Guide To Keg Forced Carbonation.

[GNU]

I've got 3 kegs to do at once with a line splitter. Does this change the pressure? Also I can't fit all three in the fridge.

 

[Pirate323i]

I dont have a keg fridge at all. (I use a jockey box) so I force carb at room temperature. (I found a calculator on line). It works perfectly well.

 

[Rocker1986]

Line splitters don't (or shouldn't) change the pressure. I used to use them before I got my manifold.

 

[TROY SWEETING]

Awesome steps thanks heaps, hoping mine will be ready to taste shortly

 

[Lord Raja Goomba I]

Splitters are awesome.

Also got the micromatic secondary reg. Awesome investment. Does lower carbonated beers on the same line and I can isolated carbonated beers whilst force carbing a new keg.

 

[Boxcar]

Also I can't fit all three in the fridge.

THAT changes the pressure required to achieve the same volume of CO2. You'll need a higher pressure for warmer keg(s).

 

[Hangover68]

Hi gents, did a search but couldnt find an appropriate answer. I have a 4l ikegger keg thats ready to carbonate using the 16g co2 cartridges, whats the correct procedure for this ?
The how to video's on their site dont really explain it.

 

[Grott]

Assuming you have a mini regulator, a 16gm cartridge will carbonate about 3/4 of the 4 litre mini therefore you will need two to carbonate and there will be enough left over for dispensing.
Chill keg overnight, connect reg/gas set up and set gauge to dispensing pressure ( say 8 to 10 psi) and put back in the fridge. After a day or so it should be empty and connect the next.
If going to " force carbonate" chill keg, connect reg/gas set up and lay keg on its side ( best to have non return valve to reg). Rock back and forward until you can not hear any more bubbling. Connect next cartridge and put in fridge, should be ok in a few hours.

 

[Hangover68]

Assuming you have a mini regulator, a 16gm cartridge will carbonate about 3/4 of the 4 litre mini therefore you will need two to carbonate and there will be enough left over for dispensing.
Chill keg overnight, connect reg/gas set up and set gauge to dispensing pressure ( say 8 to 10 psi) and put back in the fridge. After a day or so it should be empty and connect the next.
If going to " force carbonate" chill keg, connect reg/gas set up and lay keg on its side ( best to have non return valve to reg). Rock back and forward until you can not hear any more bubbling. Connect next cartridge and put in fridge, should be ok in a few hours.

Hi Grot, no mini reg just yet, just using the co2 injector and picnic tap.

 

[Grott]

I take it you have no other co2 source other than the injector. If so you need to give the keg a good blast of gas, chill and keep giving it a blast ( every hour or so) until cartridge empty. Attach a new cartridge and test pour, if still a bit flat keeping doing until you are happy with the pour. When at that stage you only need to give smaller blasts of co2 to dispense. You will get the hang of it.

 

[Hangover68]

Thanks mate, only need to get thru this fill then i'll move on to a mini reg.

 

[Brewnicorn]

Thanks mate, only need to get thru this fill then i'll move on to a mini reg.

Let us know how you go - I am looking at the 4l and 5l mini kegs for parties.

 

[Hangover68]

Let us know how you go - I am looking at the 4l and 5l mini kegs for parties.

Just having my first test now, needs some more carbing but otherwise excellent, flavour of this coopers euro lager and saflager189 yeast is great

 

[Hangover68]

Just got my mini reg today so will gas up a lager i have in the keg ready to go, also got a tap shank adapter to use untill i finish a fridge tap and font conversion.

 

[DrJez]

I just use the gas disconnect and just turn the reg up flat out and shake like buggery. I used to turn the keg on its side but I don't bother anymore.

Also, I am in the habit of chilling the beer in the fermenter before I transfer to keg. Since I normally keg on the weekend, I start the chilling on say Thu night. I have no problems sampling beer pretty much after shake rattle and roll bizzo although it definitately takes a bit to settle down to the perfect carbonation.

As a first time kegger, might I ask how long you shake for?

 

[DrJez]

Are we talkin like, the time it takes for a polaroid picture?

 

[TheBigD]

I cold crash my batches and keg at 4 degrees or less then I take them to my kegerator where my gas is and purge the air out. I disconnect any other kegs, bump up the pressure to about 20psi and rock them standing up right so you can hear the gas mixing in for about two minutes or so and then leave it sit for ten minutes to settle then repeat until it almost right or just a little under carbed. I'll then adjust the pressure down purge any excess pressure, reconnect the other kegs and away I go. I use to rock them on the sides but I find my way much easier. I'm never in to much rush as the keg needs a week or two to clear anyway.

 

[devoutharpist]

humour this new kegger. I kegged my second beer last night and am hoping to have it carbonated by Saturday week. By the time this is cooled to 6C or so, that gives me about 11-12 days to get it carbonated. BUT, i also have another beer in there that should be at max carbonation.

I was thinking maybe burst the new keg with 30-40PSI for 24 hours, then purge and set back to serving pressure/"set and forget" pressure? 11-12 days could be cutting it fine to just go set and forget with this keg as well.

 

[Timbo]

11 or 12 days would just about get you there. If you’re worried, I’d just Ross method for 30 psi at 30 secs. Give it 10 minutes to settle or just pull the prv with a towel covering the little spray that’ll come out. Then give her a quick burp, leave at set and forget.

 

[Timbo]

That way it’d kick things a long a little, but less likely to overcarb than 40psi for 24hrs...

 

[Stokesy]

I'm going to try the Ross method tonight on a 50L

 

[devoutharpist]

i ended up doing 1 24hr at 30psi then an additional 12hr at 30psi. Then back to set and forget pressure. Seems to be pretty close to done now. However, i am serving around 6C though, so i assume i needed more pressure than someone doing it at 2C or similar.

 

[Stokesy]

I normally do 280kpa for 26 hrs @ 1.5 degrees( after I've purged the keg a couple of times) but I often forget to turn the gas off and over carb them, I'm hoping I can get better control of carbing.

 

[Timbo]

Honestly, in an ideal world, we’d all have a decent enough brewing pipeline, enough kegs in cold storage and just set and forget everything. Totally understand why people opt to have huge keezers that fit 10 kegs or a second fridge for carbing/lagering.

I’d always suggest to err on the conservative side with quick carbing and give yourself an extra day. I’ve been bitten a couple of times being to eager, much more of a pain trying to correct an overcarbed beer.

I quick carb slightly under and 24hrs later it’s usually perfect when left at serve pressure.

 

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I’d always suggest to err on the conservative side with quick carbing and give yourself an extra day. I’ve been bitten a couple of times being to eager, much more of a pain trying to correct an overcarbed beer.

Yeah, I have to wonder, under what circumstances do you really need those kegs at perfect carbonation in < 1-2 hrs.

Who schedules a house party for the same day as kegging day?

 

[Timbo]

Yeah, I have to wonder, under what circumstances do you really need those kegs at perfect carbonation in < 1-2 hrs.

Who schedules a house party for the same day as kegging day?

That’s it. I tried and organise my keg setup much like a brew day. Plan in advance!

Though, it only takes one alcho mate to roll round unannounced and that’s up the proverbial....

I’m always one or two kegs behind where I’d like to be!

 

[Stokesy]

Well I tried it out, took me 2 go's, 300kpa and rocked for 1 min 20 seconds each time. I kept to the method at the start of the post and then winged it for the 50L.

I did the IPA on the left it's a bit cloudy as it should be after first kegging.

This is my preferred method of carbing now, quick, easy and no more over carbing.

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