Need advice for a mini keg

[nmarco32]

Hi guys!
Long story short I want to get a mini keg with C02 regulator. I have no experience with beer. I have attached what I am looking at on Amazon but first I have a couple of questions. Can I fill the keg with canned beer or bottled beer that I buy? Also, how should I run the C02? Do I just turn it on a couple psi when I use it or keep it on full time in the fridge? I would like the beer to last hopefully a week. Sorry if these are dumb questions. I appreciate you guys helping out and if I forgot anything or you want to mention something you recommend please do!
Thanks,
Nick

 

[BrewingAroundtheRrealm]

Though I see no reason you couldn't fill that with canned or bottled beer, it's not the ideal solution to getting your keg filled. Look around for a local bottle/pizza shop or bar that does growler fills. You can get fresh draft beer and keep it fresh/carbonated with the cap and mini regulator. With out the cap the growler is only going to stay carbonated for a few days at most.

 

[WesBrew]

good idea. I don't know why it never occurred to me to do this, but with a growler fill. I've got a 1.5 gallon torpedo too. I brew, but we all have our lazy times

 

[RM-MN]

Hi guys!
Long story short I want to get a mini keg with C02 regulator. I have no experience with beer. I have attached what I am looking at on Amazon but first I have a couple of questions. Can I fill the keg with canned beer or bottled beer that I buy? Also, how should I run the C02? Do I just turn it on a couple psi when I use it or keep it on full time in the fridge? I would like the beer to last hopefully a week. Sorry if these are dumb questions. I appreciate you guys helping out and if I forgot anything or you want to mention something you recommend please do!
Thanks,
Nick

Sure you could fill the keg with canned or bottled beer but how will you get it into the mini-keg? Pouring it in will likely oxidize it terribly.

 

[mongoose33]

The mini-keg/regulator you noted above will work. It's growler-size, so @BrewingAroundtheRrealm 's idea of just doing a growler-fill is your best idea.

Beer will oxidize fairly rapidly if you leave it exposed to air, which is why growler-beer fades so fast if you don't consume it quickly--in addition to losing carbonation. The setup you referenced uses small CO2 cartridges to push the beer, so you'll have the best chance of retaining good beer flavor for days.

 

[VirginiaHops1]

I don't understand why you'd want to fill it with canned or bottled beer, rather than keeping that beer in it's original packaging. You'll oxidize it badly pouring it all into your keg. You ask if it'll last a week, I don't even know if it'll taste good after 24 hours if you do that.

 

[mongoose33]

I don't understand why you'd want to fill it with canned or bottled beer, rather than keeping that beer in it's original packaging. You'll oxidize it badly pouring it all into your keg. You ask if it'll last a week, I don't even know if it'll taste good after 24 hours if you do that.

A good way to imagine this can be seen if one has ever gone to a keg party where they pressurize the keg using the hand pump to force air into the keg. The beer is fine at the outset....try it again the next day, and the next day. It goes bad.

 

[balrog]

....wait.....some people actually have......leftover beer.....after a party....??