First AG brew question

[BEN_SHADOW]

Hi all,

I have had my beer in the pressure barrel all week and am seeing no change in carbonation. The teast may have died off before I transfered it. Is there any fix for this? I dont want to have flat beer at xmas. Would the introduction of a little dried yeast help?

Thanks for your time


Ben

[Mitchamitri]

unless you had very high levels of steriliser left in the barrel i really doubt adding yeast will solve it. Have you checked the seals on your keg (and vaselined the thread)?
Is the keg somewhere warmish like your living room?
How do you know you don’t have carbonation? Is the method you are using to check this releasing any build up?

[BEN_SHADOW]

Morning Mitchamitri,

Yeah the seals have been checked. I applied vaseline too. To test I opened the tap to let out a small sip of beer to test. Ive moved the barrel now in to my livingroom and here it will now sit until xmas eve. Hopefully that will do the trick

Ben

[Mitchamitri]

If you open the tap a bit and you don’t hear an air bubble rise through the tap (ie a glugging sound) then you have some pressure build up.

[dave-o]

What temperature is the barrel at? If it's outside - in a shed or garage - at this time of year it won't carbonate.

[BEN_SHADOW]

Hi Davo-o,

Not sure of exact temp. But barrel is in my livingroom under a blanket. We keep the temp pretty good in there. My wife is off work at the moment and is in there all day everyday with the heating on. Has been a week and a hlaf now. When should I be checking on it? Or should I just leave it until xmas eve and eith be happy or dissappointed?

Thanks guys

[lancsSteve]

I've got 4 brews at the moment -2 in 'budget' white pressure barrels, one in a pressure barrel with S30 CO2 injection lid and one in a cornie.

One of the pressure barrels has NO proessure - seals were shot, plan to move to cornie.

The other has some body and enough pressure to get beer out but not a lot - has been kegged and conditioning for over 6 weeks!

The one with CO2 injection lid is lovely and lively with body and legs and perfect bitter carbonation.

Stout was flat before in an old boots barrel and now rocking in a cornie.

CONCLUSIONS:
CO2 injection lids do help, budget barrels are prone to depressurisation/crap seals and really ain't so hot, cornies rock.


THOUGHTS:
Did you prime before barrelling?

If you can get a CO2 injection lid it'll help - not necessarily force carbonate but does make a difference and makes serving easier = no need to loosen off cap and allow air in to prevent glugging..

[BEN_SHADOW]

Afternoon Steve,

Yeah,mine is in budget barrel. Rather annoying as wanted to get my drink on this sat. I did prime with sugar first. The annoying thing with purchasing the injection valves is the price. For the same price of an injection valve Icould buy another barrel. Might just buy some corniesthis xmas. Problem then is Ihave to source gas etc. Could be pricey. Think ill leave it conditioning until thursday then sample. I do have a budget barrel with injector lidbut that contains some horrid kit beer that im waiting to mature enough to drink.

Ill let yaknow how I get on.

Ben