Ordered My First Kegs Woohoo

[twizt1d]

well im sick of bottling all the time so i just ordered a couple 9 litre kegs off ebay
i woulda liked the bigger ones but havent got the room in the fridge..

seemed like a pretty good deal @ $89 each when they are near $100 more expensive from other places
planning to use one of those big soda stream canisters, should be a pretty compact little setup

now to work out what else i need..
regulator
soda stream bottle adapter
disconnects
beer/gas line
non return valve
beer gun

 

[Steve@PMF82]

Well done enjoy the kegging!

I think you will find that the ones that cost $100 more are the real deal corny kegs that will last a lifetime.

Where as the cheaper ones you bought have been known for much less quality. Not to burst your bubble or anything im sure if you treat them with care you will get many years out of them, but you do get what you pay for.

 

[twizt1d]

yeh thats true i guess,
i wont know until i get em but from the pictures they look exactly the same (on the outside atleast)
use the cheapos to learn the process then go from there

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/9Litre-Ball-Loc...=item4cfc85f818

 

[mrTbeer]

Don't worry about a beer gun. Get a picnic tap or bronco tap. You can buy them with beer line and qd attached.

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=4252

http://morebeer.com/view_product/18243/102...r_Line_Assembly

 

[twizt1d]

something like this?
http://www.keg2.com.au/prod17.htm

 

[Diesel80]

Tones,

have you considered a 1.1KG CO2 cylinder?

Pretty small, won't need a sodastream adapter and will last 2x as long.

Not sure how limited your space is.

Cheaper in the long run than Soda Stream i reckon.

Cheers,
D80

Edit: i use the same cylinder mentioned by blakie below. Good deal @ $180 for a full cylinder. The 1.1kg i mentioned is also $180 if space is tight, and portable if that is of benifit to you.

 

[blakie21]

+1 for the bronco taps.

They are sometimes called picnic taps/faucets or something along those lines.

I use 2 at the moment, can leave them inside the fridge/freezer and give a great pour. Actually considering not bothering with other taps since they work so well.

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=4252

or

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=729
easy on the wallet too Edit - just realised it was posted above sorry

If you can afford it, grab a gas cylinder like others are saying, I got a 2.6kg from ebay for $180 and is great so far.

 

[twizt1d]

after pricing all the bits i need im seriously thinking about a kegerator hmmmmm
tempting

 

[DU99]

kegerator could be the go..only need gas and kegs

 

[twizt1d]

ok, ya got me..
looks like i got myself a kegerator for christmas

 

[iralosavic]

Mate, just screw a bracket into the side of the fridge and keep your co2 cylinder on the outside. The big sodastream cylinders are 500g. A small co2 cylinder will contain twice that volume and occupy a neglible amount of extra space. That being said, if you are so tight for space that you're limited to a 9L keg, you probably don't have room for a sodastreem cylinder + regulator anyway, which further strengthens the advice to simply invest in a propper co2 cyl.

Personally, I'd just go a 2kg+ size, so you don't need to be back and forth filling it up as frequently. Are you planning on force carbonating or only using the co2 to dispense? You should get 300L dispensed from a 2.5kg c02 cylinder, or 180L if also force carbonating. That's a good 20 kegs/case/slabs worth. Should keep annoying refill trips down.

On ebay you can find long shank taps that are designed to be mounted through a fridge wall/door for under $50 delivered. Drip trays are limited to SS, so you're looking at $40 to $70 for 20-40cm width. If it is to be kept indoors, the latter is an essential cost.

Just to throw one more spanner in the works, have you considered looking for another fridge? The patient buyer can obtain the perfect fridge for under $100. Or even for free if you ask around enough.


Edit: just want to point out that my keggerator is costing me $300 including 2.5kg co2, tap, drip tray, beer lines, fridge etc... VS your $800ish if you buy that ebay keggerator. Yours looks cooler, but my wife is still happy. How about yours?

 

[CONNOR BREWARE]

TB no one is addressing the big issue. Do you have something ready to Keg? If not get off the bloody internet and start brewing you have kegs coming!!

I went a 6kg CO2 bottle sitting next to my old kitchen fridge. all up 500 bucks for taps etc and bottle and two kegs

enjoy

 

[twizt1d]

i just bit the bullet and ordered the kegerator, bugger it its a one off cost and its sexy..
just need a 2.6kg bottle of gas and keep an eye out for cheap cornys

now that ive got the kegerator coming i was actually thinking of doing my first lager in it!
dunno how good the temp control is but only one way to find out