Bulk Buy: Real Ale Beer Engine Cellar Equip

[kirem]

Ok I'm in and voted.

 

[Guest Lurker]

Thats 10. (I was one of the aspirator plus non return valve people, not so sure if I need the valve now, also suspect I could get one from a plumbing shop). Lets do it! I'm getting keen. Especially since Fleur says I can install the beer engine over the sink in the kitchen! No more walking to the bar out the back in Winter! Just need some minor extras ( a bar fridge outside the kitchen window, a corrugated iron box to keep the rain off, another temp controller, and then get a beer engine from the UK, some disconnects, a bunch of plumbing fittings....) and I am in business!

 

[Sean]

so sorry if i confused the issue but there was once two different pieces of hardware.

There were, but the terminology that applied to each was never consistent.

it seems CAMRA are very anal about these things but who cares what camra thinks they are very over the top anyhow.

The official CAMRA line is very strict about it, but it's rather like saying that Catholics don't use birth-control. The reality is that it's long been the most heately debated topic amongst serious CAMRA members with a signficant proportion of activists favouring use of asperators in appropriate venues (myself included). We've just never managed to quite get a majority at national conference - but it has been close once or twice.

 

[Sean]

Thats 10. (I was one of the aspirator plus non return valve people, not so sure if I need the valve now, also suspect I could get one from a plumbing shop). Lets do it! I'm getting keen. Especially since Fleur says I can install the beer engine over the sink in the kitchen! No more walking to the bar out the back in Winter! Just need some minor extras ( a bar fridge outside the kitchen window, a corrugated iron box to keep the rain off, another temp controller, and then get a beer engine from the UK, some disconnects, a bunch of plumbing fittings....) and I am in business!

[post="113436"][/post]​

You do realise that a beer engine has (depending on type) one quarter to one half pint of beer sitting in it getting warm and flat all the time? Plus whatever is in the beer lines (which want to be larger bore than keg lines - 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch is normal).

 

[Ross]

You do realise that a beer engine has (depending on type) one quarter to one half pint of beer sitting in it getting warm and flat all the time? Plus whatever is in the beer lines (which want to be larger bore than keg lines - 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch is normal).

[post="113445"][/post]​

Yep, that's why I'm setting mine up for a gravity fed keg ...

 

[Guest Lurker]

Thats 10. (I was one of the aspirator plus non return valve people, not so sure if I need the valve now, also suspect I could get one from a plumbing shop). Lets do it! I'm getting keen. Especially since Fleur says I can install the beer engine over the sink in the kitchen! No more walking to the bar out the back in Winter! Just need some minor extras ( a bar fridge outside the kitchen window, a corrugated iron box to keep the rain off, another temp controller, and then get a beer engine from the UK, some disconnects, a bunch of plumbing fittings....) and I am in business!

[post="113436"][/post]​

You do realise that a beer engine has (depending on type) one quarter to one half pint of beer sitting in it getting warm and flat all the time? Plus whatever is in the beer lines (which want to be larger bore than keg lines - 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch is normal).

[post="113445"][/post]​

Yes, thanks Sean, I remember you pointing that out before. If set up as an engine, it will be for sessions (ie AHB gatherings) as the soda stream reg will have to be transferred each time. But I like Ross's idea and have no qualms about bolting a platform above my kitchen window and sitting a bar fridge on it. Those who have seen my brewing inventions will testify that climbing a ladder with a keg of bitter would be safer than some stuff I do.

As someone who knows about this stuff, do you think you could pour a genuine pub pint with appropriate head by gravity, and what tap would be the go? I still like the idea of a beer engine in my kitchen.

 

[Ross]

do you think you could pour a genuine pub pint with appropriate head by gravity, and what tap would be the go? I still like the idea of a beer engine in my kitchen.

[post="113451"][/post]​

GL,

The best tasting beer IMO in the UK is served straight from the keg via a simple tap - no beer engine... Very little head, but then that's how it should be served...

cheers Ross..

 

[Doc]

You do realise that a beer engine has (depending on type) one quarter to one half pint of beer sitting in it getting warm and flat all the time? Plus whatever is in the beer lines (which want to be larger bore than keg lines - 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch is normal).

[post="113445"][/post]​

Yes. That is why the BE I have on the way is a 1/4 pint pull.

Also now that we have 10 I've asked for indicative shipping costs, so that I can get these babies ordered.

Beers,
Doc

 

[sinkas]

OK I have voted now,

 

[ausdb]

Does it matter if you have takers for more than 10 Doc? if not then count me in please.

GL are you sure you could not rig up some sort of new liftovator device to raise the keg to the correct level?

 

[Doc]

Hey Ausdb,

More than 10 is no problem.
Ten were required in order to get better pricing and make the postage more affordable.

Having said that, the supplier uses a courier to deliver so they can track the package. They estimate 80GBP to ship to Oz. They won't do surface or shipping through Royal Mail.
I've requested pricing to get it couriered to London, where hopefully a mate can then send it on for us at a more reasonable rate.

They have offered to allow us to organise your own transport. Does anyone have any better ideas on that front ?

Beers,
Doc

 

[Duff]

Could Kook send them on for us?

Cheers.

 

[Doc]

Great thinking Duff.
I'm sure Kook would love to help out his brewing brothers in Oz.
Will drop him a note.

Beers,
Doc

 

[Sean]

do you think you could pour a genuine pub pint with appropriate head by gravity, and what tap would be the go? I still like the idea of a beer engine in my kitchen.

[post="113451"][/post]​

GL,

The best tasting beer IMO in the UK is served straight from the keg via a simple tap - no beer engine... Very little head, but then that's how it should be served...

cheers Ross..

[post="113456"][/post]​

Couldn't agree more. Straight from the cask beats a handpump anytime.

and what tap would be the go?

The simpler the better. Cask taps are robust things so they survive being hammered through a wooden keystone over and over - there is nothing complex or subtle about them. In the case of the real thing brass knocks socks off the alternatives but plastic or stainless is fine.

 

[Doc]

Got a reply from the supplier.
10 GBP to London.
Likely be around 40GBP to Oz, so much better.
Haven't heard back from Kook yet.

Looking like an order next week when I confirm costs and get payment from you guys.

Beers,
Doc

 

[roach]

Nice work Doc. Just waiting on the green light from you re the costs.

 

[kook]

Hey guys,

Sorry, been pretty inactive on here, been too busy drinking

I'm happy to help out in any way with this.

Does anyone know the dimensions and weight of the box that they come in? If you can find that out I'll get pricing on sending these via Royal Mail individually. If they're light, it shouldn't be a problem as the postage costs are all by weight.

Alternatively I could ship the whole bunch to Doc or someone via an excess baggage company ?

 

[Doc]

End of last week was a blur for me and this coming week won't be any different. However I will speak to the distributor on Tuesday to get the final arrangements organised.
Kook has kindly given his services to help us out on the postage side of things so this is going to happen.
If anyone else still wants in there is time.
I'll be calling for your dosh mid to end of the coming week.

Beers,
Doc

 

[ant]

Doc,

Am glad to have come across the post while it's still open; would love to get my grubby mitts on an aspirator.

Cheers,
Ant

 

[Doc]

Awesome. We have 14 from AHB and a couple off-board.

Doc
Roach
big d
Guest Lurker
kirem
Ross
Duff
MAH
AndrewQLD
bindi
altstart
sinkas
ausdb
ant

Finally getting final pricing tonight, and will be sending out details for payment. Geez my day job is getting in the way of brewing these days

Doc