Brew UK Forum | Equipment
leaking pressure barrel
I have just bought a new pressure barrel and after putting my brew in it I noticed the next morning that there was a leak around the seal of the tap. I have just returned from buying an emergency barrel to notice that it has almost completely stopped. There is still a lot pressure in the barrel and only the occasional drip
do i have a faulty barrel or should I just let it get on with it. I could always use the new barrel for another brew I suppose!
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I doubt the barrel is faulty as I too have had this!
First of all, what barrel is it? Im sensing a standard (or budget as they are called) barrel?
1.
When I first had this problem I just ran off some pints to release presure as the barrels legs (or stumps) were way off the floor and that worked.(may be not in your case as you have only just filled it)
2.
The second time was because I tightened it a bit too much so I put the barrel on its "back" un done the tap, refitted it with some vasaline (of course) and then gave it a few squirts of co2 (you wont have to use co2 as it was only filled yeaterday and pressure would not have built up).
3.
Maybe its not tight enough in your case?
The good thing about having the emergency barrel is, of course, if you do solve the problem without it it can be filled with BEER!
Hope all turns out ok.
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Nath,
It is the standard young's pressure barrel. The tap was on already, if it doesn't completely stop should I take the tap off then and lube and put it back again?
There is already quite a bit of pressure in there as I let some out by the way.
Bongo
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Bongo, try tightning the tap, you may find you can get a quarter turn out of it which you can do with beer in it.
If it still leaks then as Nath said, release pressure by taking some beer out, lie it on its back then remove the tap and put back in (with some vaseline). Roll beer back upright, add some Co2 and leave to clear again.
If its still leaking then contact the supplier.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Ahhhhhhhh, I always make sure the seal and thread of the tap has some vasaline on it to make ure the seal is good.
Before you do it make sure you try the simplest though - just tighten a lil bit more!
Nice to know its already got a fair bit of pressure in the barrel in such a short time, well done! After you replace the tap just make sure after a few days it got some pressure in it. Also make sure the tap handle is "pointing" to 3 o'clock as if its fully back it will leak from the tap sometimes.
Ta,
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Ha! Greg beat me!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
cheers guys - seems to have stopped, so am going to watch and wait.
now it appears i have another barrel though. mwah ha ha ha
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Get some beer in it Bongo!!
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi to all,
Have been using the Wilkos Budget Barrel for over a week now. Brew (Lemonade) is on second fermentation and the pressure is buiding / carbonating niceley. The original screw cap was leaking even though I lubricated and tightened well.
After fitting the Wilkos (Youngs) co2 cap it did not leak at all. I have not had a need to use any co2 bulbs as yet. I do have a couple of questions about pressure with this setup though
1. Will the cap release pressure if it becomes too high? If not,
2. Is there a simple way to monitor the pressure or should I invest in a pressure gauge. If so , any examples/photos of how to fit...
Many thanks in advance
JH
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Helloooo there!
1. Yep I reckon most valves have a pressure band on them so no probs there
2. Don't worry, excess pressure is vented if too high and if pressure is too low the liqour wont come out as fast/not at all so time for a refil!
Ta,
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks nath,
I have just spoken to Youngs and they have advised the following.
All Youngs caps have pressure release. In the case of the co2 injector, under the cap between the valve and washer there is a small hole which is the release vent.
He has advised that before each use, remove the valve and poke something through the hole (a pencil tip will do it) to make sure it is not clogged.
So, confirmation, you are correct nath but just wanted to be double sure. We had a pressure cooker back in the 80's that blew and it was not a pretty sight
JH
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Woah, I bet that was mental. Speaking of things under pressure, me and my brother put some milk in a soda stream bottle once. BANG! Never again, took us ages to clean the kitchen
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I've always dreamed of carbonated bovril. Mmmmmmmm.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Bongo - I had exactly this problem with my first brew. I loosened the barrel cap to release the pressure, which had built up to the point where the bottom of the barrel was curved outwards rather than inwards! I suspect now the release valve was blocked. Anyhow, I cured the problem permanently (so far!) using plumber's PTFE tape wound around the tap thread and a new washer.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Well, last Saturday, I did my first large AG batch (19L) with my new 3-tier setup (HLT/Mash Tun/Boiler). The HLT was fashioned from a Brupaks bucket bought from this site an old element, a new tap and some very shaky drill work on my part.
Anyway, my process worked really well, my Exe Valley Autumn Glory is fermenting away and soon to be rehoused in my new King Keg bottom tap (found it inside the bucket that I ordered
). All is well with the world.
Or maybe not - to test the KK for pressure, I smeared the lid and O-ring with vasoline. Added about 20L water and 3 bursts of CO2. Turn tap on, water gushes out like a good 'un. Turn tap off, water stops gushing bot doesn't stop dripping (about every 18-20 seconds). The drip is not coming from the washer or from the tap outlet, but from under the twisty handle of the drum tap. Now, given time this may stop but I just wanted to check if any of your good selves have had similar issues with the drum tap, and am I worrying prematurely?
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
An update:-
I replaced the drum tap that came with the barrel with the separate tap I'd ordered to make my water boiler. Hey presto:- no more leaks in the tap. I'll use the dodgy tap with my HLT as it behaves fine when there's no pressure.
Only thing is, I injected some CO2 to the barrel of water last night, it poured fine and there were no leaks from the tap overnight. This morning, however, I tried to pour water from the tap and after about 1/2 litre had poured out, it started glugging i.e. there was no more pressure. Is this expected behaviour, i.e. testing the barrel with 20L of water and 2 squirts of CO2 should only produce a small amount of pressure since the water isn't naturally carbonating the way that beer is?
Apologies for all the questions, but I'm like a nervous dad leaving his precious child in nursery for the first time (beer=child barrel=nursery, to clarify the dodgy metaphor).
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
It should last longer than that mate, and you got a dreaded glug
A glug means that air has come up through the tap and through the beer and into the barrel, get some more co2 in there and release the pressure from the valve on the top this will get rid of any air in the barrel (as air is lighter than co2). Check that you have sealed the cap properly by ensuring its plastered with vasaline, its the only way to get a seal.
Hope it all goes well!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Nath.
Thanks for the reply. I lavished (is that word appropriate when dealing with vasoline?) the threads of the lid and the o-ring with vasoline, so it should be sealed well. I guess I don't understand the bit about getting rid of air. I didn't know this had to be done. Do I poke the inlet valve with something sharp and pointy until the resulting hiss stops? I always thought that would get rid of all the CO2, but like I say my knowledge on the subject is minimal at best.
Thanks,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Yes some/all of the co2 can escape but so will the air (which can oxidise beer and make it stale). There will be a band around the cos valve, just tweak it a little untill you hear the fspttttttttt and then stop. you may need to top up with co2. After you have topped up (2 second blast - no more) leave it for a few days, draw a pint off and that will tell you if its still leaking or not.
Dont worry, I reckon you will have nailed it now!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Okay, so forgive my ignorance, but when I go to keg this beer I do as follows?
1) Sterilize barrel
tweak valve to release air and add more CO2
2) insert beer
3) prime with sugar
4) vasoline the lid and attach
5) usual 7 days in warm and then out to garage for cold conditioning
6) Once cleared, keep pouring and drinking beer until it stops pouring or starts to glug (or do I try and avoid the glug?)
7) reapply co2 from cannister
9) repeat steps 6-8 until keg is empty
10) stagger about, complain about how much you hate IT, have a small cry about Liverpool's title changes, tell your best mate you always had a thing for his sister, joke about how much your mate's sister looks like your mate, suddenly remember 2 conversations back, awkward silence, sing anything by Elvis, who can run the fastest?, ---hazy blur---, living room couch, fully clothed, coat and shoes still on, morning light peircing your delicate eyes, wife appears in doorway, you don't understand; you thought your wife WAS a morning person.
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I'm not an expert on barrels but I'm pretty sure that steps 6 to 10 shouldn't all happen on the same night!
Fermenting:
Condtioning: Twibute Clone
Drinking: 100% wheat, Fixby Gold
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Oh mate, I aint laughed that hard for ages! And yeah try not to glug oh and also try not to don a superhero suit, climb up some dodgy scaffolding while trying to get ballons for pretty ladies.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hey Greg,
Replacement tap arrived this morning. Excellent service as always. Thanks!
Currently filling a bath of water to test the lid of this barrel. Good job my wife's away to work; she just wouldn't understand.
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Right, so Friday week last I half filled my King keg with water, injected a blast of CO2 and left in a bath of water for a couple of hours and could see no discernible leaks around the lid, tap or s30 valve i.e. no telltale bubbles.
Bearing that in mind, I left the barrel filled as it was and went off on a week's holiday. Today I tried pouring water from the barrel and found that there was no pressure, just the usual glugging. I'm planning to keg a brew tomorrow so just wanted to ask the good folk out there am I worrying unnecessarily about losing pressure from a 1 second CO2 blast into a keg half filled with water after leaving alone for a week? Should I just go ahead and keg tomorrow?
One thing I did notice about where the s30 valve is attached to the barrel lid, the rubber washer on the outside of the barrel looks a little deformed from tightening of the nut on the inside. Is this normal?
Yours, looking for reassurance,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I missed this post earlier. Bazza that is very funny.
I don't think I would worry about losing pressure when its half filled with water as I would imagine the water would absorb some co2 over time which would probably explain the pressure drop.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks, Greg. Makes sense that water would absorb the CO2. Wish I remembered more of my GCSE Chemistry (or Science Stuff as I believe it's now called).
That's all the assurance I need to go ahead and barrel tomorrow. Great thing about having an infant about the house means I don't have to look all guilty when trying to obtain a tub of Vasoline.
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Okay, so 3 weeks ago I barreled my Exe Valley Autumn Gold. 19 Litres into my new King Keg. Primed with 80g of sugar and left at 20 degrees for 2 weeks. Transferred to the garage about a week ago. Tried my first, albeit early, pints from it this evening. First 2 were flat as a pancake with no head but tasted pretty good so I was hopeful. Later tonight I decided to pour a third pint. About 1/2 a pint poured and then the dreaded glug started. She stopped pouring and started sucking air through the tap. Gutted!
How do you tell when a King Keg is leaking when nothing looks obvious? Did I under-prime it? I vasolined the hell out of the lid and o-ring; so much so that I was afraid my first pint from it would taste of vasoline.
I really didn't think I'd be having to pump CO2 into it after just 2 pints.
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
That is a bit strange. Your priming sugar seems fine although I suppose you do only have 19 litres of beer in there so there is quite a bit of space at the top. I would add some Co2 and see if that helps keep the pressure up then just keep an eye on it.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Greg,
Thanks for the reply.
Yeah, I was wondering was all that head space a factor, perhaps. Also, one thing I forgot to mention in my post was that while conditioning in the wardrobe I noticed a slight hissing coming from the lid one evening. I tightened the lid a notch and the hissing stopped. I don't know how long it had been happening, certainly no more than a day or so, but given that it was still hissing before I tightened the lid I'd hoped there would still be sufficient pressure built up, after tightening the lid, to pour more than 2 pints. But maybe I just got there too late.
I'll do like you say, Greg, and monitor it over the next few days with the CO2 pumped in there. On the plus side, even though it's still quite young, it tasted great. Looked and tasted like a proper pint of bitter. Nice!
So I have 2 questions:-
1) When you shoot 2 1-second bursts of CO2 into a barrel that's half way down, how many pints should you roughly expect to be able to dispense from the keg before needing to apply more (maybe this is too much of a 'how long is a piece of string' question)?
2) For smaller batches of 19L, is there any harm in using more priming sugar to build up more pressure?
Right, there's my Sunday essay completed.
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Hiya bazza,
I reckon that hissing may have been happening for longer than you think thus releasing a lot of the pressure.
1. - Piece o' string, The quicker you draw off pints the more co2 is needed, so draw off a pint a night and you may be fine to the last few pints. Draw off 5 in an hour co2 will be gone!
2. - Using more sugar will be fine but I think the space was filled anyhoo and just leaked. Try using 100g next time.
Nath
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hey Nath,
I reckon you're right.
After I noticed the loss of pressure last night I fired a bit of CO2 into the keg, poured a nice gushing pint for myself and then left it.
I've just been out to pour a pint there now and she's still gushing out like a good 'un. So it seems that the keg is holding the pressure okay and I just lost all my natural CO2 in the wardrobe.
Lesson learned: If there's a hissing coming from your wardrobe and you don't own a snake, it's probably your CO2 getting tangled up in your shirts.
Cheers,
-Barry
Conditioning (Bottles): Sam Adams Boston Lager Clone
Drinking (Bottles): Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Clone
Drinking (King Keg): McMullen's Country Best Bitter
Posted 1 year ago by Member
just checked my barrel think there is a tiny amount of beer leaking from tap where washer is.how the hell do i tighten the tap it seems tight as hell i cant get decemt grip just the tap itself seems to spin
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I got this on 1 of my standard barrels, I would release some pressure and the best way to do that is to draw a few pints off and drink em!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
But if needed to how do you remove the tap ? as mine feels like its welded on not screwed in can not budge it at all.Its only its second day on barrel is it not a bit eary to start drinking thought it was bit cloudy the bit i sampled was quite nice.
Seriously considering cornys now but dont know if i like the idea of having to mess around with gas and finding somewhere to fill bottles etc or is there a alternative to that
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
If its a standard barrel lay it on its back with the tap facing you and just unscrew the tap - add gas (or sugar) when tap is fitted back.
You cont need to do that though, on the cap there should be a small rubber band, get a pen and push it down a bit (may take a while to find a good place) and you will hear some hissing, you are now releasing pressure and (finger crossed) it should sort out your tap problem.
Just to make sure - look at the washer round your tap to make sure its not distorted/bulging anywhere.
Cornys, IMO, are the nuts. I know its more money but I will never look back on these babys. My gas is £17 for a 13kg bottle
and that will last 2-3 cornys months and months and months. No rental fee and I just swap it over or he will come to my house - no fee - on tuesdays and thursdays. A regulator will set you back £35-40. Now I know nothing of plumbing, gas, or electrics yet I have a homemade HLT and Ive sorted out a brewfridge and got my cornys set up in another. I can tell you the cornys were the easiest of the 3!
But if you sell you will get all your money back. On enay a single corny was going for £50 + delivery. You can buy em cheaper from here!
Mental!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Cheers for advice nath.The washer round the tap looked ok i did try to remove the tap but i really could not budge it at all do they screw in after the blacl washer as there seemed to be no movement in mine either way .
The rubber band you mention is that the black washer under the brass pin where you inject c02 ?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Member
just checked barrel today have lost a pint maybe thoaght to mark barell. Managed at last to get tap off vaselined it up i put bk on and couldnt help draw off a half which came out with alot of pressure even after having tap out. Do i need to add c02?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Sorry mate I missed your last post.
Strange how you manages to draw a pint off when you took the tap off before hand, as this would release all pressure in the barrel.
Inject some co2 anyway, I would just to be safe. tell us a few things mate:-
Is it a standard or king keg?
What co2 do you use (sparklets or hamelton bard canister)
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Standard barrrel and only have one c02 and the injector that came with kit will that be sufficent?
Will say it tastys nice bit cloudy but yummy
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Standard barrel, cool hopefully the tap is re seated then, make sure that when you turn it off the handle of the tap is not pushed all the way to the barrel as that will leak, leave it horizontal.
I dont know what co2 fitting comes with the standard. Do you fill it with a amsll (5cm ish) silver bottle that you discard after 1 use ot is it the soda stream looking large canister?
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Yeah its the trow away after one kind as i already leaft the tap at 3 o'clock after you posted on another thread.I think maybe next time i will try ptfe on the thread and vaseline the washer im suprised it leaked at all as it was bugger to get loose.
Sould i go pick up more of the small silver bottles of c02 you get a red plastic thing to insert them in to insert into threaded screw lid on the barrel
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Always best to have some spares mate, you never know when ya want em! A note on the tap - make sure you dont overtighten as I found I did on a few of my standard barrels and I could see the washer bugle out at the side!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Oh and cloudy beer dont matter. My beer almost never sees past 4 weeks! (slap wrists, I must try harder!)
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Funny you shoukd say that i did find that was starting to happen so made sure i didnt go too far with it finding that happy medium its seems with the seal.
Im sure its doing its best to get me to use bottles nex time or just a get a corny.
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Member
well checked today the vaseline has worked a treat no more leaks.
I thoaght i would draw of a couplew of pints first came out loverly second starting glugging and didnt come out so well it had a whole bulb of c02 few days ago .Sould i just add more c02 as and when or can you add sugar again ?
The pint though still a bit cloudy tastes amazing never thoaght i would get that from a kit so much so the mrs said i need to get another on the go.
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Keep on using the co2 now, you dont wanna add any more sugar or it will never clear and if you add loads a sugar in the life of the brew it would probably taste as thin as posh spice.
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
will i be ok i got some gluggs when i dispensed the 2nd pint will my beer have shorter lifespan now?
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Also had some sediment in bottom of glass is this normal as its not cleared or is something else wrong?
Does the air getting in through the tap when glugging cause serious problems to the beer in the keg?Or will the c02 solve that
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Drink it quick
Seriously it will be fine.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
cool thoaght it presented a serious prblem once air got in from glugging need to stock up on some c02 bulbs i think.
Searching on the forums there seems to be lots of times where people say dreaded glug and that you need to drink thebeer fast after that happens so im confused do i need to consume 37 pints very quickly ?
Is the small amount of sediment in the beer normal then ? It dont bother me really still tasted loverly.
Fermenting:
Conditioning: Elderflower wine,Dandelion wine,Ribena wine,summer ale
Drinking: Turbo Cider/summer ale/way to amarillo/funked up wherry
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Sediment is fime and it will lessen over time as it will become more compacted and settled. Dont worry about the glug, its not ideal to get too much air in there but as you are replacing the co2 it will be fine as its heavier than air so it will lay on the surface of the beer.
Id still drink it fast though so you can get another brew in there asap!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
hi, my first post on here but been using these basic barrels for a few years now, just thought id add some info for anyone unsure bout these!
They are a bit tricky but once you get em sealed their fine, the tap always leaks from new - you do need to take it off and lube it before use then its ok.
The top cap leaks too so lube this also and dont overtignten - tighten in small movements so the washer dosent go out of line.
The CO2 injector rarely gives trouble with the valve or the seal.
Once your brew is in barrel you need to splash some fairy liquid / water mix over the cap rim and check for any bubbles, any bubbles at all and you need to resit the cap as the seal may have distorted slightly - you should prob do this after a few hours to allow some co2 buildup or give it a charge instead.
I find that once sealed properly you can get down to half a barrel with no need to inject fresh co2, as long as you are allowing the co2 to naturally replace - then I only ever need 2 charges for the rest of the barrel unless im pulling off fast pints in one nite.
You can easily see the pressure on these things by looking at the bottom "feet" - the little round bits right on the base - on a barrel with no gas these will be almost in contact with the surface the barrel is standing on - when fully gassed these are between 5-10mm off the surface. Hope all this helps anyway, just seems to be a bit of confusion about these things.
BTW, these barrels are best for ales and stouts really, i usually bottle lager, if you use N2 (Nitrogen) capsules instead of CO2 then ales and stouts come out lovely annd creamy
Cheers!
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Great first post and some great info, cheers Boozer!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
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