Mixed Gas and Regs may be available to us soon...

[Rossa]

I was chatting to a friend of the Club the other day and he hopes to be able to supply mixed gas to club members without any rental fees. It will just be a one off refill charge if you have a bottle and he is also looking into getting bottles without rental. Proper adjustable mixed gas regulators  are also on his radar.

More to follow next month when he is back from holidays but if you are looking into using mixed gas in any form and don't want to risk a dodgy looking reg on ebay or don't know where to source bottles hang on in there.

[Dr Jacoby]

Ah jaysus, I thought I was done with the big purchases this year  : Looks like I'll have to start saving again  Nice work Rossa

[Hop Bomb]

Great stuff!  Would he have o2 access or is it just beer dispensing gas he has?

[Dr Jacoby]

Good question. o2 would be great

[Ciderhead]

From what I have read flushing o2 into chilled wort is not worth the effort v's a standard stone and aquarium pump
I believe its only mixed gas on offer.

Edit thats not true what i read was that using a stone with low pressure pump if the same as shaking the wort in the brew bucket.

[Rossa]

Just the mixed gas options afaik.

[Dr Jacoby]

Edit thats not true what i read was that using a stone with low pressure pump if the same as shaking the wort in the brew bucket.

Yep. Using a pump and aeration stone to aerate (as opposed to oxygenate) wort is more hassle and no less effective than shaking the shit out of it - shaking is particularly effective if you have lots of head space in the FV.

Pumping pure oxygen into wort is the most effective method of all, and very quick and easy with the right equipment. 

[Hop Bomb]

Yeah 8 ppm is the max o2 you can get from air.  Thats grand for beers in the 1.050 range. Anything higher needs between 10 & 14 ppm of o2 (the higher the gravity the more o2 needed obviously). 

Good podcasts on it here:  http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/Brew-Strong/search/aeration

@ Dr.Jacoby - Have you moved forward with any o2 related purchases yet?

[Dr Jacoby]

Not yet, though I'm still hoping something will work out. If I can avoid rental charges and get a decent sized tank that will last a couple of years it would make it worthwhile.

I did buy a chest freezer over the weekend though for lagering. It holds four cornies and has a side compartment which should be handy for yeast/demijohns etc. Only cost me €35. Best deal I've had in ages 

[Ciderhead]

Yeah 8 ppm is the max o2 you can get from air.  Thats grand for beers in the 1.050 range. Anything higher needs between 10 & 14 ppm of o2 (the higher the gravity the more o2 needed obviously). 

Good podcasts on it here:  http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/Brew-Strong/search/aeration

@ Dr.Jacoby - Have you moved forward with any o2 related purchases yet?

Have u stats for putting a stir paddle in your bucket and whipping it to the point that there is so much froth it nearly spills over

[Hop Bomb]

In that podcast they deal with that. They said it uses up a lot of the head forming proteins which only work the once apparently. So that big load of foam during aeration means less head/foam forming proteins for head retention down the line.

[Dr Jacoby]

Interesting. I aerated an Alt recently with my drill and paddle and it had very poor head retention.

[Ciderhead]

Weird as I never had an issue with head retention or lacing.
Now off to the aquarium shop to find me an O2 tank.

[Ciderhead]

Hmmm, am I naive thinking that welding gas is ok for our purposes?
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/4866367

[Chris]

Just make sure you get the right cylinder. Aerating your beer with acetylene could make for some explosive off flavours.