Two kegs in and I'm sold using syrups for variety rocks!

[TomSD]

Yeah making syrups all natural is an alternative I've been looking into but for a quick solution with a lot of variety I started out with these.

 

[leviticus]

OK... this makes me want to do the keezer build even more!

Does anyone know if there exists a 'tonic syrup'? (I've already e-mailed the folks at Prairie Moon - I'll let you know what they say.)

Would love to execute this method for tonic water (or just mix a corney with tonic out of a bag-in-box, water, gin, and roses lime... G&T on tap..)

Definitely like the variety of this method and the fact that it's not putting anything but water in one of my kegs...

 

[robrob]

Been carbing water for a while now for the wife and have started to really like it. I have a number of those clear flip top bottles that fancy lemonade comes in (if there is an ikea around they have them cheap too).

We like taking a slice of cucumber (cut like a pickle spear) and putting it inside the bottle. Makes a very refreshing drink. Fresh ginger is nice too.

I am interested in trying the syrups...this summer I used kool-aid and a simple syrup for snow cones...makes a pretty good grape soda as well.

If you have a Mexican supermarket nearby they have some very interesting powered flavors...have not tried any yet but the tamarind sounds really interesting. Just make a simple syrup add your flavor powder and then reduce it down till it gets to a consistency you like.

 

[jgardner6]

I ordered half a dozen today. Can't wait till I get them in.


Primary- Kolsch
Kegged- Sorachi Ace Pilsner, Wet Hop Citra Pale Ale, 10 Gal Black IPA, 10 Gal Oatmeal Stout
Bottled- Berliner Weisse, Zeus IPA
Next batches- Greenbelt Pale Ale, 100% Brett Pale Ale, SMaSH

 

[blackcows]

Would love to execute this method for tonic water (or just mix a corney with tonic out of a bag-in-box, water, gin, and roses lime... G&T on tap..)
QUOTE]

I mixed whiskey and coke (poured from 2 liter bottles) into a corney and it worked really well the first night but after that I couldn't get it to pour without foam, not sure if it was the liquor or what but I never got it to work right after that first night.

Mike

 

[CraigH78]

Correct me if I'm wrong (been a while since my teen age years working in fast food) but isn't that how restaurant's serve soda, mixing syrup and carb. water on demand? I seem to remember replacing syrup boxes. I think I'll give this a try.

 

[NWMOBrewer]

Yeah, its what restaurants do, but this is done on the cheap compared to them, and you get to mess with the ratos if you want.

 

[bigthom75]

correct me if i am wrong here but wouldnt using this method also contain wayyyyy less sodium then the store bought soda does(typically 30to45mg per 8oz)??

 

[mcwarhammer]

I just ordered a good variety of flavors from PM for when I get my keezer finally finished (hopefully within the next few days!) I'm excited to give this a try.

I was thinking this syrup may also double as a good flavoring for shaved ice.

 

[TomSD]

Yeah it does, right out of the bottle... a couple squirts.

I'm still using the heck out of it and just to get an idea how long the stuff lasts I have one more refill, which I am about ready for, then I have to start thinking about reordering. I've lost count of how many kegs of water I have gone through so far, lol.

The only thing I wasn't happy with is the tube in the bottles is cut too short. Not by a lot but enough that you have to jockey around for the last little bit then pour out maybe a serving at the end. I would've preferred a better fit but other than that the bottles have worked great. I think the big key is keeping them in the fridge to protect against mold or bugs, specially if you use sugar instead of substitute.

 

[mcwarhammer]

I picked up some bottles today for this. They aren't squirt bottles though, although I can upgrade them I think. For now, I'll be using these:

http://www.newyorkbarstore.com/shop/pour-and-store-quart-jug-with-spout-p-54.html

 

[TomSD]

I picked up some bottles today for this. They aren't squirt bottles though, although I can upgrade them I think. For now, I'll be using these:

http://www.newyorkbarstore.com/shop/pour-and-store-quart-jug-with-spout-p-54.html

I like those! Been thinking of going pour or something with a longer draw... pumping stops making sense when you have to pump like 30 times, lol.

 

[mcwarhammer]

I like those! Been thinking of going pour or something with a longer draw... pumping stops making sense when you have to pump like 30 times, lol.

yea, they seem pretty awesome! I like the lid that is stored on the bottom and i can replace the spout so it stays sealed while not in use. I can't wait for the extracts to get here, they shipped out today.

 

[leviticus]

I'm so glad you just replied to this thread - I had forgotten I wanted to do this once I got my keezer up and running, and I too am due to finish mine once KegConnection de-ices their warehouse this week!

 

[KevinM]

I've always wondered why I saw bits and pieces about having to pump 30 times but I never saw the bottles in the very early postings.
I've been using old Torani bottles with pumps (I get most of them for coffee flavors and I also keep 5 pounds of caramel, butterscotch and hershey's around. ) but early on made myself sodas with a soda siphon. The co2 tank has made things easier there. The torani pumps pull 1/4 an ounce per pump.
http://shop.torani.com/Syrup-Dispensing-Pump/p/TOR-010030&c=Torani@Syrups

Most food service places should have something that will create the longer draw, usually in the snowcone syrup area actually.

 

[leviticus]

Ironic you should bring that up, I saw on Prairie Moon's site that they had a 1 oz draw pump, but they only indicated that it fit the .5 & 1 gallon containers. I e-mailed asking if it would fit the smaller bottle and received this response just two days ago:

"The 1 oz pump will not fit our current quart bottle. However, we are getting a new quart bottle which it will fit. Check back the end of next week. We hope to have it on the web site by then."

I'll be waiting until then to place my order...

 

[KevinM]

Those are much better looking. Actually, I was going to recommend something like that regarding using one of the 5 pound hershey bottles and a pump that gave about an ounce. I didn't measure it out though, but I thought it was about that amount. (I don't know why I didn't think of it. I had measured the torani syrup and downed the syrup, but I was actually using the chocolate syrup for a chocolate kefir.) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00125UJWG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 but they're up there in price. Glad I got all of mine for free.

I'll probably have to get some of those and some containers when I get some extract from them. I don't have any empty Torani bottles left. The three that I had kept now contain cola, root beer and ginger ale syrups.

 

[BoxofRain]

Thanks for the tip. Just got delivery on the syrups. I went ahead with a 25' beer line. Does this sound like a good length?

 

[TomSD]

25' should probably work. I went with the inserts to reduce the flow though and they work great. I left my line lengths the same across all my taps then used two inserts in each seltzer keg.

 

[BoxofRain]

25' should probably work. I went with the inserts to reduce the flow though and they work great. I left my line lengths the same across all my taps then used two inserts in each seltzer keg.

Thanks. I'll probably buy the inserts and hang onto them in case I need the line length for something else.

 

[TomSD]

Oh and...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/cure-your-short-hose-troubles-100151/

 

[BoxofRain]

BTW...What's the scoop with sanitation. Should I pour the water on top of the foam or forget sanitation with this? I plan on kegging the water when I get back from Florida.

 

[TomSD]

If you are talking StarSan then right over the foam is fine. At that amount the stuff has pretty much zero impact on anything. Besides letting you know it is doing its job of course.

 

[BoxofRain]

If you are talking StarSan then right over the foam is fine. At that amount the stuff has pretty much zero impact on anything. Besides letting you know it is doing its job of course.

Yes, StarSan. That's what I figured, just making sure.

 

[Wronguy]

Just made my first root beer with the PM flavours. First time making soda. I am very impressed. Thanks for the info Tom

 

[TomSD]

Glad to help... did you do it full sugar or some combination of other sweeteners?

I'm used to the Splenda sweetener (generic actually but same diff) so don't really notice it as being "bad" or "off flavor" but I am curious how a full sugar version turns out.

 

[leviticus]

Finally placed my order... I'll throw some H20 on tap this evening.

(the quart bottles which take the 1oz pump are now available on their site)

Has anyone ever seen a tonic concentrate? I could save a boat load with that!

 

[Wronguy]

I did all full sugar by the book. I was thinking though could you just boil 5 gal of sugar and water and keg it and just add a drop or two of the extract.

Also I spilled some of the blue raspberry extract on my hand. and now I look like Chevy Chase off of Vegas Vacation if you know what I mean.

 

[leviticus]

You talking about adding a drop or two of the extract to the glass before you fill with carbed sugar water?

I would feel a little off handling the pure extract... so concentrated that any mistakes/variations between 'drops' would result in pretty big differences in end product. Not to mention god forbid it spill...

 

[uwjester]

Thanks for putting all this info together and keeping up with the questions. I just placed an order for sass, cream soda, and mango. Seems like a good mix. I may have missed it in the previous posts, but I assume you have a dual output CO2 regulator. I'm guessing you don't carb your beer up to 30 psi, right? They way I have my kegerator built up, that's going to require some adjustments, but hopefully it is worth it.