Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

If it isn't too late, I'd like to order 4 O-ring sets.

Thanks,

Updated order:

Lee - 1 x Grade B keg + 4 O-Rings - $26
Travis - 2 x Grade B kegs + 4 O-Rings - $46
Potts - Drip Tray + 4 x O-Rings + Star San(?) - $78 + ?
Tom B - 2 x Grade B kegs - $40
Jim F - 4 x O-Rings - $6

Anyone else interested, please respond by 9 am tomorrow morning.

16 oz.

On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 8:39 PM, DrPaulsen <brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org (brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

Potts -- Sure, no problem regarding the drip tray. Do you still want the Star San? If so, which size?

Updated order:
Lee - 1 x Grade B keg + 4 O-Rings - $26
Travis - 2 x Grade B kegs + 4 O-Rings - $46

Potts - Drip Tray + 4 x Orings + Star San(?) - $78 + ?
Tom B - 2 x Grade B kegs - $40

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So I'm thinking about taking the plunge and get a basic kegging setup (the picnic tap kind). This Keg Connection place has them on sale for $100 (ball lock) which is pretty tempting. But here's another dumb question...

If I fill a 5 gallon keg with only 2.5 gallons of beer will it still force carb OK? Even when I move up to 5 gallon batches I'll still probably bottle 1/2 to give away and keg the rest...

Sure thing. I've done it plenty of times. Just force carb it like usual, whatever your method may be.

I just placed the order. We saved $45 in S&H!

Final Totals:

Travis - 2 x Grade B kegs + 4 x O-Rings - $45.78
Potts - Four Faucet Drip Tray + 4 x O-Rings + 16 oz Star San - $87.68
Tom B - 2 x Grade B kegs - $39.90
Jim F - 4 x O-Rings - $5.88

I'll IM everyone once the stuff arrives and we can work out delivery/pickup.

Randy -- 2.5 gallons of beer will work fine in a 5 gallon keg. I highly recommend taking the plunge. Once you start kegging, you'll never go back. Even when I bottle a batch, I start by kegging it, setting the CO2, then filling with a Beergun. That way I don't have to guess/hope/pray that I got the carbonation levels correct.

OK, so the next question: The $99 kit comes with a 2.5# CO2 tank. How long will that typically last? I'm wondering if I should spend the $30 more for a 5# tank. I like the portability and space savings (my temp controlled freezer is a small one) but am concerned I'm going to need to fill it every time I turn around. Or is there a better source for larger tanks?

My 5# tank lasted for 2+ years and only ran out when I left it attached to a leaky keg one night....

If you're going to get a smaller tank, I highly recommend picking up a gauge cage as they can be pretty top heavy. In my experience, a 20# tank is almost impossible to tip over.

I have a 10# tank and I don't recall the last time it was filled. I'd go with 5# at a minimum. If you brew a lot, a 10#'er isn't that much more expensive. I think mine with regulator is around knee high.

I agree with Dr Paulsen that just bottling from the keg is the way to go. My Beergun tho is tip #4 on this page: http://strangebrew.ca/Drew/cheap.html

I have a 5#-er because that's what fits in my keg fridge. If I were to do it again, I'd either go smaller or larger. Refilling a 20#-er is about the same as for a 5#-er, so if you have room, that's more cost effective. The other approach is to get an adapter that let's you use paintball tanks. Refilling them at Dick's is about the same price per amount of CO2 as refilling a 5# tank, and they're cheap enough to have an extra for a spare. Just my $0.02.
-Tom

That's pretty interesting, I hadn't thought of the paint-ball tank option. Right now space is a real premium as my cooler is pretty small and I also use it for bottled beer and lagering. The convenience of filling is nice too, since where I live makes it more of a pain.

This would get me started fairly cheap and I can upgrade later on when I can get a dedicated beer fridge. Even then it's not wasted money as this would make a nice portable setup for beer events.

Does anyone have anything to add or caution about? Does anyone have experience with these?

Only thing I'd add is once you get it you'll wish you had done it sooner.

And remember, you don't have to keep the tank inside the cooler.  Though you do need to be careful where you put holes in the side.

-Jim

On Fri, Nov 26, 2010 at 2:57 PM, tompb <brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org (brew-equipment@crbeernuts.org)> wrote:

Only thing I'd add is once you get it you'll wish you had done it sooner.

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