Show Us Your Beer Engines

[Batz]

I bought check valves and aspirators and have never fitted them. For me the beer engine is for parties where it will all be drank in one night, and up until now that's just what has happened.

Batz

 

[winkle]

I bought check valves and aspirators and have never fitted them. For me the beer engine is for parties where it will all be drank in one night, and up until now that's just what has happened.

Batz

It gets dangerous when there's only two of you at the party .

 

[Batz]

It gets dangerous when there's only two of you at the party .

I'm going to put my Hobgoblin in two 9lt kegs for that exact reason. I want to get stuck into them over Xmas, I'll have my sons here to help out.

Batz

 

[Thefatdoghead]

I bought check valves and aspirators and have never fitted them. For me the beer engine is for parties where it will all be drank in one night, and up until now that's just what has happened.

Batz

Yeah I reckon thats the go. Parties and special occasions etc and just polish off a keg i a day or whatever. Although if you ever wanted to sell your aspirator i'll buy it.

 

[markymoo]

Gents,

How do you keep the cylinder at a decent temperature?

I live in Perth and was going to mount my hand-pull on the side of my fridge, for continuous use, but really the 1/4pint in the cylinder is going to sit there getting manky between sessions.

Or do you guys only get the engine out for special events and give them a clean out the day after before "storage'?

Or is it that you just don't care about the first 1/4pint and go from after that one has been cleared?

Markymoo

 

[Batz]

Gents,

How do you keep the cylinder at a decent temperature?

I live in Perth and was going to mount my hand-pull on the side of my fridge, for continuous use, but really the 1/4pint in the cylinder is going to sit there getting manky between sessions.

Or do you guys only get the engine out for special events and give them a clean out the day after before "storage'?

Or is it that you just don't care about the first 1/4pint and go from after that one has been cleared?

Markymoo

I put mine in a plastic rubbish bin with one bag of ice, it's possiably a bit cold for the style.....but hell it's Australia here.
Cleaning I just pump water through it then a bit of PBW and let that sit, then flush with water again.
My beer engine is defiantly a special event thing....as Winkle said, two or more brewers.

Batz

 

[Wolfy]

Nice and shiny too . I'll polish mine up when I get the chance. I have made a sort of American amber with 1469 for the christening so should be a good day. I didn't think it would last more than 2 day without getting oxidised let alone 2 weeks? Just what I assumed is all.

Actually it's not, but the Brasso that I got from mum had not been used for so long it had solidified and I didn't buy more to shine it up before the wedding.

 

[Jez]

Gents,

How do you keep the cylinder at a decent temperature?

I live in Perth and was going to mount my hand-pull on the side of my fridge, for continuous use, but really the 1/4pint in the cylinder is going to sit there getting manky between sessions.

Or do you guys only get the engine out for special events and give them a clean out the day after before "storage'?

Or is it that you just don't care about the first 1/4pint and go from after that one has been cleared?

Markymoo

Fit a john guest valve via t-piece to your beer line. Disconnect the beer line from keg and open the valve when you pull your last pint and you'll pull air thru and empty most of the beer from the line into your glass. It works well.

Jez

 

[keifer33]

Damn you people with Beer Engines. I told myself I really don't need one but I am doubting this now.

 

[winkle]

Gents,

How do you keep the cylinder at a decent temperature?

I live in Perth and was going to mount my hand-pull on the side of my fridge, for continuous use, but really the 1/4pint in the cylinder is going to sit there getting manky between sessions.

Or do you guys only get the engine out for special events and give them a clean out the day after before "storage'?

Or is it that you just don't care about the first 1/4pint and go from after that one has been cleared?

Markymoo

This-

Or do you guys only get the engine out for special events and give them a clean out the day after before "storage'?

 

[Thefatdoghead]

Well im a VERY happy man! I just racked this American amber with 1469 to the keg and let sit for the day while I brewed but the engine got the best of me so I just had to try it. I thought the beer would be to green but oh how I was wrong it's a cracker and tastes even better through the engine :beerbang:



It's really strange how the beer tastes so different from the engine as apposed to straight from the fermentor valve or beer tap.

 

[adryargument]

Well im a VERY happy man! I just racked this American amber with 1469 to the keg and let sit for the day while I brewed but the engine got the best of me so I just had to try it. I thought the beer would be to green but oh how I was wrong it's a cracker and tastes even better through the engine :beerbang:

View attachment 58995

It's really strange how the beer tastes so different from the engine as apposed to straight from the fermentor valve or beer tap.

Was that engine from fleabay or something similiar? i remember seeing it at one point
Trying to find one now that does not cost $120 pound shipping.

 

[Thefatdoghead]

Was that engine from fleabay or something similiar? i remember seeing it at one point
Trying to find one now that does not cost $120 pound shipping.

No. My wife is a pom so Iv'e got good connections with free shipping when the mother in-law visits. Always getting glasses and beers. Cost me 90 pounds all up. It has a jacket for cooling which will come in handy in this despicable heat!

 

[adryargument]

No. My wife is a pom so Iv'e got good connections with free shipping when the mother in-law visits. Always getting glasses and beers. Cost me 90 pounds all up. It has a jacket for cooling which will come in handy in this despicable heat!

If i buy your mother in law a beer will i be able to get my beer engine on too?

 

[Batz]

If i buy your mother in law a beer will i be able to get my beer engine on too?

Always getting glasses and beers.

Buy the mother in law, I'll go you halves as long as she lives with you.

 

[adryargument]

Buy the mother in law, I'll go you halves as long as she lives with you.

Shes English, i don't have that much loose change.

 

[Thefatdoghead]

If i buy your mother in law a beer will i be able to get my beer engine on too?

Mate I had to marry her daughter to get her to bring one back so good luck with the beer

 

[np1962]

Adelaide brewers get together featured 5 Beer Engines on Saturday night.

 

[Cortez The Killer]

Nice!

 

[Batz]

IMG_0679.JPG

Adelaide brewers get together featured 5 Beer Engines on Saturday night.

That is impressive, well done guys.

 

[cdbrown]

Batz - any chance you might want to sell your aspirator? After getting the right fittings I hooked mine up and unfortunately had to quickly disconnect as it leaked gas. Seemed to have damaged the black seal that's under the plastic cap. I've hooked up my 2 engines on the beer side but need to sort out the tubing better (reduce the length) and also put some clamps on the silicone hose where it connects to the demand valve as it's only a stem connection rather than barb.

 

[Batz]

Batz - any chance you might want to sell your aspirator? After getting the right fittings I hooked mine up and unfortunately had to quickly disconnect as it leaked gas. Seemed to have damaged the black seal that's under the plastic cap. I've hooked up my 2 engines on the beer side but need to sort out the tubing better (reduce the length) and also put some clamps on the silicone hose where it connects to the demand valve as it's only a stem connection rather than barb.

No I think I'll hang onto it, I'm just as likely to use it one day.

Batz

 

[leahy268]

So anyway saw this thread the other day and showed SWMBO a picture of a beer engine.
She commented 'oh that's cool' which I'm going to liberally interpret as 'You can commence purchase'.
So I have a couple of questions for everyone.

1. Where would I look to buy a cask? Probably not the would kind (Too much maintenance)..
2. I have a mate that regularly travels to England (Previously lived there). He often goes back for a week or so. He would happily bring one back for me in his suitcase.
Might cost me a few pints but that would be easy.
Ebay the best location to buy from?
Any pitfalls?

Every few years my extended family get together for Easter or Christmas or something. Would love to be able to put on a cask conditioned ale for a gathering like that.
Would rather enjoy putting a cask on for a fair few other occasions as well come to think of it.

I look forward to hearing from those that use them currently.

 

[CosmicBertie]

Plastic, collapsible water carrier, with a couple of hose pipe connectors to allow for quick connecting/disconnecting. Works a treat and you dont have to worry about aspiration of the 'keg'.

 

[leahy268]

Plastic, collapsible water carrier, with a couple of hose pipe connectors to allow for quick connecting/disconnecting. Works a treat and you dont have to worry about aspiration of the 'keg'.

Tempted to try that one for a start of course. How does everyone find them. Earlier reports were talking about leaking and so forth.

But say I did oneday want to make a 'real' cask of ale up does anyone have a source for them?

 

[Innes]

As I don't have a bar at home to attach my beer engine to, I went down the path of designing and constructing a purpose built stand.

The initial design started out being a simple stand to hold the beer engine at a comfortable height, but over time it evolved (as all these projects tend to do) into an enclosed stand which not only held the keg, but also kept it cool.

The stand is made from aluminium square tubing and aluminium plate, welded, riveted and sealed





The top is made from laminated hardwood benchtop which I treated with a food grade wood oil



Into the back of the stand, I installed a thermoelectric cooling unit form an old cooler bag. It runs on 12V DC and has a plug pack wall adaptor. The specs say it can cool down to 20°C below ambient, but I intend using it to maintain the temperature of the keg, rather than cooling the keg from warm.



The cooling unit will also keep all the lines and the beer engine cylinder cool as well. I still need to line the inside with some insulation foam. The stand is big enough to fit a standard cornie keg.



The stand now takes pride of place next to the beer fridge.

 

[wakkatoo]

Nice piece of kit Innes, really like it. Well done.

 

[chillamacgilla73]

Gday Leahy

I was in uk in June/July this year and bought a reconditioned angram CQ model delivered to inlaws in london for ~$230. Exchange rate took a dive since I bought it but even still, depending your budget, I'm of the belief if the manufacturer has rebuilt the unit it must be good quality. So far so good.

Cosmic Bertie-I'm liking the collapsible water carrier idea...I've been trying to order all the plumbing and aspirator NRV etc but this is such a practical idea I'm thinking give it a crack.

Cheers

 

[BPH87]

What is the difference between the CQ model and the clamp on model?

Going to Europe for a month tomorrow and was going to post a few home.

 

[chillamacgilla73]

What is the difference between the CQ model and the clamp on model?
Going to Europe for a month tomorrow and was going to post a few home.

They are heavy 6-7kg....dunno if I'd post them home.
CQ pump mechanism is integrated into the unit wheras the CO has the handle drive the pump via linkages. Don't know if that's the correct lingo but the CQ uses the handle to drive the pump internally as opposed to driving the pump through linkages n what not.

Excuse non technical speak....not my forte.

Check the Angram website
CO http://www.angramltd.com/shop/products/hand-pumps/clam-on-hand-pump.html
CQ http://www.angramltd.com/shop/products/hand-pumps/model-cq-hand-pump.html