took the plunge

[YamahaXS]

jsut ordered a corny kegging system.

looked around quite a bit, and finally bought from Brewers Discount on the web.


5lb tank, lines, regulator, and a reconditioned corny (complete set up) for $158 shipped.


might mosey up to the Greenbay and buy some cornies from the Rackers411 if I can't track some down around here... brew shop is a bit pricey here. they sell good product, and great advice, but they wanted 200 for the setup i bought, and 40 for each corny.

anyways, looking forward to kegging...

cheers and beers!

[toneyc]

That's about right for the kegging system, but that is double the price for kegs! I think AHS has the kit for $169, St. Pat's for $155,
AHS kegs are 4/$99 and St. pat's is 6/$110. I don't think St. Pat's has free shipping, but orders over $60 at AHS ship for free.

:) Toney.

[YamahaXS]

my grammar wasn't very clear. Its my local shop that charges $40 for a corny.


Brewers Discount has recondintioned kegs for $22, or just cleaned for $12 (i think he throws in some orings with them).

And, let me iterate, $158 included shipping.

[Fast_Eddy]

You'll never miss bottling, I promise.

[Dave A]

Originally posted by YamahaXS
looked around quite a bit, and finally bought from Brewers Discount on the web.
Thanks for the info, I couldn't find better prices on kegs either so I'm placing an order there.

[Tom C]

I too took the initial steps in creating a 3 tap kegging system for the basement. I was able to pick up a full size refrigerator for free this past weekend. I will clean it out today, then go to my lhbs and buy 3 taps to drill through the front door of the fridge. I will also buy 5 cornelieus kegs for 100. My hopes is to have 3 beers on tap at all times ( a lighter, a darker and a seasonal). I also hope to place 2 carboy's in the fridge to lager through the summer as well. Any tips from people who have gone through the process??

Tom C

[batkins]

While I'm using a chest freezer and have no experience with fridge set ups, I would have to imagine that it's going to be one hellova tight fit. I might be wrong (more often than not), but they seem to have a relatively big "footprint" for a fridge. I would think that you could fit at least 4 if not 5 cornys. I was surprised at how much room 3 or 4 cornys take up when you get them in there.
Good luck and cheers!
Bill

[Tom C]

While I would be able to fit more cornies in the fridge, I would like to leave room for a couple of carboys to lager with as well.

Tom C

[YamahaXS]

FYI, the best prices on cornies that i found were at the following sites:

Brewers Discount for $12 or 22 (http://www.brewersdiscount.com/index2.ivnu?or_id=9ACDDC1E-2124&cu_id=9AQ10-L27124&st_id=rcbeqa836bcd1bb)

and a local brewclub out of Greenbay has a supply from somewhere (only $7 if you become a member)

The Rackers for $12 (http://www.rackers.org/)


I did quite a bit of searching... I could not beat these prices, mostly b/c both places are very reasonable on shipping. (read they don't charge you for handling)

Also, i looked at local places and NO ONE near me has any cornies they want to get rid of, and $40 at my local shop is way too much.

I read some positive comments about brewers discount on the different homebrew message boards like here (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&group=rec.crafts.brewing)

[BucksBrew]

I was going to start a thread about kegging, pricing, Ball or Pinlock style, etc. Looks like we are all thinking alike.

I saw on www.NorthernBrewer.com they had a set up for $115.00 for a used set up and $169.95 for a new set up.

I just bought a used system. $115.00 plus $7.58 UPS.

I'm happy with that price.

They had used kegs for $30.00 and new for $95.00.

I figure if all the fittings are crappy, I'll replace with nicer ones from Home Depot.

I guess I'll keep my bottling equipment for now, it's stinkin only 4 batches old!!!!!

Oh well, I had to convince the wife that this was a legit hobby!

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by BucksBrew
I was going to start a thread about kegging, pricing, Ball or Pinlock style, etc. Looks like we are all thinking alike.

I saw on www.NorthernBrewer.com they had a set up for $115.00 for a used set up and $169.95 for a new set up.

I just bought a used system. $115.00 plus $7.58 UPS.

I'm happy with that price.

They had used kegs for $30.00 and new for $95.00.

I figure if all the fittings are crappy, I'll replace with nicer ones from Home Depot.

I guess I'll keep my bottling equipment for now, it's stinkin only 4 batches old!!!!!

Oh well, I had to convince the wife that this was a legit hobby!


For a minute i was like crap! but then I saw that these kits do not included a CO2 tank Bucksbrew! these run at least 40-50 bucks used (they are only rated for so many years before you have to get them retested). $60-70 new.

[BucksBrew]

Yamaha, Thanks! I cancelled that deal! The picture is misleading! They show it as a kit with the CO2 tank included in the photo!

[YamahaXS]

Everything came and was in good shape. I recommend Brewers Discount for kegging equipment. :)

[Nacho]

I purchased the same system that you did Yamaha (at least I think I did). I am very happy with it (haven't used it yet though), but I don't think my cornelius came with new gaskets. The inside was clean, but the lid gasket seemed a little dirty. Definitely recommend for the price - but order up a few extra gasket sets (for a couple extra bucks, its worth it).

My CO2 tank is gettin filled, I'm pickin up one of those johnson thermostat controllers when it's ready, and I just finished putting swiveled wheels on the GE Freezer my buddy gave me (so I can tow draft beer behind me when I go out and walk the dog). Still need to add the collar and taps for the 2 batches that'll be goin in there soon.

Now if I could only get injured at work so I could sit at home and enjoy a homebrew.....


...hmmmmmmmmm

Nacho

[michaewa]

Only bottled once so I'm sure I'm getting ahead of myself, but as I filled all 48 bottles I couldn't help but think how much nicer it would be to only do it ONCE.

A few quick questions -
How often do you get your CO2 tank filled? What is the price per fill?

Can you hook up more than one cornelius keg to a tank? My question is if you had a fridge with two kegs, do you need two tanks as well, or can it be shared?

How long does the beer stay good in the keg? Once tapped? I would assume a while since it is filled with CO2 and not O2, but still probably not as long as bottles.

Is it bad form to only fill a 5-gal keg partially? Esentially I can envision a time in which I'll want to keg 75% of a batch and bottle 25% for gift giving, safe keeping, etc. Is it feasible to throw in only 3-4 gallons and still have it turn out ok?

Thanks!

[toneyc]

It depends on what size tank you get, but mine have lasted 6-9 months, at least. And they're only about $15 to fill. You can buy or make a manifold doohickey that will allow multiple kegs per co2 tank. You can even put separate regulators on it if you want to have different pressures on different kegs. The beer is good for several months. I don't know exactly how long because beer doesn't last long around here. You can get smaller kegs (3gal) if it bothers you, but as long as you bleed the oxygen off by purging the keg with co2, it should not be a problem to have less than full kegs.

:)
Toney.