Cooling a warm keg to serving temperature

[Growler & 1/2 Pint]

Just curious, but how long does it take on average to get a warm corny keg down to serving temperature in your kegerator? (By serving temp I'm assuming 38 - 40 degrees faranheit/ 3-4 degrees celsius)

I'm testing out a possible kegerator candidate, a 54 year old fridge and I'd like to comapare notes just to see if the old girl is up for the challenge!

My test involves 23 litres of 90 degrees faranheit (32 degree celsuis) water in a fermenter and checking the temperature in 24 hours time to see where its at

Currently the old girl goes from defrosted and unplugged to 32 degrees faranheit (0 celsuis) in an hour and a half whilst empty. I've installed a Johnson thermostat to combat this temp drop and it is set to 38 degrees faranheit (3 degrees celsuis).

Thanks for your comments and comparisons, I'd be stoked if she's up to scratch with your fridge cooling rate, then there will be a point to carting her home and up 3 flights of stairs!

cheers
Growler

Ps, I gather this is a "how long is a piece of string question, so I'm happy with an answers, rough guesses, tall tales etc...

[gregb]

I put the warm keg in and leave it overnight.

Cheers,
Greg

[scblack]

My brand new Samsung fridge 228 litre takes all night to cool a just boiled 23litre brew from circa 100celsius to a pitchable 25celsius. Thats putting in at 7pm, pitching 10am. Then my Adloheat thermostat takes care of temperatures.

Slightly different to your needs and equipment, but there is a lot of heat in a decent sized brew/keg.

[Cortez The Killer]

My brand new Samsung fridge 228 litre takes all night to cool a just boiled 23litre brew from circa 100celsius to a pitchable 25celsius. Thats putting in at 7pm, pitching 10am. Then my Adloheat thermostat takes care of temperatures.

Slightly different to your needs and equipment, but there is a lot of heat in a decent sized brew/keg.

That's a bit of strain on the fridge / you may shorten its life span - couldn't you just leave the wort out overnight - it'll probably cool quicker than in the fridge as the insulated fridge would retain quite a lot of heat.

Cheers

[scblack]

That's a bit of strain on the fridge / you may shorten its life span - couldn't you just leave the wort out overnight - it'll probably cool quicker than in the fridge as the insulated fridge would retain quite a lot of heat.

Cheers

Hmmm it is something to think about, I may try that. But others I have spoken to do the same, without real problems.

[Growler & 1/2 Pint]

considering the price of copper these days its probably cheaper to buy a new fridge than build a wort chiller

[Brewaholic]

Hi guys just wondering why alot of people serve their beer at 2-4 degrees when the freezing point of full strength beer is below -2.5 and light beer -1.5 i run my setup at -2.5 with no problems with a digital thermostat this is how the pubs get their fonts to ice up without the beer freezing. To me the colder the better

[Ross]

Hi guys just wondering why alot of people serve their beer at 2-4 degrees when the freezing point of full strength beer is below -2.5 and light beer -1.5 i run my setup at -2.5 with no problems with a digital thermostat this is how the pubs get their fonts to ice up without the beer freezing. To me the colder the better

Beer served at -2c has no flavour. Why on earth would you craft a beer to drink at those temps??
I serve my beers at apprx 8c, but allow my ales to warm up in the glass to approx 12c.
But guess it's all down to personal preference, & the cold will certainly make a poor beer more drinkable.

cheers Ross

[Schooner]

Just curious, but how long does it take on average to get a warm corny keg down to serving temperature in your kegerator ?

An empty fridge with 1 corny put in at room temp. in summer =
24 to 36 hours is my estimate, my fridge's are 20+ years old.

With an already chilled keg and adding a second = 24 hours is pushing it but it is drinkable.

Soon to upgrade, but my 2nd keg is in at least 2 weeks before I crack it .

p.s. hello from another aussie and yank

[Brewaholic]

Hey ross hows it goin in ireland with the guiness?!! i understand what you say about flavor but ive found if kegged beer isnt at least at 3 degrees it will pour pure head and i rekon if (correct me if im wrong) you might aswell be drinking red wine if you like your drinks served at 12 degrees

[Growler & 1/2 Pint]

When they made 'em back in the day they made them look cool and really made 'em to last. My test of a 23 litres of water in a fermenter proved the old girl can still cut it after 53 years! After 24 hours the liquid temperature dropped to a respectable 5 degrees celsuis (41 F) and after 48 hours was holding at 2 degrees celsius (36 f) with the motor cycling on for about 12 minutes in every hour.

Now I just have to feel the pain of carting the extremely heavy beast up three flights of stairs! Anyone know of a good phsyiotherapist or back specialist in the Austin area?

[Ash]

Hey ross hows it goin in ireland with the guiness?!! i understand what you say about flavor but ive found if kegged beer isnt at least at 3 degrees it will pour pure head and i rekon if (correct me if im wrong) you might aswell be drinking red wine if you like your drinks served at 12 degrees

I've got a Coopers Sparkling in the keg at the moment at a slightly higher temp than Ross as I've got a lager brewing in the fridge & it's in the diacetyl rest stage - just turn the pour pressure down & it still works fine.

Also with the lower pressure (like 4psi) I can squirt with a pluto gun & get a kilkenny/guinness like rising effect out of this brew (which isn't that higher gravity, 1008)

I think Ross is spot on & perhaps you should broaden your horizons a little.

[Brewaholic]

I have no problem with people drinking warm beer i just dont like it personally! Isnt that what forums are about voicing personal opinions? My tastes may also be carried on from the VB days where you just about spew up the last warm mouthfull

[Ash]

each to his own of course, I just think you're possibly missing out if your only "warm beer" experience is with VB & the like.

Turn down the pressure & give it a go some time, you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Growler & 1/2 Pint]

I definitely agree, each to his or her own in regards to serving temperature, personal preference is just that. Although having said that I must admit every time I come back home I rejoice when a new microbrewery has opened (I'm from Perth) but lament that the majority of Australian beer is served too cold and too gassy.

[Ross]

Hey ross hows it goin in ireland with the guiness?!! i understand what you say about flavor but ive found if kegged beer isnt at least at 3 degrees it will pour pure head and i rekon if (correct me if im wrong) you might aswell be drinking red wine if you like your drinks served at 12 degrees

Haven't been to Ireland for 20 years??
If your kegged beer pours pure foam above 3 degrees, then i'm guessing you have your beer carbonated to the max as well. If you ever get to Brizzy, you are welcome to stop by to try a warm flat beer I'm sure we can get you appreciating beer with taste
As i said before, not knocking those that like it cold & fizzy, don't mind one occaisionally myself...

cheers Ross

[Brewaholic]

No worries ross although being from vic i rekon if i was in brizzy i would want my beer even colder! thinking bout making another trip up to frazer soon actually.