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Cheap Keg
A cheap keg for secondary fermentation and dispensation. | |
This is half built and lying on the floor, waiting for the stores to reopen tomorrow so that a proper coupler for the air input valve can be purchased.
This is a cheap keg for homebrewed beer. It consists of four main parts. The first is a bucket with a firmly sealing lid, a brew bucket would suffice.
The second part is a valve that can be used as a tap, a combination of a valve, bulkhead and a nozzle fitting can be used. The third part is a rugged plastic bag that will not tear easily and the fourth is an air input valve, such as the valve off of an old bicycle innertube. A hand pump will be required.
First, cut a hole in the bucket for the tap. On most brew bucket lids there is a hole for the airlock which will suffice. Then, bore a hole in the opposite end of the keg and insert the air input valve (adhesive may not work and a threaded one may be required). Finally insert the bag and hang the excess length over the edges of the bucket. Close the lid so that it is airtight.
After the primary fermentation in the carboy, siphon the beer into this keg, add priming sugar and seal the lid shut. Use the hand pump to purge the air from the bag. Allow several weeks (or days) for conditioning. When the ale has been satisfactorily conditioned, use the hand pump to pressurize the vessel further, and dispense the frothy goodness.
Ziploc Big Bags
http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b8
for sale on amazon & elsewhere presumably [iron_horse, Dec 15 2007]
The elusive connector
http://www.sodapart.../images/bibcoke.jpg
[rcarty, Dec 17 2007]
[link]
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It's so long since I've homebrewed that I don't understand what you're talking about. Wish I did. |
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Anyway, I always bun people who've invented something new and then built it. Especially if it works. |
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I just invented "the hose-pipe of
destiny" - can I have a piece of cake
now please? |
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Let us know how it comes out. + |
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It looks pretty good. We tested it with water and the compression on the bag of water that was used, had a good result. The problem is finding sturdy 5 gallon plastic bags, but a contractor grade garbage bag was used. It bunches up a lot when the volume of air is squeezed out of it and we are worried it will block the liquid output, but the extra slack is necessary to ensure all the air is squeezed out. Even if there are pressure leaks it will work fine as long as no air leaks in. |
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I'll update on how it stores and dispenses beer. |
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Try a bag for the soda syrup from a drink dispenser. They are pretty sturdy and they come in 5 gallon sizes. You could probably have a fast food restaurant hold one for you. |
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What's the point of the bag exactly? |
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The bag holds the beer. The bucket holds the bag of beer and air that is pumped it. As a volume of beer is withdrawn for consumption, additional air is pumped into replace that volume, without actually pumping air into the beer, which would ruin it. |
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I would've thought that the pressure would pop the lid from most any plastic pail - do you have a special means to hold the lid on?
Not a big fan of plastic (esp. non-food-grade) in contact with beer, but I am a purist in that dept.
Bun if it works! |
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Any thoughts on proof-testing to see if holds the pressure? Also, a safety relief valve might be an idea. The force pushing the lid off is approx 100 pounds per PSI of beer pressure. Might be an unpleasant surprise if it pops unexpectedly. |
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Could you do this in a 20 litre metal paint bucket, with the locking lid ring that they come with? |
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Can't you just use readily avaliable minikegs or polypins which are both cheap and serve this purpose? |
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[i_h], still searching for a suitable food grade bag that is suitable. I'm not pouring beer anywhere near a garbage bag, let alone into one. The pressures are around 10 - 15 psi, brew buckets have tight fitting lids that are meant to be airtight. [custard] We bought the valves at a hydraulic and pneumatic fittings company (for diesels) and they offered some of their used grease drums. Too greasy though. [w_f_r], minikegs are generally used when the beer is going to be consumed in a single raucous night of depravity, they generally use air pumped directly into the beer which causes it to spoil rapidly. Polypins might not be reusable, the wine-in-a-box which I'd regrettable consumed was not reusable. |
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Googled "food grade plastic bag"... Ziploc Big Bags (link) - they are available in a 2 feet x 2.7 feet size.. so that that should fill a bucket of up to 15" diameter x ~30" . Ziploc doesnt say that they are food grade or not but I guess they're the same as their food bags. |
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As for the pressure issue, I noticed that some plastic buckets have lids with flanges that have to be cut to remove the lid (these often have screw-top spouts and can be found empty but with intact lids). These might hold the pressure, although I personally would be afraid of the half-ton or so of force pushing that lid off. The base of the bucket might also rupture. |
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Maybe an empty 20-lb or 40-lb propane tank might be a safer bet? They are commonly available for free. Unscrew the valve and feed the bag in through the opening. Drill a hole in the side of the tank and use a schraeder valve from a car wheel - they have a rubber flange that snaps into place. Alternatively, use a threaded schraeder valve (go to mcmaster.com and search schrader valve) and drill&tap the tank to suit. |
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You will need a scheme to fit a valve to the bag. There will be a lot of plastic bunched up there, maybe problematic? I would suggest a threaded brass valve (like for garden hose) and a hose clamp with a piece of rubber to protect the bag from the hose clamp's bite. |
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I acquired an empty 20 litre bag in box today, with a little Coca-Cola(tm) syrup remaining in it (I just might add yeast). Now all that is needed is a coupler for the valve on the bag and the fittings on the so-called cheap keg. Thanks for your suggestions, [i_h], the keg has been equipped with a shrader valve (it was for that which 'coupler' in the original idea text referred to). The tap that is being used is a combination of a valve, bulkhead and nozzle fitting (the valve says "not for drinking water in CA" which is a relief as its not for water and I assume CA means California and not Canada). The bag in box changes the design slightly, as the bag will be attached directly to the the output valve. |
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Well? Don't keep us in suspense.. the pressure is rising! |
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