Brew UK Forum | Equipment
Priming pressure barrels - secondary fermentation or safety valve problem?
Hi all
I'm sometimes having trouble with getting a good pressure from the secondary fermentation. My latest brew (Great Eastern Ale) is already requiring CO2 despite only 3 or 4 pints drawn off, yet the last one (in a different barrel) is already almost finished and hasn't required any CO2 at all. I prime with 2.5oz granulated sugar dissolved in a cup of boiled water. Last night I wanted a pint of the new brew and needed to inject gas. My barrel uses the little "Sparklets" style bulbs and when I used one I noticed at least half of the contents escaped via the barrel safety valve; this has happened in the past as well.
My question is - did the secondary ferment not work, or is the safety valve faulty? I have a suspicion that the last brew that required gas was in the same barrel which suggests the valve problem but does anyone have any experience that might help please? And would I be better off with the large gas cylinders? Last time I had this problem I needed 8 gas bulbs to get all the beer out!
Cheers
O
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Hi Otto, you might need to tighten the nut on the back of the valve. If you take the cap off then get a spanner on the nut on the back of the brass valve, hopefully this will sort it out.
Replace the cap, add some co2 and see if its better.
S30 (large cylinders) are more value in the long run but you will need to change the valves etc. You also need to be able to get the refills so may not be the best option.
Regards
Greg.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Greg, I just tried that. It was pretty tight but I managed to geta spanner on it. I added another bulb and there still seemed to be some gas escaping through the valve. I could hear the gas entering the barrel for a few seconds, then there was a noticeable hiss. Am I right in thinking the valve is basically just the cylindrical rubber ring that covers the pinhole below the threaded boss?
My other barrel will expand to the point where the concave base pushes out quite noticeably, but this one doesn't.
The large CO2 cylinders are hard to get now are they? It's many years since I did any brewing and they were standard issue at that time. Elf'n'safety, I'll bet!
Thanks
O
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Hi Otto, no the large gas cylinders are easy to get hold of. You can find them here.
Sounds like you may have a dodgy valve on that one.
Contact the supplier and see if they will replace it.
Regards
Greg.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Greg, I'm thinking it must be the valve too. I just need to decide whether to replace like with like or change to the larger (S30?) type.
Thanks for your help!
O
Posted 1 year ago by Member
By way of a follow up, I got a new valve assembly, reprimed, and a few days later the beer has cleared again and I've been able to draw off a few pints without trouble. So fingers crossed but so far the problem seems to be solved
Regards
O
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Good stuff Otto. Fingers crossed.
Fermenting:
Conditioning:Pale with Styrians
Drinking:Cascade Pale Ale, Summer Lightning
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Still plenty of pressure so all seems to be fixed
O
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Alllllrigghhhtttt!
Conditionin' - LEB Pale
Conditionin' - Thwaits Nutty Black
Plannin' - A user upper!
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