Kegging setup

[Shanna]

Hi there,

I bought a batch of equipment from biertourist when he was leaving Ireland for the US last year. This included a C02 cannister, regulator and tubing & push fittings, a viper tap stand with two beer taps and a drip tray and a couple of push fittings (see http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Lock-Dis-connect-Swivel-Nuts-Liquid/dp/B00719WTUW).

As I have several kegs sitting around doing nothing I am now getting my act together and plan to start using all of this stuff (including the cornie kegs that I bought in the group buy last year). I was hoping that somebody reading this could give me a few pointers on my setup, to make sure I am not missing something obvious.

The grey push fitting (liquid) has a barbed 1/4" (same as one in amazon link above) and I plan to hook it up with ring clamps and 5/16" polyethene tubing (http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/polythene-tubing-clear-516-per-meter-p-252.html). The other end will connect to a stainless steel tube again that sticks out of the bottom of the viper tap stand with a ring clamp.

As I am interested in making stout and being able to serve it with a nitrogen/co2 mix I am interested to know what additional equipment will I need to purchase? Separate gas cannister, regulator, tubing, push fitting and tap?

Regards,

Declan

[Damo]

Hi Declan

You've kinda answered your own question!

To serve stout on nitro you will need:

A stout tap
A mixed gas reg
A mixed gas/stout mix cylinder

You should be able to pick up these items fairly handy, very handy if your prepared to pay

Just 1 thing to remember regarding disconnects,
Grey - gas
Black - beer

[Shanna]

Anybody tried to serve stout through a stout tap with just Co2 by itself? Would love to not have to invest in another bottle and regulator just yet.

Declan

[rukkus]

It wont be a problem. You just wont get it as creamy as with nitrogen. The stout tap does help though.

Most bottled stouts dont use nitrogen. Depends on what you are going for I suppose.

I have seen nitrogen versions of http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/widget-co2-cylinder-360grm-p-117.html but not in Ireland. Might be worth asking them if they could get them in. I'd take one if they did.

Maybe we should have a NHBC gas account. Power in numbers and all that

[Shanna]

Hi Rukkus,

With respect to NHBC gas account I remember reading posts about somebody getting in touch with BOC in Ballymun about this. See this link for details and search for "Moving Up a Gear"

http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/wiki/doku.php?id=storage_equipment

This option requires you to rent the bottles from them and get them filled by them (on the grounds of safety). Don't understand why it is not possible for an individual or company to get its own bottle pressure tested and safety approved for a period of time and then get this filled. I am sure that the company will say that its purely on safety grounds but can't help thinking that there is a large element of economics in the safety considerations.

If I can't find another company to fill my own bottle with mix then I will not bother buying another bottle and trying to use a gas mix as paying somebody else to rent and fill a bottle is not economical.

Declan

[Damo]

declan

The Brew Crew will do mixed gas bottles for approx. €40 a pop.

No probs!  Been using them for ages...

[Shanna]

Hi Damo,

Ask and you shall receive ;-) Thanks another link to add to the list. Might be an idea to get this added to the A-Z list.

Declan

declan

The Brew Crew will do mixed gas bottles for approx. €40 a pop.

No probs!  Been using them for ages...

[Will_D]

As it was me who made that wiki and talked to BOC in Ballymun if you can send me a link or more info about brewcrew ten I will update the wiki

Will

[Shanna]

Have managed to get an old 50/50 co2/n bottle but need to get it certified before I can get it filled. once I have it certified I will follow up with brew crew and I will be in touch with details.

Declan