Nutrachef mini keg carbing question

[jerrylotto]

The pressure to force carbonate beer is always higher than the pressure you want to serve it at. You should always have beer chilled down the 38 F or below when you hit it with CO2 externally to carbonate. There's no set pressure to force carbonate: it depends on the amount of head space in the keg (how full it is) if you're not connected to a continuous stream of gas. If you are connected to a source of CO2 the table that was provided earlier is the best way to figure it out. But serving pressure is always going to be about 8 to 12 PSI.

 

[crosschk]

So this was my first pour after 2 days on co2. I'm pretty happy with it. Took maybe 5 seconds to pour. I'm going to put it back in fridge now till ready to drink more.

I did have to up the psi from 5 to about 7 or 8 to get it to come out.

 

[crosschk]

And this isbwhat the keg looks like with all the stuff in it. The tap and co2 thingys are disconnect-able under pressure..

So a lot of my worry was for nothing lol

 

[crosschk]

So it came out so well, i wish i could take the rest of the day off and enjoy 3 or 4 more

 

[szap]

Glad it worked out. The pour looks great. It was my experience with the small kegs (which I used for my first couple years) it would use at least one co2 cartridge to carbonate the beer. I went pretty exclusively to using corn sugar added directly to the beer before it went in the keg. Did take longer to carbonate this way but It worked well.

 

[doug293cz]

The pressure to force carbonate beer is always higher than the pressure you want to serve it at. You should always have beer chilled down the 38 F or below when you hit it with CO2 externally to carbonate. There's no set pressure to force carbonate: it depends on the amount of head space in the keg (how full it is) if you're not connected to a continuous stream of gas. If you are connected to a source of CO2 the table that was provided earlier is the best way to figure it out. But serving pressure is always going to be about 8 to 12 PSI.

Um, no.

Serving pressure should be the equilibrium pressure for the beer temp and desired carbonation level. Otherwise, the beer will lose (or gain) carbonation over time. If you get foamy pours when serving at equilibrium pressure, your system is not set up correctly. Usually, it's serving lines that are too short for the pressure (find correct line lengths here), or the lines/taps are too warm (this problem usually gets better as you serve more beers in quick succession.) Lowering the pressure to serve is a bandaid that can work until you get your system balanced correctly.

"Forced" carbonation is using CO2 from a cylinder/cartridge to carbonate, rather than letting fermentation generate the CO2 within the beer ("natural" carbonation.) Forced carbonation can be at the equilibrium pressure, or at a higher pressure to accelerate the carbonation. Using higher pressures risks over carbonation if you don't manage the time at excess pressure correctly, but it is manageable with experience. Using excess pressure and/or agitation to speed up carbonation is better referred to as "accelerated" or "burst" carbonation.

It is also possible to carbonate beer while warm. It just requires higher pressures to get the same level of carbonation compared to carbonating while cold.

Brew on

 

[doug293cz]

I have a keg like this but only use it as a means of transporting and serving already carbonated beer. Essentially a fancy growler. I don't think it's meant to be used for carbonating beer.

There is no reason that this mini-keg can't be used for carbonation. It has all the features needed (CO2 source, pressure regulator, pressure release valve.)

Brew on

 

[crosschk]

There is no reason that this mini-keg can't be used for carbonation. It has all the features needed (CO2 source, pressure regulator, pressure release valve.)

Brew on

I just did it lol. I was worried but you guys talked me through it. I'll have to see if i am that lucky next time lol

 

[bracconiere]

I just did it lol.

(that's the way i always feel, my 4th grade self ain't as stupid as they say!

I'll have to see if i am that lucky next time lol

i think you'll just set it to 10-12psi and let it carb in the fridge next time? or if fridge space is limited ~25 psi?

at least you don't need to worry about co2 leaks and losing 20lbs of co2!!! just 16 grams at stake per keg

 

[crosschk]

at least you don't need to worry about co2 leaks and losing 20lbs of co2!!! just 16 grams at stake per keg

Lol

I do have a chest freezer with tem controls setup I just have to get 4 or 5 more of these lol....seriously I'll be getting 2.5 gallon kegs

 

[crosschk]

I say I'm going to get 2.5 gallon kegs, with all the apparatuses i need to get also, 4 or 5 of these self-contained little jobbies might just be enough for around the same price and christmas is coming lol

 

[bracconiere]

https://www.morebeer.com/products/t...9re4ZV1dqX-KvQz6oqkEYRtmjF7wSz6hoCnXIQAvD_BwE
https://www.morebeer.com/products/co2-tank-aluminum-5-lb.html
https://www.morebeer.com/products/c...ccVJxZwNxYGygcdDhgXazwMWILSWpNoBoCNkcQAvD_BwE
or...keep your eyes peeled here for something like this to pop up...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...r-keg-regulator-taps-etc.702690/#post-9315876

 

[DuncB]

@crosschk
Having seen your setup, I have a minikeg the same size. I use mine with " ready " beer on awaydays.
I have fitted a mini regulator and adapter to use a sodastream cylinder. This is much more controllable and a little cheaper. As others mention large CO2 cylinder is cheapest gas and you can get an adapter that allows you to refill your sodastream cylinders.
My keg only a dull silver not racing black.
Glad it all worked out for you.

 

[crosschk]

@crosschk
Having seen your setup, I have a minikeg the same size. I use mine with " ready " beer on awaydays.
I have fitted a mini regulator and adapter to use a sodastream cylinder. This is much more controllable and a little cheaper. As others mention large CO2 cylinder is cheapest gas and you can get an adapter that allows you to refill your sodastream cylinders.
My keg only a dull silver not racing black.
Glad it all worked out for you.

I used to have an adaptor for sodastream to use paintball canisters. I bet you can do the same for these

 

[IslandLizard]

I say I'm going to get 2.5 gallon kegs, with all the apparatuses i need to get also, 4 or 5 of these self-contained little jobbies might just be enough for around the same price and christmas is coming lol

Those cartridges are crazy expensive for the tiny bit of CO2 they provide...
Look on Craigslist, Amazon's Marketplace, etc. for any (local) offerings of a real CO2 tank.

 

[bracconiere]

Those cartridges are crazy expensive for the tiny bit of CO2 they provide...
Look on Craigslist, Amazon's Marketplace, etc. for any (local) offerings of a real CO2 tank.

damn, and i didn't want to say a 1 gallon keg is only a day's worth.....thought a buck or so for a keg was alright for a keg of beer?

 

[crosschk]

Those cartridges are crazy expensive for the tiny bit of CO2 they provide...
Look on Craigslist, Amazon's Marketplace, etc. for any (local) offerings of a real CO2 tank.

I'll look around. Right now, even just 2 of these kegs are worth it for the time it will save in bottling

 

[DuncB]

I used to have an adaptor for sodastream to use paintball canisters. I bet you can do the same for these

I'm sure you can find an adapter to fit a mini regulator using paintball cylinders.
Happy hunting!

 

[bracconiere]

I'll look around. Right now, even just 2 of these kegs are worth it for the time it will save in bottling

kegging was easy for me! i bottled one batch when i was 18, told my mom it sucked...and she was willing to buy me a kegging kit!

 

[DuncB]

kegging was easy for me! i bottled one batch when i was 18, told my mom it sucked...and she was willing to buy me a kegging kit!

They had kegs back then!

 

[crosschk]

They had kegs back then!

Were they wood?

 

[bracconiere]

They had kegs back then!

hell yeah! and they were cheaper too! root beer in the o-rings still! lol

 

[crosschk]

I'm sure you can find an adapter to fit a mini regulator using paintball cylinders.
Happy hunting!

Like this but smaller lol The Adapter CO2 regulator to Paintball Tank Adapter

$4 fill ups at dicks sporting goods

 

[DuncB]

this regulator looks like it would fit the adapter you show. I think it's a kegland product.

https://www.brewshop.co.nz/regulator-mini-360-core-actuator.html
4 dollars US so about 8 NZ dollars is a bargain to fill. Here a sodastream refill 60 litre the larger one costs US 13 to 14 dollars.

Rip off!

 

[crosschk]

Thanks again everyone. I'm going to work on getting a proper kegging system. I'll start a new thread with THOSE questions that I'm sure have been answered plenty of times lol

Involves 2.5 gallon kegs, 5lb co2 tank and the hose party tap things. Once I have a plan I'll post for advice..

Thanks to all of you again

 

[bracconiere]

Thanks to all of you again