trying to identify which tubing they sold on the site might be a replacement, thought that I had found it and sent an email asking if that would work.

Answer was no. No direction on if they sold it, how to replace it etc., just a general no...that won't work.

:|

 

[Elric]

If the regulator is turned all the way down, I believe nothing should be flowing in either direction. You shouldn't even necessarily need a bulb attached (but make sure the regulator is actually turned down, it will always read 0 without a bulb attached regardless of what it's set to)

Actually, the regulator reads the pressure of the keg, so if the keg is conditioning even with the regulator off he should be getting a reading for whatever pressure the keg has built up to. I often put my mini regulator on a fermenter to get a quick read of what psi it is at. And yes, if the regulator is turned to off you don't need to have a co2 cartridge connected to it For it to keep a closed connection on the keg (again, provided the regulator is in the fully off position).

 

[rsquared]

Good point. I was only speaking to this specific situation, where with no keg pressure yet, the regulator will always read zero even if it is open. That would not have been true if a co2 cartridge was attached and added pressure to the keg.

I probably could have worded it better though. I can see how that could be mistaken to be a general statement about how regulators work.

 

[derekp83]

Yeah..I was digging around on their site months ago, trying to identify which tubing they sold on the site might be a replacement, thought that I had found it and sent an email asking if that would work.

Answer was no. No direction on if they sold it, how to replace it etc., just a general no...that won't work.

:|

This isn't it? 1/4" 30 PSI Beer Tubing

They have another size also.

 

[Knightshade]

No..it would definitely be silicone tubing. I have a feeling that the tubing that comes with the Fermzilla pressure kit might work, but don't have a way to verify that. Nor have I had much success in finding specs on that tubing in particular.

 

[rsquared]

I'm not sure there's anything particularly special about that tubing... I see it says "a silicone dip tube that is flexible and heavier than beer" but I read that more as they chose silicone because it's heavier than beer and more flexible, unlike vinyl (or whatever the alternative would be). Density (i.e. specific gravity) is what should determine whether it floats, and I've never seen silicone tubing float in wort, let alone beer.

That said, the 3/16" ID is not a usual size you see for silicone in homebrewing shops. Do you know which tubing you asked about? I can't find any with the right spec on their site.

 

[derekp83]

Back to the threaded lid...how big of a deal is it if I use the threaded lid when a mini keg is naturally priming and just switch to a dispenser when ready? We are talking a matter of a few seconds, and I wouldn't be pouring, so there can't be that much O2 exposure...no?

 

[TenaCJed]

One problem you are going to have though is switching the lids on a now carbed up mini keg, there is going to be pressure in there while you are unscrewing the normal lid to change out to the ball lock lid. If that pressure is not released slowly then that screw top will go flying! My normal screw top lid has no pressure release, I do not know about yours though. I still think you should start with the ball lock lid.

That is up to you on how much 02 exposure you are OK with. For me I start with the ball lock lid, close transfer into the C02 purged mini keg and keep that lid on. The C02 purge is done multiple times, but there is still some O2 in there. However if you are doing a natural carb then at that point the limited O2 is ok.

 

[Knightshade]

ucks.

Back to the threaded lid...how big of a deal is it if I use the threaded lid when a mini keg is naturally priming and just switch to a dispenser when ready? We are talking a matter of a few seconds, and I wouldn't be pouring, so there can't be that much O2 exposure...no?

If you're still considering the Kegland mini kegs, I'd recommend just starting w/the ball lock lid. The tolerance of the threads for the lids is really small. I'd imagine any pressure would make it fairly difficult to undo.

 

[derekp83]

If you're still considering the Kegland mini kegs, I'd recommend just starting w/the ball lock lid. The tolerance of the threads for the lids is really small. I'd imagine any pressure would make it fairly difficult to undo.

I bought one. Just wondering about what I can do to fit a 10L if I buy one. They won't fit with a ball lock in my fridge. Will have to get a picnic lid.

 

[derekp83]

Now I'm wondering how much headspace to leave in my 5L mini keg. I understand 1" is normal for the cheap kind that have a flat top, but these kegs have a neck. Any tips? I'm naturally priming.

 

[TenaCJed]

I have never done that, but I would probably go to about where the top dome starts, as best as I could figure that out to be.