When you just kegged a beer you are really looking forward to, but adding it drained the last of your co2 tank and you have to wait two days for the homebrewshop to open to get a refill. Went ahead and bought a second tank so this will be the ONLY time I ever face this dire circumstance.
That horrible feeling...
- Thread starter Elric
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That's why if something's really important (sight, breathing, gametes, etc) nature provides two primary sources!
dwhite60
Well-Known Member
I love bottling. Never failed to dispense a beer from a bottle.
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Elric
Well-Known Member
i keg and I bottle, depends on what the pipeline is like and what the beer is.
Even waiting two days to get more CO2 i will still be drinking this long before any bottle of it would be ready to drink. My main issue was in having the co2 to carb, not to serve.
BrewnWKopperKat
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Over time, some/many/most of us of who bottle have
bottle capper, bottle opener, bag of bottle caps ...
Your advice to have a backup is solid.
bottle capper, bottle opener, bag of bottle caps ...
Your advice to have a backup is solid.
Dgallo
Instagram: bantam_brews
I’d much rather clean and sterilize one vessel, rack once and set to pressure verses clean, sterilize, fill, and cap 54 - 12 oz bottles. Once I’ve made the switch, the only beers I bottle now are wilds/Brett’s. But hey, to each their own!
Good call on getting two. My lhbs shop was really cool to me and just let me take an extra one with their swap program and only pay for the fill. Really great guys.
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Elric
Well-Known Member
I basically ran out cause I was waiting for the rental tanks to free up from my lhbs. They loan a 2.5lber while your tank is out for fill (it’s a 1-2 week turn around depending in what day of the week you drop it off), but they only have three and they are either all constantly out or they have suspended the loaners due to covid (we are in lockdown here). I wanted a second one anyway for ease of use for secondary co2 needs (pressure transfers, recarbing pops etc) that aren’t anywhere near my keezer.
THIS
Bottling is the worst. I understand if you're new to the hobby, but after a while and oxidizing all your beer most would cave in and start kegging.
FromZwolle
I don't want to be cremated, I want to be malted.
double prime a bottle some time.
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Most anything regarded as essential infrastructure, being it water, power, or CO2 to dispense the brew, it's good to have some kind of back up. Always good to have two, tanks that is.
BrewnWKopperKat
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It's likely, in 2021, that most homebrewers understand the trade-offs involved in packaging.
BrewnWKopperKat
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YES!
Dgallo
Instagram: bantam_brews
You know what they say about assuming lolIt's likely, in 2021, that most homebrewers understand the trade-offs involved in packaging.
That said, if they do, you’ll only appreciate it once you keg your first beer and save easily 2 hours of work lol
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Do you have a welding supply store that you can trade the tank in at? I would not want to have to go to the store twice, and be out of a tank for 2 weeks, just for a fill.
I love kegging. Never had a keg explode in my closet at 2 in the morning.
Lots of elbow grease and a professional carpet cleaning, I can still smell beer in that closet.
BrewnWKopperKat
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I do. My grandfather uses that phrase a lot. He also makes a pretty good beer now and then, so it's all good.
this is why i keep my tank on a scale, and if the HP gauge drops time to swap....but the scale gives me a heads up before i even run out of liquid....
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Elric
Well-Known Member
I had notice, I saw it dropping down and was pretty positive that the carbing process would finish it off, but I didn't have a lot of options. Will be in a much better place once I have a backup
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Elric
Well-Known Member
Call me fickle, but this is a brand new shiny tank. I don't want to trade it in for some beat up old unit that is going to need recertifying by the time I empty it. Also as I mentioned we are currently in lockdown and only essential services are open so not really a time to start hunting around for a new shop. The homebrew shop is pretty close by, I can prepay online and just do curbside dropoff/pickup easy peasy.
I had notice, I saw it dropping down and was pretty positive that the carbing process would finish it off, but I didn't have a lot of options. Will be in a much better place once I have a backup
i just purged and carbed two kegs, burned through ~150 grams co2 doing it. but i know with an aluminum tank the TW is around 25lb's it still ways 40lb's with reg. and the scale was only $25 and a second tank would be $200.....
I love kegging. But I also love bottling. I use both methods, depending on the beer and the circumstances.
I've never had Airgas look at, question or mention tank certifications. And I've bought some VERY old 20#ers and traded them in.
They also should be essential.
belowi
Active Member
My local homebrew shop closed last year where I used to swap out my CO2 tanks, I hadn’t thought about planning for that when I ran out recently. Luckily I found a hydroponic supplier nearby who does 20# tank swaps, so now I’m good to go.
belowi
Active Member
I tried our local Airgas and they wanted almost $100 to swap out my new 20# tank (less than a year old) for one of their crappy ones, no fills for me locally unfortunately.
Camelot Legends
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I’m still checking Craigslist for used tanks so I can have a backup. I bought my first one from there because my only option is a swap. I couldn’t bring myself to buy a new tank just to swap it out. It also bothers me I can’t personalize the tank either. I put stickers on everything except my co2 tank.
Dgallo
Instagram: bantam_brews
Technically they need to be free of stickers or the company can’t legally fill them (some still will though). They need to be able to examine for any flaws and check the last time the tank was tested. Co2 tanks hold well over 3000 psi. It’s a safety thing
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The above quoted statement is one of the axioms of homebrewing!!
I used a 5 pound CO2 tank for years and would have it refilled on the spot at my LHBS. But that became a hassle with the twice+ a year run, the worst part was the immediate demand to take care of it no matter what else I had going on. I purchase sacks of malt about once a year at my LHBS, but fine it cheaper to purchase other supplies online. My LHBS is 45 minutes each way!
So I found my local gas company supplier, Arc3 Gases, and purchased a 20 pound tank. I now use the 20# tank and the 5# tank is used as a back up until I get the 20# tank exchanged at Arc3 at my convenience. I may just be lucky, but the Arc3 Gases is much much closer than the LHBS and the $34 price for the 20# tank exchange is fantastic.
DarrellQ
Well-Known Member
Wow, I pay $25 to refill a 5# tank. Curious what others are paying for a 5# refill? I'm new to kegging and still learning. Unfortunately, despite leak tests with soapy water, it suddenly developed a leak where the regulator screws into the tank and I was only able to dispense one 5 gallon keg with 5 lbs of CO2. $25, ouch! How many should you be able to dispense with 5 lbs?
BrewnWKopperKat
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... yup, my grandfather still has that problem.
In 2020/21, people are talking about how to bottle NEIPAs that are good for 45+ days. There are threads both here and over at /r/homebrewing.
harrower
Active Member
Welding supply shop charges $10 to fill 5 lb. Filled in 5 minutes while I wait at the counter. Better to buy 2 5lb bottles than one 10 lb.
belowi
Active Member
I think I’ve seen other threads that give some details on how many kegs you can get from a CO2 fill. The hydroponics shop I go to now charges $22 for a 20# swap.
GBRbrew
THIS IS MY BREWSTICK!!!
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With no leaks you should get something like 7 to 10 5 gallon kegs out of a 5 pound tank
Cheers
I’m not sure how many kegs total but so far I’m on keg 4 (1/2 barrels) with the same 5lb co2 fill and just hooked up number 5
15 bucks for a 5# at beer distributor, i have 2 tanks... dang i need a 20pounder. sure i get at least 10 kegs out of the one hooked to my 4tap keezer but the one i use for transfers burns up quick with 15gal batches.
I pay about $20 for a 5 lb tank and about $25 for a 20 lb tank at our local welding shop. You are basically paying for their filling time and very little for the gas. They only do tank exchanges which I consider an advantage as they will always exchange their tanks so you never have to worry about the tank certification. I couldn't care less if the tank isn't always shiny new since it is hidden behind the refrigerator in the basement anyway. I have a 5 lb and a 20 lb tank partly to always have a back up but also to have a smaller one for occasional travel use.
I have a few 20# tanks, welding store exchanges for about $30. I like to buy used, you can normally find cheap. Latest one I got was $10 and to my surprise 3/4 full.
Arc3 Gases does an exchange, $19.80 for the 5# and $34.76 for the 20# cylinder. Math = $44.44 savings with the 20# cylinder. The #20 cylinder was $134 up front and came filled (of course). How long a cylinder last is highly dependent on pressure transfers, CO2 flushing, beer carbonate level, but should not include leaked volumes. I found disconnecting the kegs, pressurizing the lines and regulator and then turn off the cylinder valve and then check the pressure the next day. It's a yes or no approach, which then can be followed with soapy water if needed. Every time you change the cylinder, close the line out of the regulator and close the cylinder valve after pressurizing the regulator and wait overnight to confirm the new cylinder connection isn't leaking.
BTW I know this is a no-brainer but the cost should always include your time and mileage! When you brew long enough you'll rethink everything looking to save money as well as ways to improve your beer. If you're not already, start buying in bulk and/or online if the LHBS is too far.
Something else to consider.....be sure your CO2 is beverage grade. No one likes that cardboard taste. I personally have never had a problem with the CO2 quality just read about it. My cardboard days were back when I was still bottling my beer.
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