Sorry Another Keg Question

[blakie21]

Hi guys

I tried the 'Ross method' of carbonating but with the gas in the IN port and rolling on its side.
I did this a couple of times, once for the 50 seconds and again for around 30.

After the first time I realised that my regulator would simply return to zero pressure once I switched off the gas at the reg. I do have a non return valve would this be causing it?

I poured a beer after the first and it was pretty much all froth but very flat, after the second time it was all froth again but this time it was slightly more carbonated.. but still not how I would like it.

I am using a bronco tap with curly hose and I think maybe it doesn't have a long enough line length? (although most threads seem to suggest they are good).
I have set the regulator to around 130 kpa and left it to cool down a bit again (got to around 6 deg after messing around). I set to around 30-40 kpa for pouring.

Should I be leaving the pressure on still?
Does anyone know why my regulator returns to zero pressure not the 140-160?

Next time I might just set and forget but I figured I would try my first kegged beer tonight.. can you blame me?

Cheers guys, ANY advice would be appreciated and i apologise if you are repeating yourself but I did quite a few searches.

 

[bignath]

mate, of course your regulator will return to zero if you turn the gas off when you're force carbonating..Assuming the keg is cold, it will absorb all of the remaining gas in the lines after you turn off your bottle...

Turn the bottle back on and the high pressure guage will jump back up to where it was while you were carbonating. Perfectly normal.

If you didn't "burp" (release built up pressure) between shaking/rocking/rolling the keg the first and second times, you're getting signs of overcarbonation.

Every one has there own methods and thought's on carbing kegs and this is usually dependent on their system, and learning it's little idiosyncracies, BUT here is what i do.

1. Chill full keg.
2. Connect to gas, crank pressure up to 200 (not sure of the unit's but it's a micromatic regulator)
3. Shake for 60seconds at a rate of just over once per second (i'm a drummer, so timing is easy for me. Have actually thought of carbing using a metronome....)
4. Turn gas bottle off, and continue to shake until all gas in lines is absorbed.
5. Walk away for 15mins.
6. Burp keg.
7. Repeat steps 1-6.
8. Burp keg again.
9. Drop regulator back to serving pressure.
10. Pour yourself a beer.

EDIT: as to whether you should leave the gas on or not, that's up to you. I turn mine off, as i have two young kids and would rather lose a batch of beer, than lose a batch of beer plus a bottle of gas if one of the little critters pull's on my taps. Actually, it's not so much mine i'm worried about, it's the kids of other families that we socialise with that really worry me.

 

[kymba]

... can you blame me?

nah mate, everyone has done this - and i still continue to do it (not that that means anything)

have one for breakfast, if it still not to your liking then crank it to 240kpa until lunch time, then burp it and see if it is any better

if i need a fix before my kegs are ready i will turn the reg up to 300kpa, give it a few shakes then turn gas off at the bottle. then i'll keep rocking the keg and if it will accept more gas you will see the needles on the reg move...first the bottle pressure will reduce to nothing, then the keg dial will slowly with each shake drop closer to zero. if it doesn't do this it is overcarbed

good luck

edit: beaten by nath - and his advice sounds better than my offering

 

[milob40]

i started using the in post and tipping keg on its side but could never quite get
the right carbonation.
i now have a "beer out" fitting on a line splitter with about 3 mtrs of beer gas line before the fridge.
works a treat 1 1/2 mins shaking at 300kpa,
when i turn off the gas and keep shaking about 1min 20secs it settles at about 160kpa. leave it for 5 mins then burp it in 3 or 4 small stages.then hook up to the tap and gas line

 

[blakie21]

I think this was a combination of things. I still notice my gas pressure drops to zero.. I thought once carbed it would sit at 140-160? Anyway it is carbed up nicely or at least carbed compared to the first pour.

I did vent between force carbing. I think being afraid to open the faucet completely due to the intense foaming caused more foaming. When opened fully it poured well with just a little too much head (being a hefe this is not a bad thing really)

Still incredibly confused but getting there. I have a science background and still found it a bit hard to get my head around! Really should know this stuff haha.

I assume after having the pressure up high (130 kpa for carbing up) you have to vent it and then repressurise to 30kpaish for pouring?

I think I will have to get a beer line which connects to my JG fitting with the gas hose. Also is there any need for a longer gas line? mine is only around 1m, or is it just easier with a longer line to roll etc.

Cheers guys.

Edit - I just realised... reading the force carbing guide it says turn off at the reg, doesn't that mean the reg vents the pressure.. so will switching off at the bottle mean the reg will drop to 140-160 like it should?

 

[seemax]

forcing carbing and drinking within an hour takes a bit of practice!! much simpler to force carb (easiest through beer out)... then leave it overnight, burp completely and gas to serving pressure

if in a hurry i usually shake for 45secs at high pressure, bottle off, shake another 45secs to continue CO2 absorption... leave it 10mins and burp gently
then i pressurise to around 15psi (on the low side)... test pour.. adjust pressure as needed

i never leave the gas on full time... if it pours slow i give it a hit back up to 15-20psi and repeat as needed until kegs empty

 

[bignath]

I assume after having the pressure up high (130 kpa for carbing up) you have to vent it and then repressurise to 30kpaish for pouring?

yep. Every one will have their own opinion on the exact pressure to use based on preference but, in my post earlier, i was gonna mention that step 8 is critical.

If you don't burp the keg before dropping regulator pressure, you'll end up with beer flowing backwards up your gas line and into your regulator. Not a pretty occurence, believe me i've done it, and had to pull the regulator apart to clean it out. That was 6 months after i flooded my regulator, and i thought i'd pushed all the beer back into the keg with pressure, but you should have seen the amount of rusty crap that fell out of the reg when i opened it up. I nearly vomited everywhere...

That is why it's a good idea to install a non return valve in your gas line. It's a one way valve, that allows gas to pass through it, but won't allow anything back the other way. Very good insurance.