warm beer

[payton34]

i really dont like my beer very cold. usually i drink it at room temp.i would like to start kegging and was wondering if the kegs have to be kept cold. if not i could just make a cabinet to hold the kegs instead of a freezer. anyone ever heard of doing this?

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

They don't have to be kept cold, but it will take a huge amount of CO2 to carbonate them, and your beer lines would have to be extremely long. I use a temp controller on my fridge and keep all of my beer around 45F. Usually, I'll pour a glass and let it sit for a few minutes before I drink it. That's plenty warm enough for me.

 

[nakeddog]

... and your beer lines would have to be extremely long.

Why is this? If he built a cabinet the same size as a kegerator, why would the lines have to be any longer than if it was a cold box?

 

[sunblock]

To relieve the higher than normal pressure that the kegs would have to be stored at to maintain a decent level of carbonation .. Theres an equation somewhere for determining the proper line length vs ID of the hose vs temp vs volumes of c02 vs pressure for kegging.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

To relieve the higher than normal pressure that the kegs would have to be stored at to maintain a decent level of carbonation .. Theres an equation somewhere for determining the proper line length vs ID of the hose vs temp vs volumes of c02 vs pressure for kegging.

+1. Higher pressure = longer lines. You'll need about 26psi to carbonate a beer to 2.5 volumes at 65F. At that pressure, you'll need around 30' of line to dispense your beer without having all foam.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Why is this? If he built a cabinet the same size as a kegerator, why would the lines have to be any longer than if it was a cold box?

CO2 absorbs into beer better the colder it gets. So...at 35Fish...it'll only take about 12-15psi to carbonate a beer and serve it. But...when you raise them temp to 65F...it'll take a lot more pressure to keep the beer carbonated.

 

[payton34]

thanks for the reply i knew there had to be a reason to chill the beer. i guess i will build a keezer (someday)

 

[nakeddog]

Ahhh, makes sense. Thanks for the explanation Suthrncomft1884 and Sunblock.

 

[as1084]

Not only will carbonating your beer while its cold be faster and more consistent, it will greatly improve the clarity of your beer as well.