Keg priming

[steveo]

Simple question, I did a 'serch' as our old friend the Munkey would say, but I'm none the wiser. Do I have to prime a keg to get carbonation or will the gas do the carbonation for me?

[Mewshew]

As I understand it the gas CO2 gas charges or whateverthefudge that are incorperated into the keg will carbonate your beer almost intantaniously. No priming required. Certainly seems like a good option. Don't much like having to wait a week and a half after bottling before trying my beer.

sSmeone posted a ebay link to some 19ltr kegs on this forum, damned if I remember where. I was considering picking a couple up.

Cheers,

- Mew

[Shaun]

Carbonating kegs can be achieved in several ways I will try and explain each of them for you.

First natural carbonation:
This is the same as carbonating bottles you dissolve some sugar/dextrose/malt whatever you use for priming bottled beer and bulk prime your beer, then keg, seal, purge the air out of the keg and leave to mature as you would a bottled beer. The yeast will consume the extra sugar added producing CO2 that will fill the head space of the keg over time the beer will then absorb some of the CO2 until a balance is reached between the absorbed CO2 in the beer and the CO2 in the head space. Once the beer is carbonated it will take the same time as a bottle you then connect the keg up to your CO2 and use this to pour.

Next Force Carbonation with CO2:
This can be achieved two ways first, easiest, but lest accurate is to place the keg in the fridge, connect up your CO2 bottle at around 200 - 300 PSI and leave with the CO2 on at that pressure for 2-3 days. As I said this is not the most accurate way to carbonate your beer and you may over or under carbonate the first few you do until you work out your system. Once you have it worked out though it is easy.

You can also force CO2 into the beer quicker if the beer is agitated. Using a Carbonation Chart set your regulator to the required pressure corresponding to the temperature and desired carbonation level of your beer. Then connect the keg to your CO2 bottle turn it on and shake the keg. You will hear the gas rushing into the beer in the keg. Once the beer has reached your desired carbonation level you will hear the gas slow down then stop. At this point the beer is carbonated and can be dispensed as soon as it is cold. This can also be done while the keg is cold or warm and is my preferred way of gassing kegs.

In all these methods you need to purge the keg of air after filling, especially if force carbonating.

You can not use CO2 chargers to prime a keg as they do not have sufficient pressure or gas to achieve carbonation.

Example of a Carbonation Chart not the best but you will get the idea
http://kotmf.com/articles/carbonation.php

Edit: When force carbonating you do not need to prime the beer. You are forcing CO2 into the beer so you do not need the yeast to produce it for you.

[Mewshew]

Cheers for the info. Like I said, I was uninformed on the subject. This certainly shed some light on the subject, this is especially helpful as I'm considering picking up some kegs in the near future.'

Cheers,

- Mew.

[yardglass]

Carbonating kegs can be achieved in several ways I will try and explain each of them for you.

First natural carbonation:
This is the same as carbonating bottles you dissolve some sugar/dextrose/malt whatever you use for priming bottled beer and bulk prime your beer, then keg, seal, purge the air out of the keg and leave to mature as you would a bottled beer. The yeast will consume the extra sugar added producing CO2 that will fill the head space of the keg over time the beer will then absorb some of the CO2 until a balance is reached between the absorbed CO2 in the beer and the CO2 in the head space. Once the beer is carbonated it will take the same time as a bottle you then connect the keg up to your CO2 and use this to pour.

Next Force Carbonation with CO2:
This can be achieved two ways first, easiest, but lest accurate is to place the keg in the fridge, connect up your CO2 bottle at around 200 - 300 PSI and leave with the CO2 on at that pressure for 2-3 days. As I said this is not the most accurate way to carbonate your beer and you may over or under carbonate the first few you do until you work out your system. Once you have it worked out though it is easy.

You can also force CO2 into the beer quicker if the beer is agitated. Using a Carbonation Chart set your regulator to the required pressure corresponding to the temperature and desired carbonation level of your beer. Then connect the keg to your CO2 bottle turn it on and shake the keg. You will hear the gas rushing into the beer in the keg. Once the beer has reached your desired carbonation level you will hear the gas slow down then stop. At this point the beer is carbonated and can be dispensed as soon as it is cold. This can also be done while the keg is cold or warm and is my preferred way of gassing kegs.

In all these methods you need to purge the keg of air after filling, especially if force carbonating.

You can not use CO2 chargers to prime a keg as they do not have sufficient pressure or gas to achieve carbonation.

Example of a Carbonation Chart not the best but you will get the idea
http://kotmf.com/articles/carbonation.php

Edit: When force carbonating you do not need to prime the beer. You are forcing CO2 into the beer so you do not need the yeast to produce it for you.

Oliver,
another one worthy of a sticky.

[Mewshew]

I argree. This is a very helpful asessment of kegs and certainly could deserve a sticky somewhere.

Cheers,

- Jim

[Dogger Dan]

Nah

I like seeing Shaun keep keep typing it out

I didn't remember seeing it in the post so forgive me if it was mentioned, you can use a CO2 stone on a dip tube which will really do a good job carbonating the beer, it claims to be ready in minutes

Dogger

[Mewshew]

Dogger,

Just shush and tell me how to make a good honey beer. I need to know!

Cheers,

- Jim

[Shaun]

Nah

I like seeing Shaun keep keep typing it out

I didn't remember seeing it in the post so forgive me if it was mentioned, you can use a CO2 stone on a dip tube which will really do a good job carbonating the beer, it claims to be ready in minutes

Dogger

I have saved it as a word document this time. So next time it will be a simple cut and paste.

[Oliver]

As unwisely said once before, ask and you shall receive.

http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... hp?p=21484

Oliver