brewing 2ne1

Pressure test!

I finally got around to testing the salvaged mini-keg I kept after drinking it dry of Adnams Explorer. Digging around, I’ve discovered it’s a HUBER easyKEG IT (Integrated Tab) that you can buy empty for ~£5 (or less) or full of beer from Adnams and many other breweries for £15-£20. These have an integrated bottom tap, are gravity fed and need to be vented at the top to deliver. This lets in air and releases any pressure so limits the shelf-life of the beer. That is unless you use them as a secondary fermenter in which case they will pressurise and you will not need to vent (but risk some sediment).

The other type of mini-keg appears to be the Fass Frisch mini-kegs which have only the top hole. These require a tap (~£45) and need to be pressurised to deliver, using either a hand-pump tap (but lets in air so limits the shelf-life once open) or a CO2 inlet. Note that these hand pumps can aslo be used with the HUBER mini-kegs if you put in a Fass Frisch bung.

Pulled out the old bung with some pliers (this bung had to go in before it’d come out), pushed the tap back in (instructions say DON’T), filled with Tesco’s cheapest and fizziest water and put in a Fass Frisch bung. So far, air and water tight and the tap works.

Definitely suitable as a beer transporter and possibly even secondary fermentaion vessel; the latter choice having two options: non-pressure release bung (70p) with conservative priming or pressure-release bung (£4.50). When priming as secondary fermenter The Home Brew Shop recommend ~30g of sugar. That seems a little high to me. Generally it’s 1/2 teaspoon (2.1g) per pint, therefore ~18g (2.1*8.5)(I’ve read elsewhere 10-15g). This should avoid too much pressure distorting the keg and restrict the amount of sediment. And should add enough fizz. Shouldn’t it?

Dylski