Kegging Homebrew

[PsychoBrew]

I'm considering kegging homebrew - Is it difficult?

where is a good place to get supplies for doing this?

I looked online, but only found kits that use an old Pepsi keg (small) instead of a real beer keg.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

[Derekt2]

Most homebrewers brew in 5 gal. increments which is why soda kegs are so popular. Also, w/o the proper tools using regular beer kegs can be a real PITA. Why in particular do you want to go that route?

[PsychoBrew]

Thanks for the reply Derekt2 - I'm just looking to get into kegging homebrew so I'm looking into all the options. I used to own a bar some years ago and just figured commercial type stuff could be easier to get parts for. I see what you’re saying about brewing 5gal at a time so soda kegs are probably best.

Where is a good reputable place to purchase one of these keg setups?

[corkybstewart]

Look on ebay under "homebrewing" There are a couple of sellers who handle the whole setup, or you can go to morebeer.com and pick and choose wht you loke. I can promise you once you start kegging you'll never regret it. One tip: buy several kegs so you'll never run out. I use them for secondary , in reality aging, so they're great for storing new beer while you're drinking your first batch.

[gallowd7]

I can't comment on the extras, CO2, regulator, etc... but kegs.com has cornies for $35 delivered. They come clean, refurbished and polished. Highly recommend.

[PsychoBrew]

Thanks for the info guys - I think I have enough to go on for now - time to start shopping.

[HarkJohnny]

kegging is AWESOME to say the least. but also don't be surpised when it dissapears faster!

[corkybstewart]

When I set up my first kegerator I couldn't walk past it without "just a half glass" Problem was it was often the top half of the glass. After a month or two my beer consumption returned to normal. Unless of course you have roommates. But you can lso buy a tap lock to keep people out of your beer when you're not around.

[Spicoli]

I have had good luck with these guys. Adventures in Homebrewing (http://www.homebrewing.org/)

[Teej]

I went for kegging on my first batch.

I only started with bottles recently so I can think about sending stuff in to competitions for suggestions. I don't think I'm doing anything award winning...although my oatmeal stout was really good while it lasted I "had to" drink it a bit faster because I knew I oxidized it a bit when transferring to the keg for secondary.

My latest batch I aimed for a red ale but came out with more of a brown ale (too much rosted barley)...but it needs some aging at least. No problem. I used CO2 to push from the carboy into the keg this time...No oxidation here.

Teej

[DecoJuicer]

Originally posted by Spicoli
I have had good luck with these guys. Adventures in Homebrewing (http://www.homebrewing.org/)

A good friend of mine takes her evening walk right past that store. She told me that anytime I need something picked up, she can get it for me. They are about 30 minutes from me. My LHBS has cornies for $19.

As for kegging vs bottling, I am in the process right now(well, actually taking a short break) of cleaning and sanitizing all of the bottles for my first batch of homebrew. I definitly see some kegs in my future.

I have been thinking about buying a freezer for a while anyway. I figure that I can get the cheapest fridge that I can find, use the freezer for storing meat and stuff and turn the bottom into a kegorator. I also have a set of plans for a nice 3 tap jockey box, so I can take a fewdifferent brews with me when I go camping. I figure that will be easier than chasing people around to get my bottles back.

In the meantime, it's back to cleaning bottles.:(

[Spicoli]

I have a fridge that I use for the exact same thing. Meat on top and beer on the bottom. I also purchased a chest freezer last year for lagering and general beer storage. http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/demelloceramics/album?.dir=30e6&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

[PsychoBrew]

That is an awesome set up Spicoli -
Maybe when my brewing skills develop more I will build some thing like that. I was very impressed, but then again I'm just getting started in home brewing. I have found all kinds of places online to get kegs and kegging equipment - thanks to everybody for their input. This is really a great posting site.

[Spicoli]

Maybe when my brewing skills develop more I will build some thing like that.

It will all come in time and jump on deals that come along. I traded labor for the brew sculpture. I couldn't be happier with it.

[vgwillm]

I have been Kegging for a couple of batches. I bought the cornies on ebay for $14 each. I had to replace the o rings but that only cost 1-2 dollars. I also purchased a new one from my LHBS. New ones cost $75-95. My new one is 2 inches shorter but is still a 5 gallon. Some friends help finish a keg of "Pale Ale" on New Years. I finished a German Kolsch last night and moved a cider from carboy to keg around 30 Minutes ago.

The Wife bought me a new kegerator so I don't know how easy/hard it is to make one out of a fridge/freezer.

If you ask me kegging is the only way to go. It saves alot of time you can force carb and drink in 30 minutes of moving into the keg.

The total cost adds up faster up front. Co2, kegs, regulator, hoses. Well worth it.

If you have any question let me know I will try to help.

[corkybstewart]

Welcome to the forums. The expense is greater upfront, but I place value on my time also and 30 minutes to sterilize and fill 2 kegs is far cheaper than 3 hours to sterilize and fill 100 bottles. I had forgotten how miserable bottling is until my computer tech split a batch with me. I kegged mine, and he bottled his, with a lot of help from me(he's a first time brewer). It brought back long dead memories of rounding up enough bottles, cleaning, sterilizing, rinsing, etc.

[Spicoli]

I bottle for gifts and for competitions. This is not very often. At parties I just bring the whole keg. It's much easier.

[msk]

Has anyone used one of these?

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_40_271&products_id=1182&osCsid=cea4b48bd6652a6cb4f7d6efd730f1df

They seem much easier to clean and care for. They hold 6 quarts each, and use one BB gun cylinder per refill, by estimates given. While they are plastic looking and require constant changing of CO2 cylinders, they look much easier to deal with and cheaper for the first 50 kegs-worth than buying a CO2 system.

[Derekt2]

Originally posted by msk
Has anyone used one of these?

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_40_271&products_id=1182&osCsid=cea4b48bd6652a6cb4f7d6efd730f1df

They seem much easier to clean and care for. They hold 6 quarts each, and use one BB gun cylinder per refill, by estimates given. While they are plastic looking and require constant changing of CO2 cylinders, they look much easier to deal with and cheaper for the first 50 kegs-worth than buying a CO2 system.

Nope, 6 liters. Twice the size of those funky looking 3 liter soda bottles you see at the grocery store. I just got the reg and will be testing it out over the next week or so. I'll update when I can.

[Halgarmeister]

Currently I bottle into 1/2 gallon, screw cap, jugs. I have a couple gallon screw tops that I use in emergencies. The 1/2 gallons go pretty quick, I couldn't imagine bottling into smaller containers than this, so much so that I probably wouldn't brew at all if it were my only option. I don't have the space or money for kegging at the moment, but I do forsee it in my future.