 
* Always release pressure in soda keg before removing lid
Artificial Carbonation Method
1) Allow batch of beer to completely ferment and then clear in a
secondary fermenter. Once clear, siphon beer into a sanitized soda keg (for keg
sanitation, we recommend
iodophor. To clean a keg, we recommend PWB.
2) Sanitation procedure: Pour 2.5 tsp iodophor into bottom
of a clean soda keg. Fill soda keg full with water. Push down on the two spring
loaded poppet valves that allow for air to enter and liquid to exit the keg.
This will allow the sanitizing solution to be drawn up the tubes. Allow keg to
soak for 5 minutes. Dump out sanitizing solution and then press down on the
poppet valves again and the remaining sanitizing solution will drain from the
dip tubes. Rinse keg with warm water and allow to drain.
3) Siphon beer from secondary fermenter into soda keg. Attach
soda keg lid. Set regulator at 5-10 psi and turn on gas. Attach light colored
disconnect to gas in side of soda keg. Allow keg to pressurize and listen for
lid to seal. Once pressurized, remove gas disconnect. Lift up on pressure relief
valve and listen for gas to escape (if you have a coke pin lock keg, you will
have to push down on gas side spring loaded poppet valve to release gas). Listen
for gas to escape. Once it has escaped, reattach gas disconnect and depressurize
keg at 5-10 psi. Repeat the pressurize/depressurize procedure 3-4 times. This
process purges the oxygen from the keg and fills the headspace with co2.
4) Once keg is purged and pressurized, refrigerate keg. Allow
beer to cool to 35-45 deg F.. The colder the beer, the easier the carbonation
process will be.
5) Once the beer is chilled, attach the gas line and set the
regulator at 25-30 psi. Begin rocking the keg back and forth with gas line
attached. You will hear the regulator begin to allow gas to go from the tank and
into the keg. Continue to rock or shake the keg vigorously until the regulator
shuts off. The agitation process should take 2-3 minutes. Remove gas disconnect
and allow beer to sit under refrigeration for a couple hours. This will
allow gas to become more fully dissolved into the beer.
6) Before tapping keg, pull up on pressure relief valve for a
few seconds to allow some gas to escape. Begin dispensing the beer by attaching
the liquid disconnect with the attached faucet. If beer is too foamy, pull up on
pressure relief valve to release more pressure in the keg. Dispense the beer
until you notice that the beer is not dispensing with much pressure. Then,
reattach the gas disconnect with the regulator set at 5-10 psi. Keep gas line
attached, regulator set at 5-10 psi and dispense beer at your leisure.
Artificial Carbonation -Absorption Method
1) Follow steps 1-4 above
2) Once beer is chilled, attach gas line to gas-in side of keg.
Set regulator at 25-30 psi. Keep beer refrigerated. Allow gas line to stay
attached to keg. Keg must sit for 5-7 days to allow beer to absorb the co2
gas.
3) Follow step #6 above for dispensing.
Natural Carbonation Method- Cask Conditioning
1) Follow steps 1-3 under artificial carbonation method. Just
before purging and sealing the keg, add 1/2 cup of corn sugar dissolved in 1 cup
boiling water to soda keg- then fill keg with beer to be carbonated.
2) To allow beer to naturally carbonate in soda keg, you must
keep beer at room temperature (60-75 deg. F..) for approximately 2 weeks. After
two weeks, the beer can be refrigerated to serving temperatures.
3) Follow step #6 for dispensing instructions.
|
