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Microbrewery Kit Questions
Hi,
I've got a few questions relating to the Woodforde Microbrewery Kit I've bought. At the moment they are not Woodforde related as i'm using the fermentation bin to make ginger beer but I'd like to know a few things before I start on the rest of the kit. So...
The keg came with two caps/lids. Am I right in saying that the one with the brass top will release pressure if it gets too high as well as putting co2 in when a bulb is connected? And does the other lid release pressure too? On the instructions it says not to use steriliser on the brass (I guess it would react with the metal?) but if I'm using hot water would I need to remove the brass from the cap itself as the hot water might damage the rubber seals on the cap and valve? How do I remove the brass valve if I need to?
The part list says the brass valve is a S30 but i thought it is just a standard one. It also says the bulb is an 8grm co2 one. When I need to order replacement bulbs which type to I order? And what is the difference anyway?
And one last question, does anyone know what size the grommets are as I've ordered some with airlocks to use on some empty 5l water bottles I've got so will need to drill the lids on these?
I think thats everything I wanted to ask at the mo, thanks in advance 
Ed
Responses
Posted 10 months ago by Moderator
Right, Eddie. The 2 caps are interchangeable and your assumptions are quite correct. Having said that, whether the crude rubber band will release pressure before the tap starts leaking is doubtful. I use Sodium Metasbisulphite as a steriliser and I've never really had a problem. When cleaning either lid, take the big, white rubber seal out of the groove in the underside of the lid. Put it in something like a glass measuring jug and pour boiling water from the kettle in and leave it 10 minutes or so. You will see that the seal magically transforms back into a new one with the indentation left by the neck of the barrel gone. Leave the rest of the cap assembled. I put hot water into a jug, add a good splash of household bleach and drop the cap in for half hour or so. Rinse it, make sure the seal is Vaseline free and cooled, put the seal back in the recess and off you go again, using a light smear of Vaseline on the seal face only. Too much Vaseline and it will slip out of the recess as you tighten it and all your pressure will disappear. When you fit the cap, spin it on until it cantacts the neck then use 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn. Don't overtighten.
If you ever did need to remove the valve, you need 2 spanners, one to hold the valve and the other to undo the nut on the underside of the cap.
That's confusing. An S30 valve uses a large cylinder which you can keep on injecting CO2 with, and the other type, a pin valve, use the 8 gm "one-shot" bulbs. Have you got bulbs and a holder? If they are small, about 3 inches long, assuming they fit, order the same. If the valve you have really is an S30, you will need to get a cylinder. Take a look in the "Shop" section on here.
Grommets. No idea. Wait until you get the grommets and check them out. Getting airlocks airtight isn't easy, and it might be best to drill the holes smaller and enlarge them if necessary.
Oh yes. Empty 5.0 lt water bottles. Good move. Far better than paying £3 or £4 for exactly the same thing. This way, you get 5.0 lts of pure water to use in whatever you are making anyway.
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com
Posted 10 months ago by Member
Wow thanks for the reply, thats really helpful and informative.
I've got bulbs and a holder which from looking at the pics online are Co2. But the instructions mention turing the holder until I hear a hiss, stopping and turning again when I need to which sounds like one where I can keep injecting. Still confusing but I guess I'll find out what I have once I try to use it.
My ginger beer has been fermenting since Thursday morning and is still bubbling merrily so hopefully within the next few days I'll be able to move it to the keg to let it finish. Maybe I'll try a sample tonight though...
Posted 9 months ago by Moderator
Now you've got me confused, Eddie. If the bulbs are about 3 inches long, they are 1 shot bulbs. You put them in the holder, screw it onto the cap, there's a hiss and that's it, done with. The instructions sound like an S-30 cap, but you've got bulbs for a pin valve. Did you buy it from Brew UK? If you did, an E-mail to Greg will clear it up. His kits are described thus:
Kit contains:
* Woodfordes Wherry Premium Beer kit
* Barrel with Pin Valve Cap
* 33Ltr Fermenting bin + airlock
plus a load of other bits
The pin valve cap has a hollow pin about 1.5 mm diameter in the centre of the brass fitting sticking up about 3 mm.
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com
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