1st time PB?

[Trunky]

[Brotherton Lad]

Don't forget that your fermenting beer is feeding CO2 into the air at the top of the FV. As it is heavier than air, it will force much of the air out of the FV (through the airlock or simply past the cracked open lid). The gas in the FV will become predominantly CO2 unless you keep taking the lid off and wafting more fresh air in.
It's why people can die if they fall into large grain silos, too much CO2 and not enough O2.

http://nasdonline.org/document/64/d0016 ... ngers.html

[AlexCricket]

Sorry to add to the CO2 density debate - but dry ice sinks as much due to the rules of thermo-dynamics as gaseous density - or more simply Hot air rises cold air sinks and dry ice is piggin freezin!

[wardcband]

Himate, sorry to chime in late, but if your going to spend £30 on a pressure barrell or £40 on a king keg, Id really consider spending £67.50 on a corny keg instead.

I bought a pressure barrell straight away before i knew about the cornies, and when I got around to getting one wished id just spent the £30 on one of these. Heres a link to reconditioned cornies with tap included, all ready to go, its a really good price considering how much they usually go for, and the tap alone is quite expensive!

http://www.hamstead-brewing-centre.co.uk/itm00561.htm

With these you dont even need to prime as you just use your s30 (which you need anyway if using a pressure barrell) to force carbonate, and you can transport your keg around without worrying about any skeg being disturbed as the beer goes in clear. It has an adjustable sparkler tap for fine tuning your head, you can control the amount of pressure in the keg with a manual release valve, they fit nicely in an old fridge, and you can run a line from one to a proper bar tap should you be that way inclined! Finally they hold 20 litres, meaning you can bottle 3 litres giving you 6x500ml bottles, best of both worlds as mentioned above.

Defo worth a think mate

matt

[brianboru]

I have a basic barrel and did use it without the 8g co2 cylinder/cap. it starts glugging just after half way ( i primed on the low side for a stout) . It was drinkable for a good while after but it was on the decline once the air was at it for a while. I have since got the c02 bulbs and no issue with pressure or carb since. Corny is the future alright but at a high initial cost. If you are getting the basic barrel and c02 attachments is circa 40 euro in ireland ( homebrewwest is best price i think) with the c02 bulbs it gives a great pint on stout and ale that can last months (i use about 3/ 4 bulbs per barrel ) .
but as mentioned before no co2 you will get glugging = spolit beer.