How to use and reuse 5L Mini Kegs / Party Kegs for Homebrew: Bottling Day without the Bottles
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- Опубліковано 22 січ 2018
- They may not be fancy, they may not be high tech, but they could revolutionise home-brew bottling day for you. Mini-kegs, or party-kegs if you want to sound like a real bro, are a really cool inexpensive way of batching your bottling into much smaller chunks with each keg holding a maximum of 5 litres of beer. That means that if you just made 1 gallon of beer a mini keg will hold the whole thing. We'll give you a demonstration and tips of how to use and reuse them. There are lots of options for keeping your beer fresh and keep-up the carbonation too (such as the partystar tap) but these things really are the perfect thing if you want to take your delicious homebrew craft beer somewhere to drink it... Well what else are you going to do with it? Links below.
Watch our follow-up video on party keg accessories: • The Best Party Keg Acc...
Like, subscribe and tweet at me (@drtanknstein). For more stuff like this head over to the blog at www.drtanknstein.com
Thanks for watching,
Jim
LINKS:
Party Keg: amzn.to/2n1gc6G
Grey bung-cap: amzn.to/2G8qc60
CO2 Deluxe Tap: amzn.to/2DxI3FC
CO2 'Profi' Tap: amzn.to/2F5cFKZ
That was extremly informative. I have top exit style Mini Kegs which I have never used and I am going to. Thanks for your help.
LOVE IT..., Thank you for posting. A good tutorial. helps a great deal. Keep em coming.
Great video, Jim. Very helpful. I am also 7 years old, and think the black can looks cool. Just kept back a Heineken Keg Can from the holidays, since I thought it could be used to bottle my home brew, and ran across your vid. It's plumbed a little different, but I will figure it out. Saw one video where a German chap installed a tire valve stem in the top. Inventive. Where do you buy the party kegs, can't seem to find them here. Now a sub. Keep up the great work.
ik and thanks for the video. I do have one question about the manual air pump. So this will just force air inside the keg keeping the pressure high and so the carbonation, correct? Doesn't the air spoil the beer after a while? How log does it last to you?
Hey Great video ....how long do you usually prime the mini kegs for?? Plus where do you get the grey bungs for the kegs
Good vid mate
Great video! Ive just bought a few kegs to move away from the misery of bottling. Have you got a link for the valve plug and pump you use! Thanks 👍
Another really helpful video, and the questions and answers in comments are very helpful too, thanks Dr T.
I am definitely going to look into using these mini-kegs for my brews.
But tI heard that these 5L mini-kegs can only be used a few times (6?) before the lining wears away and the tin starts to rust giving the beer a metallic taste. Have you noticed anything like this?
Hi mark! Thanks for watching! My advice on this is to clean the kegs as soon as you are finished so as not to let dirt dry on. Doing this means you don’t really have to scrub inside which extends the life. Something that also extends the life is taking EXTRA care when removing the bung. In my experience, this is where the rust happens first and can really ruin the kegs. But ultimately, they do have a lifetime, I think that 6 uses is a little low, I’ve definitely used kegs 10 or more times but it’s hard to keep track as I have so many!
Great video. just kegged these for the first time. how long do you leave them before putting in fridge and enjoying?
New sub here. I agree I hate bottling . Great video!
Thanks Ian, we have a few videos lined up with a definite theme around hating bottling day so you're in good company here! Thanks for subscribing
Great idea! How to do reuse the keg? Do you trow away the cap and use a new one each time you fill with new beer? Also, how do you clean it? Thanks
Hi There, thanks for the comment. The kegs that we use in this video are purposefully bought to be reused for homebrew. If you are using kegs bought from the supermarket full of beer then you may have to destroy the cap when removing it (but it can be done with knife, screwdriver etc). Then you can buy just the reusable caps that fit right in the top and can be easily removed when the keg is finished. I have included a few links below for some inspiration! Good luck!
amzn.to/2J1KkZj
amzn.to/2PEFYto
amzn.to/2EtDNry
Jim
Thanks mate, I'll take two party kegs to a Bachelor's Party. It's the first time I use them so I hope I don't mess it up 😬
Great Videos, I've had some problems with bungs leaking CO2 when carbonating with Keg, is there a way to help with sealing the the bungs
Great video. My son wanted this for a party at his sportsclub, but I did not know if it was possible and I am currently not in the experimentation mood. Thanks alot. :-)
Great video, i ordered a setup and asked for the presure valve bung. I cannot see how these can be used with the dispenser. Never mind looks like its bottling day tomorrow while i wait for the gray bungs to arrive.
Ah yes I know what you mean. I really don’t know either. I think the pressure valve bung could be useful if you’re worried about over-carbing but you’re right, I don’t know how they are compatible. Good luck with them though, way easier to fill 5 kegs than 50 bottles!
Good video! What's the low-tech beer protector gadget at 3.35 called and where you get it? Looks like less hassle than usual twisty cartdridge dispenser thing
Hi Danny, thanks for the comment. Yeah, they're pretty handy, especially if you're going to finish the keg soonish. They're called 'beer protectors' or 'hand pump beer protector'. I don't know where in the world you are but if you're in the UK I got mine here www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/beer-protector-for-easy-kegs-1494-p.asp (unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an amazon seller in the UK), if you're in the states then you can get some pretty cool ones from amazon amzn.to/2GUyQW0 I take it you've been using these party kegs for a while?
@@dr.tanknstein7590 Yes the UK item is out of stock - I have the Party Star Hand Pump Tap - but would like to use the
hand pump beer protector like you have.
Would you know anyone willing to part with one?
Louis
Hey,
I was reading that the beer will usually go flat within 2-3 day of first pour. Do you have suggestions to prevent this from happening and keep the beer carbonated for longer?
Thanks
Hi Nick, the gadget that I use in the video (the hand pump) keeps a small level of carbonation in your beer and keeps it almost like an English real ale kind of condition. I have a video coming out in the next few weeks that has a few ideas on how to keep a really good level of carbonation in there so stay tuned!
Great video, just picked 3 of these up for bottling today. Mine also came in gloss black already, which was sweet. Just wondering what's the best way to clean them afterwards. The gap in the top is quite small...
Ah good stuff. Cleaning afterwards is best done sooner rather than later! I usually just make sure you rinse enough times to make sure you have all the sediment and sanitise the crap out of it by filling up with sanitiser. I use the tap to get the last bits of sanitiser out.
@@dr.tanknstein7590 thanks for the reply , also loving the beers of the British Aisles. Miss the selection of beers available when I lived in the UK. Still a bit limited in Ireland but use to love the Banana bread beer you should definitely do a review on that one. The banoffee smell you get as you open the cap was amazing.
I find with my mini-kegs, no matter what level i carbonate them at I just can't get the bubbles in the brew. I can only assume the co2 is escaping somehow. cheers!
Hi there! That's really strange, if anything I always have the opposite effect. Are you using the built-in tap on the keg to dispense the beer? Is it pressurised as it leaves the keg or does it just trickle out? Are you keg-conditioning?
Hello man. Should I store them in a cold place after filling them (not opening them)? If I use them after a couple of months for example, or room temperature would do?
Cheers man!
Hi Nejc, as with bottle conditioning, the carbonation will form quicker at high temperatures due to yeast activity. So my advice would be that if you wanted to drink the beer within two weeks of kegging then storing at room temp is probably better. After that, of course beer will keep better at reduced temperatures. Once opened though I would advise storing at reduced temperature even if using some of the gadgets that we use in our latest video to keep the beer fresh
Do you make a priming solution?
Hi Martin, yes I suggest making a solution and ‘batch’ priming. This needs more ‘buckets’ but it’s MUCH easier and reliable than individually priming each bottle. 4-5g sugar per bottle dissolved in roughly the same amount of (hot) water and add the whole thing to the ‘racked’ beer. Stir. Bottle.
Done!
Have you used the co2 party keg from fass*frisch yet? Is it easy to refill and replace the co2 cartridge?
Hi Michael! Thanks for your comment. I actually have another video where I run through a few of the FassFrisch accessories ua-cam.com/video/y1pqlLASSjM/v-deo.html I would definitely recommend all of the items used in this vid. If you’re talking about the PartyFass kegs, I haven’t used them BUT I did get in touch with Fass Frisch for some information. Apparently you can not refill the canister at home, I’m not sure if you can exchange them for full ones but the PartyFass kegs specifically are not designed to be refilled. I’ve never had hands on with them to see if you can doctor that though... basically, I would say that if you can bear the initial investment, go for the party star tap (in the video above) as it does EXACTLY what you want it to. Hope this helps?
Dr. TankNStein Thanks for the response. Good informative videos.
Great video! I have a question regarding the carbonization. How long do you think the party kegs need to rest after they are primed? How long should I wait before drinking after priming?
How long do you think the carbonization lasts if I am pouring directly from keg, not installing any ''co2 equipment'', I know you have to drink it in one going, but if you maybe know how many hours it takes before the beer goes more or less flat.
Thank you!
Hi There! Thanks for the comment. The beer takes roughly the same amount of time as a bottle does to carbonate (between 1 and 2 weeks). Like I said in the video, it is important not to over-carbonate as, if you're serving from the keg, the opening is fairly small. The carbonation lasts quite a while. If you leave it overnight then the carbonation will be low but not not zero. If you've ever tried a beer that is served from a keg and also served on cask (possibly only in the UK?) then that is the kind of difference we're talking here. If you don't open the keg the carbonation will last forever just like from a bottle. Hope this helps! Good luck
@@dr.tanknstein7590 Thank you for the answer!
Two more questions popped up to my mind. I just bought my first party keg yesterday. How long do you think does beer last in a party keg, for example a blonde ale, I mean in months? Do you think is possible to force carbonate beer with CO2 in party keg? Thank you once again.
@@lukasmodis2815 Hi Luka, If you do not open the keg then the beer will last basically indefinitely. I probably wouldn't leave it so long. I had a red ale in a keg for a year and when I drank it the colour had changed quite a lot. I have also had kegs go bad in the past from poor sanitisation. This is quite tough to deal with. Force carbonation would be tough I think simple because it would be tough to get a gas inlet with enough pressure to force carb that amount of beer. I have fashioned a bung myself with a carbacap through it that I plan on trying but it isn't going to be a smooth process I don't think. I have been exploring party kegs a little more recently and am currently enjoying some new stuff that I will put another video up about soon. Good luck with the keg!
@@dr.tanknstein7590 Thank you man! Can't wait for your new video. You said you had lots of problems with the sanitisation, is it really that hard? Is it common that some bacteria are left somewhere inside the party keg? Do you know if the party kegs that have the small tap reusable, I mean if they are reusable if you open the tap? Thank you man!
@@lukasmodis2815 Hi there! The taps are 100% reusable and I have several mini kegs that I have reused many times. The thing to look out for is that (if you use the type of keg that I use in the video) the tap can begin to weaken. I am using kegs at the moment by a different company with a different tap (a push rather than a twist) that seems a little sturdier. With regards the sanitation, I think that I was just being lazy. It can take a little longer to sanitise the kegs as the bubbles are tougher to remove but if you don't mind bubbles you're fine!
Just what I needed! Can you link the little pump you demonstrated?
Thanks!
Hi Gregster! Literally the only place I’ve ever seen them is here:
www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/beer-protector-for-easy-kegs-1494-p.asp
There is an old retired listing on Amazon but I can’t find any in stock even there
@@dr.tanknstein7590 thanks!
@@dr.tanknstein7590 I'll look around and see what I can find. Happy brewing 🤙
M8 what is that beer protector dont get it you didnt show how it works cheers carl
Hi Carl, as I said, it’s VERY low tech, everything I showed is everything there is to know 😂 also, to be honest, when I shot this video, I didn’t realise how rare these things were. At the time, all of my mates had them but judging from the comments they’re a bit of an oddity. Here is a link to the item: www.leyland-home-brew.co.uk/beer-protector-for-easy-kegs-1494-p.asp
Where do you get the grey removable keg bung
You can get these from Amazon (link below) or probably where you buy your kegs from?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08S3JPSSS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9N6K0Y3DY7VZJGAF6YBT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
How long does the beer keep in the mini kegs? I’ve had some success and some failures.
Hi Juan, you could probably keep it in there a year or so unopened? But once you let air into the keg then you have to think about drinking it within a few days like a cask beer. I have another video showing some products that can protect beer for a little longer and aid serving but without them you have a few days
@@dr.tanknstein7590 thank you. I did a few kegs but I reused the bungs. Some were fully carbonated, one blew and the others must have had a leak. I’ll check the video out
Do you have a link for the beer protector pump
Hi Robert! I’ve been asked this SO many times and unfortunately I can’t find any sources. I bought a couple of these maybe 5 years ago and the brew shop I got them from has since gone out of business. To be honest though, the party taps are a little more expensive but MUCH better at preserving and serving your beer. I have another video on these
@@dr.tanknstein7590 thanks I have opted to order the tap
does anybody know if you can get a bung for these that fits a bubbler airlock?
Thanks
Hi Ben, I think the grey bungs I’m talking about in the video would fit a bubbler airlock. What are you planning?!
@@dr.tanknstein7590 Thanks for getting back to me. I Bought the grey Bung that you put in the description but the hole is too big for a bubbler airlock. DOH! haha. I was thinking of doing a small batch and using it as a fermentation vessel but doesn't seem to be any bungs that could accommodate the airlock.
1. Good video 2. Please give me the duvel bottle rack thing.
Hahaha if you’re nearby you can have it!
@@dr.tanknstein7590 I live in Manchester. Willing to swap for a packet of gervin wine yeast I bought from Wilko by mistake
@@paulbate9209 hahaha if you’ve seen my ‘£10 brew’ video you’ll know I’m never buying wine yeast from there again! I’m in St. Helens, DM me on Twitter if you want it, you’ll owe me a bottle of home brew to be reviewed on the channel 😉
@@dr.tanknstein7590 Cheers. Am working on my first ever brew, will see if I can make something drinkable. It will be either called Millfield Stout or Paintstripper Stout
@@paulbate9209 haha good names! I think I might have already made a few batches of the paint stripper stout though 😉 how have you made it? All grain? Extract? Kit!
is that a clothes washing machine in your kitchen???
Yes... where else? It’s where all the plumbing is haha