King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
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- Piss Artist
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King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
My old pressure barrels have reached the end of their life and are going to be turned into planters in the garden. I ordered a new KK from Balliihoo, with a bottom tap, the complete with their own pressure injection system. I choose the bottom tap one because I prefer a real ale style of beer, and didn't like the idea of having to have pressure on all the time to dispense. However, I've just opened the box and they have sent me the top tap one by mistake. Before I send it back, does anyone have any feedback about these top tap barrels? Will I still be able to get the real ale style, as I've no idea how much pressure is needed to dispense, never used a top tap barrel before
"The paradise of the rich is made out of the hell of the poor" - Victor Hugo
- orlando
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Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
I preferred my bottom tap. When I was buying them, a very long time ag, there was talk of top taps occasionally losing the floating dip tube connection. Nightmare if that happened. The only reason was to take beer off as it cleared. Tempting but better to fine and let it condition until it's really ready.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
- bitter_dave
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Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
In one of Graham Wheeler's books he called the top tap ones something like 'an abomination'! The only real benefit I can see is that you can pour beer from it with the barrel on the floor. However, most of us don't do this I think. Like you, I don't much like the idea of top taps for the reasons stated above.
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- Piss Artist
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Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
Yes, those are all the reasons I wanted a bottom tap, I'll send it back
"The paradise of the rich is made out of the hell of the poor" - Victor Hugo
Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
Good old Graham, I miss him!
Still use his books as inspiration. I think if you practice good hygiene the beer should be the same from both, after all there’s a blanket of CO2 over it.
Still use his books as inspiration. I think if you practice good hygiene the beer should be the same from both, after all there’s a blanket of CO2 over it.
- MarkA
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Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
I use two top tap King Kegs and haven't had a problem with the float dip tube, as long as you make sure it's all the way on before filling. The only disadvantage would be that you always need Co2 to dispense, rather than being able to use gravity through a bottom tap.
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- Piss Artist
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Re: King Keg top or bottom tap preferred?
I got them to change it for the bottom tap version in the end. Very prompt service from Balliihoo I must say - replacement arrived next day with label to send the wrong one back.
"The paradise of the rich is made out of the hell of the poor" - Victor Hugo