Title: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 09:28:42 AM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 09:28:42 AM
Trying to figure out how to plumb my kegerator for sours in the near future. Right now, there is one CO2 cannister, with a single line out. Six gas disconnects are connected to the line in series.
Now, if I connect a lambic/brett/anything funky to this system, I assume I will comtaminate all connected kegs, suggested the need for a separate CO2 tank and regulator. Has anyone else done this or how have they solved the serving problem?
Also, if a keg has a brett beer, can it be cleaned successfully with W5, or is it forever in the sour keg group afterwards? Bear in mind an average strength beer sits in kegs for 6+ months, as I'm quite a slow drinker.
Now, if I connect a lambic/brett/anything funky to this system, I assume I will comtaminate all connected kegs, suggested the need for a separate CO2 tank and regulator. Has anyone else done this or how have they solved the serving problem?
Also, if a keg has a brett beer, can it be cleaned successfully with W5, or is it forever in the sour keg group afterwards? Bear in mind an average strength beer sits in kegs for 6+ months, as I'm quite a slow drinker.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 10:16:15 AM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 10:16:15 AM
Stainless is fine but anything plastic/rubber has the potential to be contaminated by absorption, so lines taps buckets seals etc.
You could always have a set of posts and seals for Brett just to be safe.
You could get a one way valve for your gas, but on the outside a dedicated line and tap is best for serving longer term.
Would you not just bottle?
You could always have a set of posts and seals for Brett just to be safe.
You could get a one way valve for your gas, but on the outside a dedicated line and tap is best for serving longer term.
Would you not just bottle?
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 10:35:59 AM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 10:35:59 AM
Quote from: CH on August 25, 2016, 10:16:15 AMBarrel projects and also blending down the road would make it easier to have it in kegs, otherwise I'd bottle. Planning on having a dedicated sour tap with whatever flavour of the month sour I want to drink at the time. There's a perlick with no flow control that would be perfect for low and medium levels of carbonation.
Stainless is fine but anything plastic/rubber has the potential to be contaminated by absorption, so lines taps buckets seals etc.
You could always have a set of posts and seals for Brett just to be safe.
You could get a one way valve for your gas, but on the outside a dedicated line and tap is best for serving longer term.
Would you not just bottle?
One way value is just the ticket. I can fit that in line before the keg and know that the gas won't flow back.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 10:54:18 AM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 10:54:18 AM
Quote from: molc on August 25, 2016, 10:35:59 AM
Planning on having a dedicated sour tap with whatever flavour of the month sour I want to drink at the time.
One way value is just the ticket. I can fit that in line before the keg and know that the gas won't flow back.
Obviously got a great dentist
I did have a load of them but after a blow back have em all installed now
This ones for liquids to save your reg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/John-Guest-3-8-x-3-8-Push-Fit-One-way-Single-Check-Valve-Water-3-8SCV-/221731630396?hash=item33a03c2d3c:g:GskAAOSwstxVHCFq
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 11:28:02 AM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 11:28:02 AM
Yuck! Alas looks like those values are liquid only. I'm sure I can find a gas equivalent though.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 11:38:23 AM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 11:38:23 AM
like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-10mm-Inline-Check-Valve-for-Fuel-Diesel-Gas-Liquid-Air-One-Way-Non-Return-/321866775344
except the gas ones need a min opening pressure and only operate to a point.
Thinking a little 2Kg tank with a separate line is your easiest option.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-10mm-Inline-Check-Valve-for-Fuel-Diesel-Gas-Liquid-Air-One-Way-Non-Return-/321866775344
except the gas ones need a min opening pressure and only operate to a point.
Thinking a little 2Kg tank with a separate line is your easiest option.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 12:02:30 PM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 12:02:30 PM
Quote from: CH on August 25, 2016, 11:38:23 AMYeah small tank from AJ sitting in the fridge might just by the way to go. Also add a check value so I can disconnect and use it for other things as well. Would be handy for force carbonation things or purging kegs.
like this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-8-10mm-Inline-Check-Valve-for-Fuel-Diesel-Gas-Liquid-Air-One-Way-Non-Return-/321866775344
except the gas ones need a min opening pressure and only operate to a point.
Thinking a little 2Kg tank with a separate line is your easiest option.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 01:38:36 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 01:38:36 PM
You're probably over thinking it imo. I've reused keg, lines, taps for sours without problems for several years. Everything in the kegerator is refrigerated so highly unlikely to sour on you.
Fermentation vessel is a different matter and I'd definitely separate kit for that side of things.
Fermentation vessel is a different matter and I'd definitely separate kit for that side of things.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 02:56:08 PM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 02:56:08 PM
Quote from: imark on August 25, 2016, 01:38:36 PM
You're probably over thinking it imo. I've reused keg, lines, taps for sours without problems for several years. Everything in the kegerator is refrigerated so highly unlikely to sour on you.
Fermentation vessel is a different matter and I'd definitely separate kit for that side of things.
I bow to the guy with the experience, am I correct in saying it only takes a tiny tiny amount for it to take hold?
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 03:05:53 PM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 03:05:53 PM
Quote from: imark on August 25, 2016, 01:38:36 PMDo your kegs share a single co2 line and are you force carbing on those lines? I'm just worried about connecting in a sour, then connecting another keg to the system and force carbing it. At that point, the other keg will be at a low pressure, so the gas from the others will be flowing into it, including the souring line, which in turn has just pulled bugs into the co2 line in the system.
You're probably over thinking it imo. I've reused keg, lines, taps for sours without problems for several years. Everything in the kegerator is refrigerated so highly unlikely to sour on you.
Fermentation vessel is a different matter and I'd definitely separate kit for that side of things.
Overthinking, it's what I do... :)
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 03:17:22 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 03:17:22 PM
That's true. Same principle applies as long as you keep it cold tho.
I don't force carb on my serving reg. I use a double reg and one side goes keezer other loose for force carbing and general use.
@CH it takes a trace and at room temperature you'll be in trouble given time.
I don't force carb on my serving reg. I use a double reg and one side goes keezer other loose for force carbing and general use.
@CH it takes a trace and at room temperature you'll be in trouble given time.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 03:20:56 PM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 03:20:56 PM
Cool, I can work with that. Getting a manifold soon to split the single line into 3, with values to shut off flow, so I can use that for force carbing even when a sour is connected to the system and keep things isolated.
While the system may be cold, any bottles I pull and send to comps may warm up for a while, so just can't have bugs getting into the clean kegs.
While the system may be cold, any bottles I pull and send to comps may warm up for a while, so just can't have bugs getting into the clean kegs.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 03:22:19 PM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 03:22:19 PM
Hey overthinking is what we all do
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: nigel_c on August 25, 2016, 04:13:38 PM
Post by: nigel_c on August 25, 2016, 04:13:38 PM
Get a dedicated sour beer shed.
You know you want to. ;D
You know you want to. ;D
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 04:16:58 PM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 04:16:58 PM
Quote from: nigel_c on August 25, 2016, 04:13:38 PMYou are a bad bad man.
Get a dedicated sour beer shed.
You know you want to. ;D
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:04:59 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:04:59 PM
Remember you need planning permission for the second shed 😉
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:07:08 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:07:08 PM
Quote from: CH on August 25, 2016, 03:22:19 PMThe more stuff you have the more that can go wrong. K.I.S.S. Live by them rules
Hey overthinking is what we all do
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 05:11:02 PM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 05:11:02 PM
Where's the fun in that
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:48:35 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:48:35 PM
Spent an hour cleaning out my keezer coz of a leak on the liquid disconnect. Wasn't fun and lost most of a keg of DIPA.
Every connection or controller is a potential failure. I'm getting more zen about my kit every day. 😌 ^-^
Every connection or controller is a potential failure. I'm getting more zen about my kit every day. 😌 ^-^
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 05:57:04 PM
Post by: molc on August 25, 2016, 05:57:04 PM
I shut off my gas all the time in case one if the disconnects goes nuts. The odd weekend, I have flat kegs and know it's time to hunt down a leak somewhere.
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 06:51:20 PM
Post by: Leann ull on August 25, 2016, 06:51:20 PM
Quote from: imark on August 25, 2016, 05:48:35 PM
Spent an hour cleaning out my keezer coz of a leak on the liquid disconnect. Wasn't fun and lost most of a keg of DIPA.
Every connection or controller is a potential failure. I'm getting more zen about my kit every day. 😌 ^-^
I always use fresh rubber to keep my poppets tight :-*
Title: Re: CO2 lines for serving lambics and "normal" beers
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 07:03:20 PM
Post by: imark on August 25, 2016, 07:03:20 PM
Fresh rubbers...Decadent! 