How to decide

[liamtmt7]

Hi guys, just looking for advice on dispensing.

I have brewed 8 kits now and bottled each of them. Its getting a bit tedious now, although sometimes it can be strangely therputic - I am considering alternative ways to dispensing.

The beers usually last me a decent amount of time, 2 months or so - so not sure what the next best logical steps are.

Been looking at this on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WUNDERBAR-BEE ... 46209f2013

Would this work if I was to have 2 small kegs and the rest bottled, and use one of these dispensing machines?

I dont have the cash or the space at the moment for a kegragator + cornie keg setup, or much fridge space at all to keep the beer chilled.

Any suggestions?

[Derek1]

I think this device is designed primarily for use with commercially available 5 litre kegs of beer.
If you can get empty compatible keg/s, and a means to get your beer into them and carbonate it, then it could work. The web site
http://www.firebox.com/product/1791/Wun ... -Dispenser
seems to imply from the animated photo that the system is like a beer engine, with a pumping action delivering the beer, so providing your beer is sufficiently well carbonated to not need air to be drawn into the keg as it's dispensed, or you're happy to sup 5 litres in one sitting, you're good to go! I may have this totally wrong though!
Availability of empty compatible kegs and carbonating your beer in them would seem to be the issue, as the cooling side of things seems to tick all your boxes - provided it still works on this particular unit!

[liamtmt7]

Thanks for the feedback Derek.

I'm sure I could empty a few of them and would need to read up some more on reuse and carbonation.

Not sure on the 5ltrs in one sitting though!

Out if interest, what's your choice method for dispensing?

[Derek1]

Corny kegs! I started off with one with an S30 valve as I had couple of Hambleton Bard CO2 cylinders, but it still worked out well over £100 by the time I'd bought a tap and pressure valve. I stared off with a Christmas brew, so didn't need fridge space - just stuck it in the garage and hoped for cold weather!

[alexlark]

20L Sankey kegs for me. Bought new from Crusader.

I started with 2 pressure barrels and then moved to 2 20L Sankey kegs. I still use the pressure barrels for ageing and clearing before transferring to the Sankey kegs.

Cost wise:

2 x 20L Sankey kegs: £120
Coupler: £15
Regulator: £25
Beer, Gas line and John Guest fittings: £15
Party tap: £10
Gas £20 with £70 deposit: £90

Hotpoint fridge off ebay for £40


Since I set it up 12 months ago I have removed the party tap and added a Dalex Tap and bracket £40

[Growler]

I have a wunderbar keg dispenser and it uses air pressure to push the beer out so you have to drink it quite quickly there is no way to fit co2 without major work

[liamtmt7]

cheers for the feedback guys

[Fil]

i use a similar box, made by morphy richards, uses a dc peltier to chill the kegs, and a regulated (no gauge) co2 bulb tap/injector.

the 5l minikegs can be bought empty made from steel and lined with a coating internally to avoid corrosion, a few uk online brewshops sell em leyland brewing? i got mine from candirect along with some red corny lid seals..

the steel kegs when naturally conditioned cant take too much priming sugar as at the temps the yeast work at the co2 cant be absorbed so builds up as excess pressure and deforms the keg, So they are great for bitters but cant atain the condition for lagers..

Theoretically with co2 injection and mantaining a low keg temp you could pressure condition bright beer without priming, as they can take 12psi iirc some have been tested to destruction taking close to 20psi..

primed and conditioned they have sediment and are suseptable to movement and disturbing the sediment.

but as they contain 10 x 500ml bottles worth of beer and if used with a tap n gas will keep a keg for weeks once opened they are an easy option compared to bottling, 23l will fill one minikeg and a corny,, easy

however they have a limited life some of mine 5-6 brews used are starting to rust at the bung hole rim