Kegs
I bought a reconditioned fridge on 2nd July '03. My previous fridge had packed it in, so now I am back up and running.
Equipment:
2 X 18L kegs
Beer tap
CO2 gas bottle
Gas bottle regulator
Plastic tubing
Gas and beer connects
Fridge
Installation:
Before drilling check with a fridge expert on any problems associated with drilling into a fridge. Drill a small hole in the side of the fridge. About the size of a small bung. Then push the gas tube through with 2 bungs to keep it airtight. Drill a larger hole in the fridge door. Make sure it is big enough for beer tap to go through. Tighten tap to front of fridge. Connnect all tubing to correct parts. Place regulator on CO2 bottle and tighten all connections. You are now ready to keg your brew.
Method:
Ferment beer as normal in the fermenter. Once it is ready to bottle, just add to a sanitised keg. Place this keg in the fridge for 1 day so the temperature is below 4 degrees. The next day pump CO2 into the keg at a pressure of 3 bar. After 24 hours turn pressure down to 0.5-1 bar for serving. Beer is ready to drink. Use tap to pour your own draught beer.
Why use kegs?
Kegs are so much easier to use than bottling beer. Instead of slaving over a sink cleaning and sanitising all 30 bottles each batch, you only have to clean the keg. Plus there's something special about using a tap on your fridge to pour your own draught beer.