Pub Gas Sydney?

[mjoelnir]

Hello, new around these parts. Been getting into the full grain brewing, and have a kegerator setup, currently using a 6KG CO2 for carbonation - but it's just not really very nice flavour-wise, so i'm wanting to try pub gas instead (cellamix 55 or similar!)

Just wondering if anyone happens to know anywhere in syd that will do smaller cylinder pub gas refills or sells smaller cylinder pub gas etc - currently the best option i've come across is renting a VT sized cylinder from BOC for about $30/mo + the cost of the contents (about $80 apparently). That monthly rental is a bit killer so I'm hoping there are better options for home brewing.

Cheers if anyone has any pointers.

 

[clickeral]

What do you mean the gas isn't good flavor wise?

 

[mjoelnir]

pure CO2 when disolved into water creates carbonic acid, and this affects flavor to some extent (and also reacts with some components of some drinks presumably)

Basically all pubs / restaurants etc that have beers etc on tap don't use pure Co2 for carbonation / pressuring their lines, they use pub gas instead, which is a mix of nitrogen + Co2 in various ratios - for things like guiness / kilkenny for example, 70 nitrogen 30 co2 is the commonly used mix. A more general purpose mix is 55 nittrogen 45 co2.

Various gas suppliers sell them, just typically not in easy-for-the-average-homebrewer to access ways.

Granted, there may be caveats around this I am unaware of (relatively new to a lot of aspects of this type of brewing) such as - they don't actually use pub gas to carbonate their brews, only pressurise the lines etc, but I am operating under the assumption I can just substitute pub gas for pure Co2 in my kegerator setup for a less co2 harsh flavour / mouth feel.

Perhaps I am wrong, in which case I would be happy to be corrected by someone who knew better!