New to Kegging

Chip99

Chip99

New Member
Premium Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Messages
17
Reaction score
6
Points
3
Location
Texas
New brewer here. On my sixth batch in the fermenter. Been bottling using a bottling bucket and priming sugar solution. Want to start kegging. I don't understand the steps to do this. I have two corny kegs and and a convertible chest freezer that can keep refrigerator temps. Do I need priming sugar to do this? Or do I go straight from fermentation to the keg, connect CO2, and cool? Also, does the ABV go down because you aren't using priming sugar? Thanks... Chip
 
Abv is negligible. You can prime it or connect co2 and use the chart for temp and carbonate. Basically one bottle, and you either prime or add co2. Colder the better for carbonation and how much co2 you use.
 
Josh Hughes said:
Abv is negligible. You can prime it or connect co2 and use the chart for temp and carbonate. Basically one bottle, and you either prime or add co2. Colder the better for carbonation and how much co2 you use.
Click to expand...
Okay thank you for the reply. ABV, understood. Colder the better, understood. I will be chilling to 35F. The rest of your reply Im not understanding... Prime it or CO2? One bottle and either prime or CO2?
 
If you do the priming sugar method, don't chill. The yeast won't consume the sugar when they go to sleep.

As @Josh Hughes said, it's easier to carb with a co2 tank. Set the regulator for 12-15 psi for week.

Also make sure those kegs are CLEAN and sanitized before transfer from fermenter.
 
Haha been drinking. Carb with co2 (cold) or prime it (room temp). I think of a keg as one big bottle.
 
Just fill from the fermenter. Hook up the Co2 and purge out a couple times through the relief valve.
If in a hurry add co2 at 30# , roll the keg back and forth for about 10 minutes. Deperessure and set the Co2 to about 8 # for a couple days.
If not in a hurry just hook up the Co2 at about 8# for a fey days to a week or so.
I have never added priming sugar.
 
Minbari said:
If you do the priming sugar method, don't chill. The yeast won't consume the sugar when they go to sleep.

As @Josh Hughes said, it's easier to carb with a co2 tank. Set the regulator for 12-15 psi for week.

Also make sure those kegs are CLEAN and sanitized before transfer from fermenter.
Click to expand...
Sooooo, clean keg, add priming sugar solution to keg, siphon from primary to keg, seal air tight and let sit outside kegorator for two to three weeks. Then put in kegorator with CO2 attached. That is method one. Method two, siphon to keg and immediately chill and connect to CO2, 12-15 psi. Have I got that right?
 
west1m said:
Just fill from the fermenter. Hook up the Co2 and purge out a couple times through the relief valve.
If in a hurry add co2 at 30# , roll the keg back and forth for about 10 minutes. Deperessure and set the Co2 to about 8 # for a couple days.
If not in a hurry just hook up the Co2 at about 8# for a fey days to a week or so.
I have never added priming sugar.
Click to expand...
Great to know. No priming sugar necessary. thanks.... Chip
 
If you are using priming sugar you don’t attach co2. Sit at room temp a few weeks and you are good. You will need co2 later more than likely as you drink it. This isn’t the method most people would use but it’s cheaper if you are patient or didn’t have co2

Most people attach co2 when they keg it and sit until carbed up.
 
Josh Hughes said:
If you are using priming sugar you don’t attach co2. Sit at room temp a few weeks and you are good. You will need co2 later more than likely as you drink it. This isn’t the method most people would use but it’s cheaper if you are patient or didn’t have co2

Most people attach co2 when they keg it and sit until carbed up.
Click to expand...
So siphon to korny key, seal, and refrigerate while connected to CO2 at 12-15 psi?
 
west1m said:
Just fill from the fermenter. Hook up the Co2 and purge out a couple times through the relief valve.
If in a hurry add co2 at 30# , roll the keg back and forth for about 10 minutes. Deperessure and set the Co2 to about 8 # for a couple days.
If not in a hurry just hook up the Co2 at about 8# for a fey days to a week or so.
I have never added priming sugar.
Click to expand...
purge to get rid of O2? I'm not in a hurry either so just want the easiest and best solution. Thanks for the input... Chip
 
Purging is just pulling the ring on the safety valve a couple times .
 
I've tried both.
Priming with sugar
And just CO2
The CO2 route is easier :)
 
Chip99 said:
Sooooo, clean keg, add priming sugar solution to keg, siphon from primary to keg, seal air tight and let sit outside kegorator for two to three weeks. Then put in kegorator with CO2 attached. That is method one. Method two, siphon to keg and immediately chill and connect to CO2, 12-15 psi. Have I got that right?
Click to expand...
Yup those are the two options. Co2 charge is way faster.

Also as others have said, purging the keg co2 for a few minutes will drastically reduce oxygenation, which it bad for the beer.

You connect the gas line open the reg to 40psi, open the prv on the lid of the keg and let the gas run for a few minutes, then fill
 
Minbari said:
Yup those are the two options. Co2 charge is way faster.

Also as others have said, purging the keg co2 for a few minutes will drastically reduce oxygenation, which it bad for the beer.

You connect the gas line open the reg to 40psi, open the prv on the lid of the keg and let the gas run for a few minutes, then fill
Click to expand...
Good catch, I didn't include a prior purge as I rarely open a keg anymore. Just pump in some Starsan slosh and pressure out.
 
Before you do anything, make sure you have checked the regulator connection by connection for leaks, and make absolutely sure you have the little plastic piece in the correct way. You will know it if you don't. Spray some StarSan along the posts and listen for leaks as well. Until the keg is carbonated, I would not hook up the liquid (out) line. I wonder how I know this?
My normal procedure is to drain the fermenter to a keg that is sanitized and also clean the lines. Pressure up to 30PSI and turn the gas off. This will set the seal. When the pressure falls below 15 the next morning, turn the gas back on and adjust to the 12 or 13PSI. After that, set and forget for about a week. After the week, hook up the liquid line. The first couple of pours will be the trub.
What you do after that depends on your line. I have a very short picnic tap line. I will turn my gas off until I serve enough to get it down to around 4 or 5 PSI. I will then turn it back on. You can also purge down to that point with a very small line and turn the gas on. A larger line will need more pressure. 12 or 13PSI with a small line and a picnic tap will be ok for about another week, maybe. After that, it will foam like a bitch if you leave it that high. Your serving pressure will be highly dependent on your line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Copyright © 2007-2025 Brewer's Friend, Inc. - Send Feedback - Terms - RSS Feed - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Back
Top