Classy Party Setup

[Wortgames]

I thought about the CO2 charger, it's definitely an option. It's just that I already have a whole swag of sodastream cylinders (don't ask, the folks at K-mart keep forgetting to ask me for the old ones back - I must remember to take them in one day ) and it would be nice not to have to open the case up from time to time to give it a squirt, with the fluctuation in pressure that must entail. The chargers are also about $50 plus the cost of the bulbs, which must be kind of getting close to a nice shmicko reg anyway. And it just seems a bit of a waste.

I contacted Leland a couple of days ago, they have an Aussie distributor and I'm waiting to hear back from him. They are cute little regs and it looks like they can supply a perfect output pressure - the only problem I can see at the moment is that Leland seem to be more interested in flogging their own disposable gas bottles, so I'm not sure how helpful they are going to be in supplying a reg ready to fit sodastream cylinders. Their local guy doesn't look like he carries any stock, he appears to be flogging a single product which just happens to use their reg, so somehow I don't think he will be able to solve this problem himself and the yanks don't know what a sodastream cylinder is anyway. I'll report back though.

I suppose I could always use their cylinders with the reg - they work out more expensive than SS, but probably cheaper than sparklets I'd imagine - but they are no doubt harder to get hold of and I like the SodaStream concept, given that I've usually got a bunch of cylinders already 'in reserve'...

:super:

 

[fixa]

Another option i've seen on here somewhere, is to dismantle an old soda stream machine, keeping the adaptor, hosing, and discharge button, use no reg, and just use the button to give the keg a squirt of c02.. :blink:
Hope i explained that well enough.

 

[BrissyBrew]

A round esky cooler and a right angle fitting for the soda stream bottle and your in business. I have just put a soda stream, cooler, ventamatic tap combo together, I am impressed ice will last a couple days, it is not exactly fancy like a crafted wooden box but it does not scream yobbo either. Plus I finally found a use for snaplock fittings yep pulling the tap off for transporation.

If you wanted to improve on that you could make a small folding stand, (or work out how you could incorporate one into a little trolly for the party keg, dam heavy humping it around full of beer and ice) the folding stand would allow you to setup thekeg wherever you liked, with the inclusion of a small fold out stainless drip tray.

 

[Wortgames]

I'd like to steer away from buying a cooler for this one, they just look a bit too 'party-like' in posh company. I'm trying to serve (and drink) draught homebrew among the gentry here, and hopefully develop some credibility for it where none currently exists - so I need to put in a bit of effort to get past the bogan alarm.

I'm also hoping that with the right insulation, a 3gal keg should hold it's temp for long enough to do the job without too much ice?

Brissy, what's the story with your right-angle adaptor? What threads does it have? ie, do you still need a separate SS-to-reg adaptor or is it all-in-one? Where can I find one?!

 

[tangent]

got any pics BrissyBrew?

 

[barls]

why not got the 5L mini kegs in a esky with wood panneling on the outside but along this line

as you could easily set up a flash tap and drip tray on it as well

 

[Steve]

who are the posh company gentry you are trying to earn credibility from wort?

 

[Wortgames]

who are the posh company gentry you are trying to earn credibility from wort?

Just the current lady's clan Steve. All nice people, but I fear turning up to Granny's 70th with an esky might see a few monocles pop out

I reserve the right to exaggerate of course, but you get the general idea - a classy 'beer dispenser' should get a few moustaches wagging favourably, but a 'keg setup' might be pushing it. Plus I just feel like making some new beer bling...

A quote, from her old man to her, a few weeks ago: "you're dreaming if you think you can expect people to drink homebrew at your 30th". He was horrified at the thought. Well, guess what - they drank homebrew at her 30th, and they loved it, and so did he (he probably drank more than anyone else, and finished up the night in a bit of a mess professing his love for it).

That was a party on the beach though with my 2-keg fridge doing the work. Pulling it off indoors among the prawn cocktails, stainless appliances and the crustier 'nautical' uncles (they're all commodores of yacht clubs or presidents of something or other) will take a bit more effort.

Of course, I could just give in and turn up with wine, but where's the challenge in that...


Barls, what's involved in that keg fitting? Easy to find?

 

[barls]

its avaliable from here ether as a full set or just the tapping part
http://www.northernbrewer.com/mini-kegs.html
ive been looking in to it and its about $200 for the whole kit shipped in to oz
Mini-Keg System
here is the discription
Ideal for parties, picnics, or setting up kegged homebrew in a corner of the kitchen fridge. The major advantages of this system versus our Homebrew Keg Systems (#78515, #78513, and #78555) are its compact size, portability, and lower initial cost.

To use, evenly mix 1/3 cup corn sugar into a five gallon batch, then transfer the primed beer into the four 5-liter mini-kegs and seal with the rubber bungs. Condition the kegs for 2 weeks (just like bottled homebrew) and tap vertically or horizontally with the PhilTap. The pressure from the sugar priming dispenses the first part of the keg; use 12 gram CO2 cartidges to finish dispensing. You will normally need to use one CO2 cartridge per keg, but may need additional cartidges if you let the tapped beer sit around for a while.

Includes four 5-liter mini kegs, four reuseable mini keg bungs, PhilTap mini keg tapper, and a dozen 12 gram CO2 cartridges. Kegs may differ from those pictured.

 

[Doc]

Just noticed two things though, as I guess you are in a hurry:

Please note, we cannot ship this product internationally, by air, or by US Post.
AND
currently Unavailable.

 

[barls]

ahh but they can ship them internationally doc thats why ive been talking to them, its the co2 cartridges they cant ship with out them they can. im not getting an unavailable when i look and i got an email from them just before christmas saying they were back in stock.

 

[Phrak]

Hover-over the 'Unavailable' text - it says in the Status bar:
"Unavailable until 8 gr CO2 cartridges back in stock - due approx. Jan 19"

The tapping system in that NB picture looks vastly different from the one Barls showed in his attached images though.

 

[barls]

the first one i posted im not sure if its custom made or the second tapper listed which is german made. try looking towards the bottom of the page at the mini keg system

 

[randyrob]

Heya,

wouldn't you end up with mud if you naturually carb a mini keg and transport it to a party etc?

Rob.

 

[barls]

not sure when i naturally carb my 19L kegs its only the first and last glass i get thats cloudy

 

[randyrob]

not sure when i naturally carb my 19L kegs its only the first and last glass i get thats cloudy

Heya Barls,

yeah i'm the same, but if you transport it and dont allow it to settle down you will end up with a very cloudy beer?

Rob.

 

[barls]

here is a link on how to build the one i pictured earlier
http://www.geocities.com/barleypopmaker/draftbox.html

 

[glenos]

There are quite a few guys in the US selling the mini-kegs (as they call them) and the Philtap, including Phil himself at www.listermann.com

I have been looking at them and wondering if they are a viable option.

$200 seems a little high, US$100 on the site = AU$130. Minus the CO2 cartridges plus delivery, I would think comes out to under AU$150

 

[barls]

thats includes shipping on a 10 Lb package to over here give them an email and see if im wrong. as ive already said ive been looking at it for a while and would have bought one in december if i hadnt just bought a house

 

[Barramundi]

those 5 litre kegs are the same as the ones we get here for special occasions with tooheys in them VB , ive even had on with woodstock bourbon , thats why they have they small red tap on them .... so you can gravity pour

for me id stick to a soda stream bottle a reg with adaptor($30-35) put a 90 deg elbow in it to fit it all nice and tidy inside your cooler... workin on it now in fact , hardest part is finding the smaller kegs at a decent price if you find them at all