Beer cooler

GY A1

hello guys,
anyone use a pub type beer cooler for homebrew with corny's or kegs,
had previously thought of looking at making a kegerator but the cooler seems like an easier option if it would work,
would the corny need to be carbonated with co2 prior to connecting to the cooler,

Shiny

The cooler would be in-line between the keg and the tap so your beer would have been already carbonated in the keg.

The main reason people use a fridge is that it is usually much cheaper to buy a second hand fridge than in-line cooler. The fridge also gives you a platform to mount your taps etc.. If you already have something to mount your taps on then a cooler might be the right option for you.

Martyn1989

I believe the other reason for using a fridge is difficulty carbonating kegs at room temperature. Apperently the carbon dioxide dissolves in the beer alot better if the beer is chilled, hence why a warm keg will produce ridiculous amounts of foam, lose pressure and lose carbonation very quickly.

Ratsathome

I have both.Running 4 kegs and my fridge can only take 2.Two through fridge and 2 through cooler.The cooler help me out over xmas.Was spending the day with friends and took the cooler and 2 kegs the previous day.:D

Sky King

The optimum storage temp would be about 10 degrees for a keg imo.

I think that this is cold enough to enjoy well brewed tasty beer at. I wouldn't bother with a line cooler for this.

Freezing the hell out of beer is what you do so that you can't taste it.

GY A1

Thanks for the replies guys

GY A1

Ratsathome wrote: »

I have both.Running 4 kegs and my fridge can only take 2.Two through fridge and 2 through cooler.The cooler help me out over xmas.Was spending the day with friends and took the cooler and 2 kegs the previous day.:D

Hi
Do u find any difference between the 2 setups or a preference,
Ideally what temperature do corny's be carbonated at with co2,, like will they need to be placed in a fridge anyway to carb,
If that's the case I might be just better going with a fridge set up,
Thanks

Martyn1989

GY A1 wrote: »

Hi
Do u find any difference between the 2 setups or a preference,
Ideally what temperature do corny's be carbonated at with co2,, like will they need to be placed in a fridge anyway to carb,
If that's the case I might be just better going with a fridge set up,
Thanks

I know people have mixed feelings about this guy, but I think he's ok if you can listen to him.

Watch this vid from the 15 min mark and see if it applies to you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TckoNE1Uro&list=UUoHbeio8mHTGe4G0dkTONrg

Shiny

^ I always enjoy his videos. I'm subscribed to his feed and watch all of them. I don't really see what problem people have with him tbh.

Khannie

Shiny wrote: »

I don't really see what problem people have with him tbh.

Same. I think he's great.

Martyn1989

Shiny wrote: »

^ I always enjoy his videos. I'm subscribed to his feed and watch all of them. I don't really see what problem people have with him tbh.

Yeh he got me started, at this stage he asks questions, filters out the crap and just gives the good information. I think the main backlash he got is that he wouldn't do all grain.

Sky King

Craigtube is a legend - he got me started as well - I watched several of his 'home brew the easy way' and some of his other demos before i ventured out and bought my first beer kit. I still watch him every week.

I think he explains stuff really well and he makes it very straightforward... very beginner friendly. I actually *wanted* to brew after watching them - which is a great sign.

Craigtube makes no secret of the fact that even after 20 years or so he still brews mainly kits. He explains that people brew for different reasons, be it money, variety or whatever. Some people want to hone it to a fine art, others just want to get blasted on the cheap.

People who go on his channel to criticise him are sad a-holes with nothign better to do in my opinion. internet tough guys,.

NewDirection

I'm keeping an eye on this thread as I've got a similar setup as the OP, with a chiller as opposed to a fridge.

So my plan is to carb my beer (at room temp) at around 30psi, and serve through the chiller at around 10psi. Does this sound right?

Also my chiller has two loops in it. At the moment is was going to have the beer loop through it twice to get it extra cold, is this overkill?

Last question, does the beer ever freeze in the lines inside the chiller, say if the chiller is on, and the beer isn't flowing?

Sky King

Also my chiller has two loops in it. At the moment is was going to have the beer loop through it twice to get it extra cold, is this overkill?

You're double dipping. Whether on not you need to do this depends on a number of factors, mainly the volume throughput per unit time and the temperature reduction required.

Check the temperature controller on your cooler to see if you can adjust the setpoint. Try storing your keg at 8 degrees and setting the cooler for about 2 degrees. This should give favourable results.

I don't know why you would want it any colder than this, but if you want colder you might have to go sub zero. You'll never get it any lower than the setpoint now matter how many loops do you.

If your cooler is working correctly it shouldn't freeze the product. Beer freezes around -4 degrees celcius though this depends on a number of factors including its ingredients and ABV. Your cooler's setpoint should be above zero. The cooler doesn't cool below the setpoint. You can change this on some coolers as well, though on some machines it is fixed.

Subzero coolers are a different kettle of fish though. You're into glycol and stuff then