To keg or not to keg?

[MrC]

Being relatively new to the kegging game I find myself wondering whether to keg all of the beers that I brew or whether some would be better off bottled.  

I am currently fermenting a Belgian Blonde and a Tripel and wondering whether or not the Tripel should be kegged.  I have to admit that I'm quite partial to some yeast in my glass when I pout myself a glass of Moa St Joseph.

This also raises the bigger question of what beer styles should not be kegged (or would be better off bottled).

Question 1 - Should I keg or bottle my Tripel?

Question 2 - What beer styles are better off bottled rather than kegged?

[James P]

What do you drink most of?

My kegs usually have lager brews through them, with the occasion ale. I would personally bottle Belgians etc.

[Reviled]

Personally, I keg everything and if I want to store something special away for a while will bottle out of the keg, purely cos its so much easier than faffing about with bottling sugar and what not, just fill the keg, condition it in bulk (which I read is better for the beer anyway) then bottle from there using a picnic tap...

If I wasnt lazy then I would bottle condition things such as your Tripel, and any other beers that I wasnt going to drink every day (or week), or want to store for a few months etc...

[Adrian Tayler]

How long does your beer stay carbonated when you bottle from the keg?

[Pilgrim]

Until you open it, unless you use polycarbonate bottles :-) I've yet to meet a CO2 bubble that can make it through a glass bottle.
I found a bottle that was hidden down the back of some shelves in the garage recently and had been there for about 3 years. Smelled like shit when I opened it but it still gave a satisfying 'ffisht' when I popped the top.
The old cork lined Crown seals (hands up those who remember them) would dry out but the new plastic ones should be fine.

[MrC]

I bottled some fruit beers from the keg into PET bottles 6 months ago and they're fine. I've been opening the occasional bottle here and there and they've all been carbed as if they were bottled yesterday. They have been stored in the fridge the whole time though.

[Adrian Tayler]

thanks guys, any tricks to it? I have heard you need to have cold bottles to fill and first fill them with Co2 ?? crap ?

[JackoNZ]

I've never bothered with that. Just turn the pressure down and fill directly from a picnic tap, seems to work ok.

[Adrian Tayler]

10.4. thanks.

[MrC]

I do the same as jackonz. Works fine.

[Adrian Tayler]

bottling sucks, but it wont be so bad from the keg.. cheers guys..

[jt]

I normally disconnect the gas, pour a pint to drop the pressure and then fill the bottle

[bart]

or just turn the pressure down so low that its only just enough to push beer out