Priming Sugar in Corny Keg without CO2

[JoeSchmoe]

Hi Everyone,
I took my CO2 tank from the 2nd hand kegerator I bought in to get refilled at the LHBS. It was expired, so the guy said it'll take a week and a half before he can get it recertified for me. Not knowing if there were quicker options, I left it with him. In the meantime, I have an Amber Ale ready to be kegged.

I was thinking I could put it in a keg and prime it with sugar so it's ready when I get the tank back. The only issue is everyone says to top off the keg with CO2 when you do this. Given I don't have CO2, should I just wait?

Thanks

 

[Yooper]

Hi Everyone,
I took my CO2 tank from the 2nd hand kegerator I bought in to get refilled at the LHBS. It was expired, so the guy said it'll take a week and a half before he can get it recertified for me. Not knowing if there were quicker options, I left it with him. In the meantime, I have an Amber Ale ready to be kegged.

I was thinking I could put it in a keg and prime it with sugar so it's ready when I get the tank back. The only issue is everyone says to top off the keg with CO2 when you do this. Given I don't have CO2, should I just wait?

Thanks

No, not necessarily. I mean, when people bottle, do they top off with CO2?

Don't allow a ton of headspace, and think of the keg as a giant bottle.

 

[mac_1103]

I was thinking I could put it in a keg and prime it with sugar so it's ready when I get the tank back. The only issue is everyone says to top off the keg with CO2 when you do this. Given I don't have CO2, should I just wait?

I do this all the time. Some people say that at least some of their corny kegs won't seal without a few PSI of CO2, but I have never had that problem. So I guess it depends on the condition of the keg and seals.

 

[day_trippr]

I expect ^that^ is what folks are thinking when they say the keg should get "topped off" with CO2...

Cheers!

 

[JoeSchmoe]

I do this all the time. Some people say that at least some of their corny kegs won't seal without a few PSI of CO2, but I have never had that problem. So I guess it depends on the condition of the keg and seals.

Maybe I'll hold off then. I've never used this keg before and I don't want to lose this batch of beer.

 

[marc1]

Now you also know to get a backup co2 tank, as well

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Now you also know to get a backup co2 tank, as well

I'm not doing so good on the actual beer made to equipment purchased ratio. When I started brewing a few months back, in my head I figured as long as my equipment expenditures were outweighed by my savings on buying store beer, I can justify it. With my last $200 kegerator and equipment purchase, I have to drink more to play catch up. To your point, it'd be nice to have a SodaStream tream and a mini keg to take on the road with me, with the SodaStream doubling as a backup tank.

 

[PCABrewing]

I do this all the time. Some people say that at least some of their corny kegs won't seal without a few PSI of CO2, but I have never had that problem. So I guess it depends on the condition of the keg and seals.

For those with that minor problem, I found that lightly lubricating the big o-ring with keg lube helps or eliminates that problem.
I also put a thin film on the smaller o-rings when I break the keg down for cleaning.
It allows the seal to squirm around a bit and helps make the seal.
I carbonate naturally with priming sugar but I still put a small amount of pressure (very small, ~1lb) on to be sure the lid is seated then let the yeast do it's job.
I apply the pressure before I snap the bail down so I can see the small movement as the lid settles in. I periodically check pressure increase by giving a momentary light tug on the PRV.
The amount of CO2 I use is so small I doubt it would be detectable. Two weeks later @ room temp (65 degrees) I have good carbonation and it's ready for the fridge.
I've been using this method for 20+ years with good results.

 

[PCABrewing]

I was thinking I could put it in a keg and prime it with sugar so it's ready when I get the tank back. The only issue is everyone says to top off the keg with CO2 when you do this. Given I don't have CO2, should I just wait?

To answer your original question..
I would keg and prime and do the best you can to seat the lid.
You'll probably have carbonation started before you get the cylinder back.
I'd rather not let it sit in the fermenter with sleeping yeast.
That's just my opinion.

 

[IslandLizard]

I took my CO2 tank from the 2nd hand kegerator I bought in to get refilled at the LHBS. It was expired, so the guy said it'll take a week and a half before he can get it recertified for me. Not knowing if there were quicker options, I left it with him.

Call around to see if you can swap your empty, expired tank for a full one.
Make sure you receive an aluminum tank for your aluminum trade-in. They sometimes try to pawn off an old, heavy, rusty steel one.

Here in the U.S. most larger gas/welding suppliers prefer to swap out now. A few years ago a tank hydro-test ran around $50 pass-or-fail.

 

[Kickass]

I don't want to lose this batch of beer.

Worst case: you prime, keg doesn’t hold pressure and you force carbonate when you get your co2 back. Beer will be fine and just a couple tenths higher abv, but not a dump case scenario.

Some of my kegs don’t seal well without added pressure so when I prime a keg, I always pressurize to get the lid to seal.

 

[JoeSchmoe]

Call around to see if you can swap your empty, expired tank for a full one.
Make sure you receive an aluminum tank for your aluminum trade-in. They sometimes try to pawn off an old, heavy, rusty steel one.

Here in the U.S. most larger gas/welding suppliers prefer to swap out now. A few years ago a tank hydro-test ran around $50 pass-or-fail.

It sounds like I'll get my original back. The guy at the LHBS showed me where they'll likely put the new certificatation.