Needing help w/ some keg issues...

[NateSpringfield]

I bought a pin lock 2 keg kit w/ a #5 tank from keg connection.

On sunday i kegged my first brew - AHS 20th anniversary Kolsch - and used the shake method to carbonate b/c I don't have a temp control on my going to be keezer yet to regulate a constant temperature to do a 24 or 48 hour carb.

So shook in co2, put it in the freezer and it ended up freezing before i could get a taste last night. Unplugged the freezer overnight, this morning checked temp and the bottle of water in the freezer read 48 degrees. Let it sit all day, came home after work and plugged in freezer, chilled water down to 30 degrees, unplugged the freezer again and tried to pour a beer.

I got no pressure on the pour. Checked the keg, and it wasnt frozen. Checked the gas line and everything was okay. Cranked up pressure a little still nothing. Now I am thinking I didnt carb correctly maybe, i dont know.

So after my novelette right there I have 2 questions.

I went ahead and put 20 pounds on the keg and going to try to let it recarb slowly, when i did that, went back and checked later the regulator zeroed out. Why did it zero out, safety feature?

Second, I did some searching and could I have damaged something by letting the keg freeze?

I guess third question - what should I do so that I can drink my beer sometime soon?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Sounds like you have a leak. Make sure all of your connections are good and start over. I suggest you don't use the shake or 48 hour carb methods though. While some people have success with them, I find them very unreliable. 90% of the time, your beer won't be carbonated perfectly. Good things come to those that wait. Are you trying to use a freezer to chill your beer? That's not going to cut it. You need a fridge, or some sort of temp controller.

After all the time you put into brewing the beer, why sacrifice quality because you're in a hurry?

 

[Phunhog]

When you shook it the first time was the beer still warm? C02 has a hard time going into warm beer. I doubt much got into the beer. The other possible problem is that you have a leak in your system somewhere. Was your tank empty or just your regulator reading zero?

 

[muse435]

If you did it at room temp you should have used about 30 psi @ 70 deg F. If you had it at that psi it should have taken enough vols of co, assuming you shook long enough and kept the co2 hooked up the whole time. If you did this them you most likely have leak.

Another thing to check is depress the valve in your cos hook up to make sure there is not an issue with your regulator.

I recommend using soapy water to check for leaks.

 

[NateSpringfield]

Okay I checked - no leaks

I heard co2 going in when I shook and I was at 30 psi w/ chilled beer but not cold.

I ordered an eBay aquarium thermostat 5 weeks ago, when it didn't show after 4 and I couldn't get an answer of where I was they sent me another and it should be here in a week or so I hope, so the keezer is the long term goal, and should be ready now if I didn't ave those problems.

Should I wait until I have a controlled temp atmosphere to try again and drink what I have in bottles perhaps? Try another carb method? Really open to ideas.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Should I wait until I have a controlled temp atmosphere to try again and drink what I have in bottles perhaps? Try another carb method? Really open to ideas.

I would wait.

 

[Mpavlik22]

You could always carb the keg at room temp. That way when u get your kegerator up and running you'll b ready to drink it.

 

[NateSpringfield]

Thanks for all the help guys, I think I am going to bleed off any carbonation that may be in the keg and go the room temp route - at least then I can throw it in the freezer to cool when I get home from work and then drink that way until I get my thermostat delivered.

I have the Force Carbonation Chart from Kegerators.com and know what temp/psi and such, but for how long do I let it sit on gas w/ these settings?

 

[Mpavlik22]

I always carb all my kegs at room temp. My basement is~68F and I set them at 30 PSI. Works good for me.

I leave them on gas for two weeks when possible. It may not b completely carbonated in one week but will b close.