Kegging Tips

[mstead]

I'm just getting into kegging, and I'm waiting on my equipment to show up from OBK. I'm planning on going to the kegorator route.

What I'm wondering is, will I have to adjust my brewing process any to avoid sediment in my pours? I've never bothered racking to secondary -- never really had the need to. I'm assuming that a bunch of sediment will drop out when chilled (even if I force carbonate). Should I start racking to secondary, and adding a fining agent? I've read that people cut their dip tubes as well. Is that the general approach?

Not that I mind a little sediment, but I'd rather serve clean beer to friends.

Any other kegging tips and tricks anyone wants to pass along?

[canuck]

Crash cool your primary before you keg your beer. I also add gelatin to my kegs to help clear them. You'll need to discard the first pour or so, but it's crystal clear after that.

Welcome to the wonderful world of kegging.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

I transfer directly from primary to keg, no issue. Except with one hippy beer. Be careful with the sediment and you'll be fine.

[sleepyjamie]

How much gelatin do you normally add?

[canuck]

How much gelatin do you normally add?

I add one tsp of gelatine to about 2/3 cup of water and heat it to 150f. I then dump it to a my keg that's already been chilled.

[ethier.sc]

Has anyone sugar primed their kegs and used gelatin?

Steve

[derek]

You'll need to discard the first pour or so

The waste!!!

What I'm wondering is, will I have to adjust my brewing process any to avoid sediment in my pours? I've never bothered racking to secondary -- never really had the need to. I'm assuming that a bunch of sediment will drop out when chilled (even if I force carbonate). Should I start racking to secondary, and adding a fining agent? I've read that people cut their dip tubes as well. Is that the general approach?

I don't see the advantage of cutting the dip tube - seems to me that then you'll still have all the sediment, and you'll need to be sure not to ever disturb the keg. If you keep the full dip tube, then the sediment will all get flushed in the first few glasses. I guess you could even throw that away...

[dexter]

I'm usually just careful about my final rack to the keg. But I'm also not that concerned that my beer looks perfect. As long as I crash it and then carb it I'm usually happy with my results. I may try the gelatin technique but I'm not too concerned.

[mstead]

Cool, I'll try cold crashing, and gelatin. Thanks for the advice!

Steve, I used gelatin with my last batch. It wouldn't clear at all. I ended up racking to a second carboy, and added gelatin (1/2 package with a cup of water warmed to about 150F). Worked really well to clear up the beer. I washed my yeast from the primary and kept some of it in a small mason jar. I added this yeast to the beer in the bottling bucket. I just wanted to make sure that there was enough yeast left to carbonate the brew.

Some people say you don' t have to add yeast... but, I didn't want to take the chance.

[mstead]

I bottled that batch though.

[Timothy Doane]

I cold filter every batch - the first time I kegged I didn't and the beer was hazy. I use the keg to keg filter set up from Noble Grape. I've used it for 5 years or so with fantastic results and the kegs are super clean when the keg is empty. A little patience is required though. The crystal clear beer and brilliant clarity - you can't beat it - it gives the beer a professional appearence.
Don't cut your diptubes - you'll ruin your keg.

[mstead]

I'm assuming that when you do this you do the transfer with CO2. How much CO2 does it take to filter one keg? I suppose the same amount that would be required to serve it.

I'll only have a 5lb-er serving two kegs. Can I get'er done with that size? I don't really have the room for a 10lb+.

How long does a 5lb CO2 last anyways? How many kegs can be carbed and served?

[Timothy Doane]

I quickly upgraded to a 20lb tank, I believe I was able to carbonate 7-8 kegs, filter and carbonate with a 5lb tank that is. I filter at 5psi and it takes 10-15min.