Keg Set Up

[Reviled]

Okay, im seriously looking into kegging my beer cos im getting really sick of bottles quick fast...

Im just wondering, what do I need, what am I looking at cost wise? Will I be able to do it for $400 or less? Or am I dreaming?

Also, are pressure barrels a good option? Or are they crap?

Cheers

[bj]

From an earlier thread:

"One way of cutting down on startup cost is by using one of these
http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=924
combined with a sodastream co2 bottle. (i have 3 to make sure i dont run out).
Its def more expensive for gas, one full bottle ($7.50) would carbonate and serve 2 kegs.

Also i found a good place on ebay to buy taps, disconnects etc
http://shop.ebay.com.au/merchant/beerdispensing_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1...
they offer free shipping on the tap for AU$60, i can vouch for the tap being good quality and it arrived within 6 days."

IMO The money i spent on my kegging system ($380 for 2 taps) has been the best investment iv made in the hobby.

Cheers
Brendan

[Reviled]

Cheers mate, whats the deal with hand pumps? If I got one of those could I naturally carbonate the keg and dispense with a handpump without using gas? Or would I still need at least a soda stream bottle to keep the pressure stable?

Its all a bit confusing, but im sure its just like brewing, once youve done it its a piece of piss?

[Stu McKinlay]

The kegs are cheap - and very well reconditioned - through Morebeer.com.
Stephen Plowman at Hallertau sells them unreconditioned, and they'll be slightly cheaper once you figure in shipping.

As for the handpump, you will still need purge the keg with CO2 (or nitrogen, beer gas etc) if you want to keep it for more than a couple of days. Otherwise the beer will lose condition... then then worse... the air getting in will first oxidise the beer, and then start turning it into vinegar.

Reviled is spot on - it's a lot simpler when you do it, than it is thinking or reading about it.

Cheers
Stu

[Reviled]

So a soda stream bottle would work quite well for the purging yeah? Im just looking at the cheapest options which seems to be, kegs, hand pump, soda stream, and in theory im good to go yeah?

[jt]

Fridge ?

[Reviled]

lol, only forgot one important thing :oP

Allthough its alot easier to worry about putting a keg in a small fridge, than it is to worry about converting a fridge to a kegerator... In fact, I reckon I could squeeze one keg in our main fridge, allthough SWMBO would kick my ass!

[Barry]

$400 or less, hmmmm let me see.

2 kegs from Hallertau - $150 (I think?)
1 gas bottle, full - $200
regulator, harris 601 from craftbrewer - $120
disconnects, fittings, beer line, picnic tap - $50

All up, about $520. slightly over your budget, but this is a good solid base to start with.
Of course cheaper with just one keg, but I think you'll find 2 is a minimum for comfort, and of course you don't have to splash out on your own co2 bottle, but I reckon it's the best way to go in the long run.
Make sure you get a one way valve so beer doesn't travel back up the line into your regulator.

[Reviled]

Gaaah, not quite what I wanted to hear... To be honest, I was probably pushing it with the $400 - 5 month old baby, partner off work etc... Maybe ill get half this year and the other half next year :oP

Looking at those prices, if I got the kegs, a regulator, all the fittings etc, and just left the gas bottle off my list for now, would I be able to set something up temporarily with a soda stream bottle?

[Barry]

yeah, the difference between a gas bottle and a soda stream is a years worth of gas vs about 2 kegs worth.
(I'm currently refilling about once a year with my 5kg bottle)

absolutely no reason why not though! do what ya gotta!

Oh, forgot to mention above, forget about a handpump, one of them will run you at least a couple of hundred on its own.

[Reviled]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Home-Brew-Keg-Party-Beer-Hand-Pump-CUB-Carlt...

Is that a handpump? Only $69 didnt seem too expensive??

[denimglen]

One only lasts me about 4 months...weird.

[jt]

Get the family to buy you your disconnects for Christmas - you don't really want more socks and hankies do you ?