moving to OZ

[Eleutherios]

Hi all
I have been browsing this forum for months and have had lots of goo posts that hale helped me improve my brews.

so down to a question that i cannot find an answer to.

I am moving to Australia soon, and obviously want to take my kegs with me, however I currently use hambleton bard co2 cylinders - these are not available in OZ!

It appears the cornie kegs are the most popular over there and not the UK plastic barrels, and they are using "standard" CO2 cylinders with a regulator.

So I have 3 options:
1 sell my 6 UK kegs and replace with OZ equipment
2 try and find a valve to replace the S30 so I can use a CO2 regulator
3 find a valve so I can screw a hambleton bard cylinder into a larger CO2 tank so I can re-fil at home.
4 change all the valves to "bulbs" - expensive in the long run

Option 3 would be my best bet - as commercial food grade co2 is much cheaper than hambleton bard refils.

has anyone any suggestions?

[IPA]

When in Rome do as the Romans do. Or in your case the Aussies. A word of friendly advice from an expat. When you move to another country embrace their customs and habits otherwise in your head you will never have left England. Good luck in your new country.

[Rick_UK]

I'd be surprised if there isn't some sort of adaptor available to use with their CO2 tanks but I admit it's not something I have any experience with.

You will defo need some sort of keg fridge out there given the climate!

Good luck living with the convicts

[Eleutherios]

HI IPA,
well if money was no object, then I would agree with you!
however at about £300 to get the same (second hand) system (+ valves, taps, ect) it gets a bit expensive

I have also been looking into using the soda stream bottles, as I believe they still use the old steel cylinders and there are adaptors for fit those - both to a S30 valve and a CO2 regulator for home re-filling.

I can set up a donation page if you would like to contribute to new equipment!

My head has already left, just waiting for the beer to follow....

[Andy]

When the hambleton cylinders run out of gas in Oz, what are you going to do ?

Is that your point 3 ?

[Jim]

I would change over to regular CO2 cylinders. It is possible to adapt plastic barrels to connect to a standard CO2 line, and it's much cheaper than small HB CO2 cylinders such as Hambeldon Bard.

On another tack, can you imagine the nuisance factor you'll have refilling HB cylinders from a big bottle then injecting into your barrels as you do now? With a large cylinder and reg, you can just leave the CO2 on while you serve and it will replenish the gas in the barrel automatically.

[Andy]

Yes, that seems like the best approach IMO.

[Eleutherios]

Hi Jim & Andy
Having just found out that I cannot take sealed gas cylinders - the valves have to be removed for customs inspection - then using standard CO2 is the better option.

So, next plan. convert the plastic caps.
Leave the S30 valve in place as they also act as a pressure relief valve.
Fit bulkhead fittings to caps and seal, fit shut-off valve to bulkhead.
fit barbed connector to shutoff valve - connect hose and regulator.

move to oz, brew beer hope it works!

[IPA]

HI IPA,
well if money was no object, then I would agree with you!
however at about £300 to get the same (second hand) system (+ valves, taps, ect) it gets a bit expensive

I have also been looking into using the soda stream bottles, as I believe they still use the old steel cylinders and there are adaptors for fit those - both to a S30 valve and a CO2 regulator for home re-filling.

I can set up a donation page if you would like to contribute to new equipment!

My head has already left, just waiting for the beer to follow....

If you are hellbent on taking your kegs to Oz this is what you need.



You will have to butcher an EMPTY S30 cylinder but its the only way.
Unscrew the head on the cylinder and drill a hole the same diameter as the hose connector on the left in the photo. Insert the hose connector and attach a length of hose (7mm) and then crimp the hose to the connector. On the other end of the hose attach whatever connector the Aussies use for a gas regulator. I made this years ago when I moved to France because it was not possible to buy S30 cylinders here. When you connect your keg you need to ramp up the output pressure on the regulator to overcome the resistance caused by the valve rubber on the barrel injector and then give a short burst of gas as you would with an S30 cylinder. Incidentally I susequently changed to cornies. If you need any further explanation send me a PM.

[orlando]

I would sign up here and ask your questions there.

[Jim]

I would sign up here and ask your questions there.

You do realise that place is owned by the same lot that took over THBF don't you?

[orlando]

I would sign up here and ask your questions there.

You do realise that place is owned by the same lot that took over THBF don't you?

Nope, is there an alternative?

[Jim]

I would sign up here and ask your questions there.

You do realise that place is owned by the same lot that took over THBF don't you?

Nope, is there an alternative?

Not as far as I know. They're taking over the world!

[Eleutherios]

Thanks for all the advice.

I had a scoot on e-bay at lunchtime and found 4 cornie kegs - settled on £150 for the lot - so have decided to take the plunge, hope the wife doesent find out I have spent more money on beer!
At least I know I can get spares in oz!

So I now have 4 barrels to dispose off to recoup some cost.
I plan on keeping 2 barrels.

I tried registering on the oz forum, but never got the email to activate my account - will try again at some point.

[orlando]

4 for £150 is a good price, unless you have to refit. Doesn't stop there though, if only.