[homoeccentricus]

Does anyone know where I can find the ultimate introduction to kegging for pea-brained twerps like myself? Bought a set of 2nd hand 20 liter sodakegs. Still need to get all the extra equipment. Main concern: I don't want to spoil the batch of beer I'm brewing now (citra APA with Conan yeast). Lots of pictures and drawings required.

[Gary Glass]

Check out the free download of "Bottler's Guide To Kegging" from Zymurgy on www.homebrewersassociation.org: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/attachments/0000/1312/Summerzym95-Kegging_How-To.pdf

[homoeccentricus]

Looks good, thanks! What's the single most likely thing to ruin a beer when kegging the first time?

[denny]

Looks good, thanks! What's the single most likely thing to ruin a beer when kegging the first time?

Not much, but if I had to choose something it would be failing to purge the headspace before carbing the keg.  Some people purge the entire keg with CO2 before filling, but I haven't found that to be any more effective than just purging the headspace.

[klickitat jim]

Not being thorough in your cleaning and sanitizing. I've had one possibly iffected beer, and two obviously infected. The two obviously were kegged.

[HoosierBrew]

+1 to Denny and Jim's advice.  I'd add being sure to change every seal on those kegs - the lid, post seals, dip tube seal- and use a very thin layer of Keg Lube on the seals. Or else you'll have beers not want to stay carbonated and you'll go through CO2 tanks really quickly.

[Slowbrew]

I agree with Jim on sanitation.

Like anything else in this hobby, if it isn't clean, it's a problem.

Paul

[jtoots]

It won't ruin beer, but my first couple months I went through a lot of CO2.  Keep a bottle of starsan close by, spray all the connections, and find all the slow leaks and you'll be less frustrated than I was.

[homoeccentricus]

It won't ruin beer, but my first couple months I went through a lot of CO2.  Keep a bottle of starsan close by, spray all the connections, and find all the slow leaks and you'll be less frustrated than I was.

Now I'm getting REALLY scared!

[hopfenundmalz]

It won't ruin beer, but my first couple months I went through a lot of CO2.  Keep a bottle of starsan close by, spray all the connections, and find all the slow leaks and you'll be less frustrated than I was.

Now I'm getting REALLY scared!

Nothing to be afraid of. Check for leaks all the way through, at the tank to regulator on. I even had a regulator that needed some tightening. Turn the pressure up to 200kPa ~29 PSI and listen for leaks, then spray every connection with SS. Spray around the lid, and PRV.

[HoosierBrew]

Nothing to be afraid of. Check for leaks all the way through, at the tank to regulator on. I even had a regulator that needed some tightening. Turn the pressure up to 200kPa ~29 PSI and listen for leaks, then spray every connection with SS. Spray around the lid, and PRV.

+1

[Joe Sr.]

If you have kegs from different manufacturers, be aware that the parts are not interchangeable. 

When I got my first batch of kegs, I disassembled them all for cleaning and threw all the posts into a bucket.  Bad idea.  Not all posts thread on to all kegs.  Not all poppets fit all posts.  Etc.

[a10t2]

Now I'm getting REALLY scared!

Pressurize everything to normal working pressure, fill the bathtub, and submerge it all to check for leaks. I've had some really pernicious leaks that I couldn't even catch with the purpose-made bubbler stuff, but the bathtub trick is a one-and-done thing.

[hopfenundmalz]

Now I'm getting REALLY scared!

Pressurize everything to normal working pressure, fill the bathtub, and submerge it all to check for leaks. I've had some really pernicious leaks that I couldn't even catch with the purpose-made bubbler stuff, but the bathtub trick is a one-and-done thing.

Yeah,  only did that once for a keg. Learned that from my Indiana Farmer uncle when he was checking tires on the farm so many years ago.

[homoeccentricus]

OK, thanks for the feedback. Three more questions.

1. I want to start with two kegs and a beergun. Will one CO2 cylinder and a dual regulator suffice?
2. Apparently there are two types of hoses : 8x14 mm and 5x11mm. Do I need them both or can I just use the 8x14?
3. Can't find dedicated keg lube in Europe. Is there an equivalent that is more easily obtainable?

Thanks!