Question regarding kegging

[redrocker652002]

OK, so my last beer, a simple pale, has kicked and I am now ready for the lager I have in my ferm fridge. My question to the masses is, if I am not planning on opening the keg other than to drop some Almond Extract in it, can I just transfer the beer in the fermenter into the keg without going thru the cleaning and sanitation process? I would love to just drop this new beer in, carb and lager it for another two weeks or so and then enjoy it, but if it is better to clean and sanitize then so be it. What say the pro's?

Thanks in advance.

 

[day_trippr]

I've never done that, but rationally speaking, if the old keg wasn't contaminated, and the new beer isn't contaminated, I don't see racking the latter to the former to be an issue, other than there will be the dregs from the old beer inside...

Cheers!

 

[IslandLizard]

That ^

Since that keg will only contain CO2 as well as the dregs from the Pale Ale, to prevent oxidation of your new beer, it would be best to do a closed transfer of your new beer into the old keg, which means without opening the lid.

In regards to the dregs, which likely contain precipitated yeast, mixing into your new beer, you'd be the judge.

To remove most of the dregs, you can swirl, then blow the dregs/yeast out. An oz or 2 will stay behind, depending on how deep the dip tube reaches. If the yeast cake is particularly thick and large, it may be more.
Before adding your new beer, you could add some Starsan or plain water, then swirl again, and flush out most of the remainder. The bonus is, you can do all this without opening the keg.

 

[Kickass]

can I just transfer the beer in the fermenter into the keg without going thru the cleaning and sanitation process?

I don’t do it often but I have done it. If it’s a similar style, I’ll open the empty keg, take a peak for anything unwanted and fill.

I tend to get a little lackadaisical sanitizing kegs that show no signs of contamination from the previous batch.

drop some Almond Extract in

This, on the other hand, should be avoided at all costs when kegging.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

redrocker652002 said:
drop some Almond Extract in


This, on the other hand, should be avoided at all costs when kegging.

Why's that?

 

[Kickass]

Because it’s almond extract in beer.

 

[Broken Crow]

I did it once as an experiment with 3 kegs of stout and though I thought the beer tasted somewhat 'lesser' on the first keg, I suspect that was just psychological (paranoia) but by the time I changed out the first keg I was certain it was fine. Nevertheless, if I do it again, I'd likely pump-and-dump a bit of Star San afew times just to clear up any possible dregs. (I rarely have dregs because I only transfer clear beer from the top down into my kegs.)
I'd use my nifty 'utility micro-keg':

NOTE: I have since swapped out those vinyl transfer lines for 1/4'ID EVABarrier.

 

[BongoYodeler]

@redrocker652002 if you have, or buy, one of these and a plastic soda bottle you won't have to open your keg to add the almond extract. I use it to add gelatin to a freshly filled keg. Works like a charm.

As to racking a new beer onto the dregs of a recently finished beer, I've read about others successfully doing this, but I haven't done it myself.

 

[BongoYodeler]

I did it once as an experiment with 3 kegs of stout and though I thought the beer tasted somewhat 'lesser' on the first keg, I suspect that was just psychological (paranoia) but by the time I changed out the first keg I was certain it was fine. Nevertheless, if I do it again, I'd likely pump-and-dump a bit of Star San afew times just to clear up any possible dregs. (I rarely have dregs because I only transfer clear beer from the top down into my kegs.)
I'd use my nifty 'utility micro-keg':
View attachment 874824
NOTE: I have since swapped out those vinyl transfer lines for 1/4'ID EVABarrier.

LOL, beat me to it.

 

[Broken Crow]

LOL, beat me to it.

JINX! But hey; I f-in love those carb-caps and can't imagine life without them now...they've made so many tasks so simple and I no longer have to worry about nicking plastic pins in disconnects to open them.

 

[fluketamer]

JINX! But hey; I f-in love those carb-caps and can't imagine life without them now...they've made so many tasks so simple and I no longer have to worry about nicking plastic pins in disconnects to open them.

they are a must in the brewery if kegging.

in all honesty carb caps t pieces and 2 liter pop bottles are still better option than bottling beer if you cant keg.

more often than i care to admit, i have racked beer into freshly kicked kegs without sanitizing them.

 

[redrocker652002]

Because it’s almond extract in beer.

I have it on good authority that this is going to be a fantastic beer. I will probably report that on another thread. LOL.

To all who have replied I appreciate the responses. I think I am going to just clean and sanitize the keg as I need to clean the bucket as well as the lines. this is a new style for me, so I don't want to take a chance and not get the best the beer has to offer. Rock on!!!!!!

 

[fluketamer]

oh btw almond extract in beer is no good.

however i have made a stout that i bottled with amaretto that came out really good

 

[Kickass]

I have it on good authority that this is going to be a fantastic beer.

My responses were tongue in cheek.

Do it! Report back. And if you like it, do it again. I suspect the purists would shudder at my Walmart hard cider but I have one tap dedicated to it 100% of the time.

 

[redrocker652002]

My responses were tongue in cheek.

Do it! Report back. And if you like it, do it again. I suspect the purists would shudder at my Walmart hard cider but I have one tap dedicated to it 100% of the time.

As was mine. All good. I will for sure report back as it sure seemed like an interesting add to an interesting recipe. I am looking forward to trying it to see what it tastes like.

All good, love the banter.

 

[Snuffy]

You have a batch of new beer ready to keg and dose with extract. Why would you take the chance of some odd holdover flavor from the previous batch coming into play? It may not be necessary to go all out with the keg cleaning, but I would rinse out the dregs and yeast film with Starsan at least. I'm into shortcuts as well, but not one that directly mixes the dregs of an old batch in with my fresh brew. Unless maybe it's the same brew with the same yeast. But I never brew the same thing twice in a row.

 

[redrocker652002]

You have a batch of new beer ready to keg and dose with extract. Why would you take the chance of some odd holdover flavor from the previous batch coming into play? It may not be necessary to go all out with the keg cleaning, but I would rinse out the dregs and yeast film with Starsan at least. I'm into shortcuts as well, but not one that directly mixes the dregs of an old batch in with my fresh brew. Unless maybe it's the same brew with the same yeast. But I never brew the same thing twice in a row.

I think you are spot on. I think that is what I am going to do. Do a full on clean and sanitize. It will only take me about an hour or so and is the right thing to do.