Oxebar keg cold conditioning possible?

[DeanRIowa]

Is it possible using an Oxebar keg to cold condition at 38 degrees or is the temperature drop suck back going to be an issue?


What I plan to do:

• Brew 5 gallons of Kolsch
• Transfer to an Oxebar keg
• Natural carbonate in a Oxebar keg with a spunding value
• Cold condition at 38 degrees for 5 weeks with no attached CO2
• Attach CO2 and dispense

thank you,
Dean

 

[mac_1103]

As an example, if you naturally carbonate to 2.5 volumes at 68F you should end up at about 28 PSI. When you chill that keg to 38F the pressure will drop to about 11 PSI. Since the gauge pressure never goes negative there shouldn't be a suck back issue.

edit - since the keg is sealed, suck back really isn't possible anyway; the issue you would run into if the gauge pressure went negative is that the plastic keg would collapse.

 

[DeanRIowa]

As an example, if you naturally carbonate to 2.5 volumes at 68F you should end up at about 28 PSI. When you chill that keg to 38F the pressure will drop to about 11 PSI. Since the gauge pressure never goes negative there shouldn't be a suck back issue.

edit - since the keg is sealed, suck back really isn't possible anyway; the issue you would run into if the gauge pressure went negative is that the plastic keg would collapse.

The plastic keg collapsing was my concern I should have stated that more clearly.

So, if I had enough natural carbonation then it should not collapse?

 

[mac_1103]

if I had enough natural carbonation then it should not collapse?

carbonation calculator

In theory, any carbonation level above 1.44 volumes shouldn't go negative at 38F or above. Personally, I wouldn't want to cut it that close. But I don't know why you'd carbonate that low unless it's a stout that you're planning to serve on nitrogen.

I do this all the time with regular corny kegs. While you might think that collapse isn't a risk with stainless steel, the fact is that they're not designed to handle a vacuum either. I prime, wait 2-3 weeks, and check the pressure. If there's room in the kegerator then it goes on gas right away so it's not an issue. If there's no room in the kegerator then it waits its turn, without gas, in any fridge that has space.

 

[VTMongoose]

@mac_1103 is 100% correct and I will add I have had mine collapse from being chilled without spunding and a quick hit of CO2 and they pop right back into shape - no concerns.

Also, I will add, I cold crash my Fermonsters equipped with weldless ball lock fittings all the time. All I do is push about 2-4 psi of CO2 into the headspace and that's more than enough to keep them from collapsing.

 

[DaniellePuckett]

Yes, you can cold condition a Kolsch in an Oxebar keg at 38°F. Just transfer your beer to the keg, set the spunding valve and place the keg in a cold environment. Be patient and enjoy your cold conditioned Kolsch!