Carbonation

The ins and outs of putting your beer into kegs.
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Carbonation

Post by Kevnlis »

I have a keg which has been naturally carbonated, and another which I plan to force carb, do I have to disconnect the carbonated keg in order to force carb the other keg? I am not sure if I am able to do that without the other connector losing pressure? I don't have time to naturally carb the other keg.
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
lethaldog
Posts: 2716
Joined: Wednesday Jul 19, 2006 11:13 am
Location: Victoria

Post by lethaldog »

If you have a simple T-peice setup to run 2 kegs then it is no problem as this is the system i run, just simply disconnect the gas from the carbed keg while you force the other. :wink:
Cheers
Leigh
User avatar
rwh
Posts: 2810
Joined: Friday Jun 16, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by rwh »

Depends on the method you're using. If you want to force carb at a high pressure over time, then you'd need to disconnect the already carbed keg. If you just want to force carb by upping the pressure and shaking the flat keg, then you probably wouldn't harm the beer in the other keg in the short time it'll take you to do that.

But really, I don't see the problem with disconnecting the carbed keg. The valve in the post and the valve in the quick disconnect keep the CO2 where it's meant to be...
w00t!
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

Yeah, I planned on force carbbing with the shaking technique. I am just a bit scared that the unattached post connect will leak at that high pressure if it is not connected to the keg.

Also what pressure do you guys recommend for a 23L keg, I know how to do the 'Ross' method on a 19L but is it different for my 23L?
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
Trough Lolly
Posts: 1647
Joined: Friday Feb 16, 2007 3:36 pm
Location: Southern Canberra
Contact:

Post by Trough Lolly »

In theory it shouldn't matter...it'll just take more CO2 to achieve the necessary pressure.

Cheers,
TL
Image Image
User avatar
KEG
Posts: 1682
Joined: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 9:02 am

Post by KEG »

Trough Lolly wrote:In theory it shouldn't matter...it'll just take more CO2 to achieve the necessary pressure.
i.e slightly more time shaking the keg, not more pressure.

you can disconnect the naturally carbed keg.. if your seals are working, it's fine.
Image
User avatar
rwh
Posts: 2810
Joined: Friday Jun 16, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by rwh »

Kevnlis wrote:I am just a bit scared that the unattached post connect will leak at that high pressure if it is not connected to the keg.
Nah. At least it's never happened to me.
w00t!
User avatar
lethaldog
Posts: 2716
Joined: Wednesday Jul 19, 2006 11:13 am
Location: Victoria

Post by lethaldog »

Nup me either, thats what they are designed for to hold preasure so disconnect and feel safe cos mine have always been fine :wink:
Cheers
Leigh
User avatar
Trough Lolly
Posts: 1647
Joined: Friday Feb 16, 2007 3:36 pm
Location: Southern Canberra
Contact:

Post by Trough Lolly »

It's not a problem Kev - I've had kegs at 40PSI plus with no problems...if your post is giving you a problem you've either not fitted it correctly or the poppet is stuffed. I used to have leaky poppets until I used food grade silicon on the poppet o-ring and now they work like a charm and save me CO2 and beer....

Cheers,
TL
Image Image
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

Should I burp the naturally carbonated keg before I pour from it or is that not necessary?

To burp the keg you just connect the gas in to the beer out and give it a shot of (what pressure?) gas right? Or do you need to let the gas out that you are burping in?
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
KEG
Posts: 1682
Joined: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 9:02 am

Post by KEG »

without gas connected, burp the keg til there's not much pressure in it, then connect your gas line, and turn your regulator up to pouring pressure. start at around 5 psi (fairly low) and turn it up or down to get the balance you need. too high=too much froth, too low=no head, beer may go flat.
Image
User avatar
rwh
Posts: 2810
Joined: Friday Jun 16, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by rwh »

Kevnlis wrote:Should I burp the naturally carbonated keg before I pour from it or is that not necessary?
Not necessary.
To burp the keg you just connect the gas in to the beer out and give it a shot of (what pressure?) gas right? Or do you need to let the gas out that you are burping in?
To burp the keg, you just open the blowoff valve (normally in the middle of the lid on a corny).
w00t!
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

Thanks guys... from now on I will not be naturaly carbonating. It just stressed me out a bit because I was not sure how to treat things in that scenario.
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
KEG
Posts: 1682
Joined: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 9:02 am

Post by KEG »

rwh wrote:
Kevnlis wrote:Should I burp the naturally carbonated keg before I pour from it or is that not necessary?
Not necessary.
are you sure? depending on his beer line and tap, carbonation pressure could well be enough for the first glass or two to be all foam.
Image
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

Yeah, I tried to pour from it with the reg set at about 50kpa and it sprayed everywhere! I am gonna let it settle for a bit and try again later.
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
rwh
Posts: 2810
Joined: Friday Jun 16, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by rwh »

OK, let me qualify that. If you are running a balanced system it is not necessary.
w00t!
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

Balanced?
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
rwh
Posts: 2810
Joined: Friday Jun 16, 2006 1:47 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Post by rwh »

In a balanced system the beer will not gain or lose carbonation over time, with the gas set at pouring pressure.

Balancing a Draught System
w00t!
Kevnlis
Posts: 3380
Joined: Tuesday Jul 10, 2007 5:15 pm
Location: B-Rat
Contact:

Post by Kevnlis »

But the gas was set at pouring pressure when I poured and it still sprayed everywhere? I disconnected and burped it like KEG said, let it rest a few hours and then it worked great!
Prost and happy brewing!

Image
O'Brien Gluten Free Beer
User avatar
KEG
Posts: 1682
Joined: Thursday Dec 21, 2006 9:02 am

Post by KEG »

the reg was set to pouring pressure. that means that if the keg pressure drops below pouring pressure, the reg will allow CO2 through. the keg could still be higher pressure though.
Image
Post Reply