So far I would have to say my best mini-keg result has been from a batch of Bavarian Wheat Beer (think it was the Mangrove Jack's kit). The clone kit of Wherry (Amber Ale) by Woodfordes works very well in them too.
Thanks for the video Daryl. This is the clearest explanation I've seen on reusing the mini kegs. Will have to get hold of a couple before my next brew! 👍
I find the easiest way to get the bung out the top is to use a manhole lifting key. I have a key with an ‘L’ shaped end that is easy to get into bung’s hole. Takes a bit of a tug but so far comes out with no damage.
They are great. I have been re-using the ones bought full online from breweries for a few years now as no supermarkets in my town have stocked them since covid regs started. Agree on the rubber part especially during warm weather and you did great getting the smallest part out without resorting to filling with water as most of us seem to have to. The main problem I am having is getting hold of the rubber type replacement bungs. So far I have found some that are plastic and in two parts rather than three and a bit more robust but less flexible. They seem very similar to the ones used by Warsteiner which I had a nightmare removing and ultimately wrecked in the process. I have fitted a plastic bung to a keg from a recent batch for another practice when that is matured in a few months. In the meantime I would love to see/hear how anybody has successfully removed a plastic type bung without damaging it or the keg.
@@davidpestana5290 Not sure where you are located but if you mean the red/black bungsvents they come ready assembled but when refitting after use they separate for cleaning and snap back together. I don't think the different parts of the bungs are sold separately if that is what you mean. There are a few UK based online homebrew stores such as Get er brewed (NI), DIAH (South Yorks), B2B (Blackburn) or have been sold on ebay usually around market value. About £1 each or £10 for packs of 10. I assume they will be available in other countries and some physical home brew stores. Hope that helps.
I just bought of these. Plan on using it my current beer. Do you make a priming solution? Normally I mix my beer out of the fermenter with a sugar solution in a bottling bucket (3oz of sugar for about 3gallons of beer) then siphon from bucket into bottles. But if I’m using less sugar, that might not work for the mini keg
Hi, can you explain why so small amount of sugar is needed for carbonation? For example, Brewfather says I need 30g of table sugar to reach 2.4 of CO2.
Thinking about going down this route eventually, but with a beer machine, would you still need to carbonate the kegs or would a beer machine with co2 canister do that for you?
Great video! I wonder though, will there not be yeast debris/junk in the beer coming from the tap? I am wondering as the tap is seated fairly low on the keg. At least in bottles we have the junk at the bottom, I imagine the amount of junk in a 5L keg would be larger than the one in a 0,33L bottle? If the debris stays under the tap, great, but I was also thinking if the "force" of the beer flowing would still upset it and take some with it. What are your thought/experiences?
@Kveiksmithdaryl I've had a keg sat for a while I've got it almost back to spic and span but there's tarnish at the seam running I on the inside ....whould that be a problem?
What's the best beer you've ever conditioned in a mini keg?
Let you know, real soon 😁
So far I would have to say my best mini-keg result has been from a batch of Bavarian Wheat Beer (think it was the Mangrove Jack's kit). The clone kit of Wherry (Amber Ale) by Woodfordes works very well in them too.
Thanks for the video Daryl. This is the clearest explanation I've seen on reusing the mini kegs. Will have to get hold of a couple before my next brew! 👍
So glad it was helpful! I'm loving mine, worth a look on Facebook Marketplace, I got mine from a brewery which was closing down!
I find the easiest way to get the bung out the top is to use a manhole lifting key. I have a key with an ‘L’ shaped end that is easy to get into bung’s hole. Takes a bit of a tug but so far comes out with no damage.
Thank you, I'll have to try this out!
Cheers Daryl - nice idea for a party!
Absolutely is! I've got a few ready for a BBQ in a couple of weeks!
They are great. I have been re-using the ones bought full online from breweries for a few years now as no supermarkets in my town have stocked them since covid regs started. Agree on the rubber part especially during warm weather and you did great getting the smallest part out without resorting to filling with water as most of us seem to have to.
The main problem I am having is getting hold of the rubber type replacement bungs. So far I have found some that are plastic and in two parts rather than three and a bit more robust but less flexible. They seem very similar to the ones used by Warsteiner which I had a nightmare removing and ultimately wrecked in the process.
I have fitted a plastic bung to a keg from a recent batch for another practice when that is matured in a few months. In the meantime I would love to see/hear how anybody has successfully removed a plastic type bung without damaging it or the keg.
Just to add that local aldi have had some mini-kegs in this last christmas but the bungs in those were plastic.
where do you get the plastic lids
@@davidpestana5290 Not sure where you are located but if you mean the red/black bungsvents they come ready assembled but when refitting after use they separate for cleaning and snap back together. I don't think the different parts of the bungs are sold separately if that is what you mean.
There are a few UK based online homebrew stores such as Get er brewed (NI), DIAH (South Yorks), B2B (Blackburn) or have been sold on ebay usually around market value. About £1 each or £10 for packs of 10. I assume they will be available in other countries and some physical home brew stores. Hope that helps.
Excellent. I'm off to Majestic tomorrow, they have Paulaner Münchner Hell mini Kegs, £20. That's win win!
Thank you. Purrfect.
Amazing! Let me know how it goes!
I just bought of these. Plan on using it my current beer. Do you make a priming solution? Normally I mix my beer out of the fermenter with a sugar solution in a bottling bucket (3oz of sugar for about 3gallons of beer) then siphon from bucket into bottles. But if I’m using less sugar, that might not work for the mini keg
Hi, can you explain why so small amount of sugar is needed for carbonation? For example, Brewfather says I need 30g of table sugar to reach 2.4 of CO2.
These kegs won't handle 2.4 volumes. The low carbonation gives you a mouthfeel more like a draft real ale than a bottled beer. It's great 😊
Exactly this, the kegs can’t handle the same kind of pressure bottles and other styles of keg can. These mini kegs are more like cask beers
If you're carbonating in the mini keg through a secondary fermentation then is this similar to cask ale?
It comes out very similar to cask, the process is pretty much identical to casking apart from on a much smaller scale
Thinking about going down this route eventually, but with a beer machine, would you still need to carbonate the kegs or would a beer machine with co2 canister do that for you?
Great video! I wonder though, will there not be yeast debris/junk in the beer coming from the tap? I am wondering as the tap is seated fairly low on the keg. At least in bottles we have the junk at the bottom, I imagine the amount of junk in a 5L keg would be larger than the one in a 0,33L bottle? If the debris stays under the tap, great, but I was also thinking if the "force" of the beer flowing would still upset it and take some with it. What are your thought/experiences?
I've never noticed any yeast debris coming out into the beer, I believe most of that ends up settling bellow the tap fortunately.
@@KveiksmithdarylOk great thanks :)
I have a tap converted for this. I just dump the first 6 oz or so
Don't drink, don't care
--- Saves video ---
If you are just filling it up with store bought beer, do you still have to go extreme with the cleaning?
You'll probably be ok if your planning on drinking it straight away, but I'd still recommend cleaning.
Dude! Absolutely love these videos. Out of curiosity do you know how many mini kegs I’d need to fill up a 5 gallon batch?
Every mini keg support 5 liters (a little more than 1 gallon)...
Roughly 5 should be enough
Great vid pal 😉 was wondering where's the best place to buy the new bungs ????
Thanks for watching, I got mine from eBay
nice vid. it is aluminum?
Thanks! Yes it is!
The one I got is steel. Check it with a magnet, or look for the recycle logo that says “Fe”. Cheers!
Cheers! Less cleaning is always nice!
Absolutely! Cleaning is one of the worst parts of brewing so it's a dream to avoid some of it!
@Kveiksmithdaryl I've had a keg sat for a while I've got it almost back to spic and span but there's tarnish at the seam running I on the inside ....whould that be a problem?
What would be the goes for putting mead in one of these kegs?