by Aussie Claret » Friday Nov 24, 2006 8:07 am
G'day Spongmonkey,
1. Yes you can do both, I have only ever force carbonated, the pros/cons, Force carbonated can be drunk within an hour or so and doesn't need a couple of weeks to carb up like bulk primed beer. The first few beers from bulk priming will contain yeast and trub (will be cloudy).
2. Bollox, not true will last just as long either way,
3. Fill your keg with beer , connect the gas line to the keg, purge the oxygen from the keg using the pressure release valve. Chill the keg if the beer wasn't already chilled; colder beer gases easier than warm beer. When the keg is chilled, connect the gas line, turn the regulator to about 100-120KPa, lay the keg on it's side and rock back and forth until you cannot hear any more gas going into the keg, (takes about 5mins). Allow to settle for an hour or so, then she's ready captain!
The 100-120KPa is a guide only, some beers should be higher carbonated than others eg Pilsner compared to english ale (which has a low carbonation), adjust the pressure depending upon style but 150-160 KPa would be the highest you should need. Again temperature has a big influence so chill the keg down to about 2c.
Cheers
AC
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