The Best Way to Keg Home Brewed Beer in a Cornelius Keg
Kegging your homebrewed beer is an efficient way to store, carbonate, and serve your creation. Cornelius kegs, or Corny kegs, are popular among homebrewers for their convenience and ease of use. In this post, we'll walk you through the best way to keg your homebrew in a Cornelius keg, ensuring your beer stays fresh and tastes great.
Why Choose a Cornelius Keg?
Cornelius kegs were originally used for soda but have become a favorite for homebrewers due to their size, availability, and ease of use. These kegs typically come in 5-gallon sizes, which is perfect for most homebrew batches. They also have easy-to-use connections and are easy to clean and maintain.
Step-by-Step Guide to Kegging Your Beer
1. Clean and Sanitize Your Keg
The first and most crucial step is to ensure your keg is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Any residue or bacteria can ruin your beer.
- Disassemble the Keg: Remove all parts, including the lid, dip tubes, posts, and O-rings.
- Clean: Use a brewery-safe cleaner such as PBW to scrub the interior and all components.
- Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with hot water to remove any cleaner residue.
- Reassemble the Keg: Carefully reassemble the posts and diptubes taking time to inspect that all the o-rings are in good condition.
- Sanitize: Soak the keg and parts in a sanitizing solution create with Star San or similar sanitizer. Ensure it reaches all areas.
2. Transfer Your Beer
Once your keg is sanitized, it’s time to transfer your beer from the fermenter.
- Reduce Oxygen Exposure: To avoid oxidation, which can spoil your beer, use a closed transfer system if possible.
- Siphon Carefully: Attach a sanitized siphon or auto-siphon to your fermenter and transfer the beer gently to avoid agitation.
- Leave Sediment Behind: Try to leave behind any sediment or trub in the fermenter to ensure your kegged beer is clear.
3. Seal and Pressurize
After transferring the beer, you need to seal the keg and pressurize it.
- Seal the Keg: Attach the lid securely and ensure the O-ring is properly seated.
- Purge Oxygen: Connect the CO2 tank and regulator to the gas post. Apply a low pressure of CO2 (around 5-10 psi) and pull the pressure relief valve a few times to purge oxygen from the keg.
- Pressurize: Increase the CO2 pressure to around 10-12 psi for storage.
4. Carbonate Your Beer
There are a couple of methods to carbonate your beer: forced carbonation and natural carbonation.
Forced Carbonation:
- Set and Forget Method: Set the CO2 pressure to 10-12 psi and let the keg sit in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
- Burst Carbonation: Set the CO2 pressure to 30 psi and shake the keg gently for about 5-10 minutes. Reduce the pressure to serving level (10-12 psi) and let it sit for a few days.
Natural Carbonation:
- Priming Sugar: Add priming sugar (dissolved in water) to the beer before sealing the keg. Seal the keg and let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 weeks before chilling.
5. Serve and Enjoy
Once your beer is carbonated, it's time to serve and enjoy your homebrew.
- Chill the Keg: Place the keg in a kegerator or refrigerator to chill.
- Connect the Lines: Attach the liquid line to the beer post and the gas line to the gas post.
- Adjust Serving Pressure: Set the CO2 regulator to the desired serving pressure (typically 8-12 psi). Your pour benchmark should be the ability to pour a pint in 8-10 seconds.
- Pour: Open the tap and pour yourself a glass of your freshly kegged beer!
Tips for Success
- Monitor Carbonation Levels: Regularly check your CO2 levels and adjust as needed.- Clean Lines Regularly: Clean your beer lines regularly to prevent contamination.
- Store Properly: Keep your kegged beer at a consistent, cool temperature to maintain quality.
- If foaming should begin to happen check that the temperature in the kegerator is correct as well as the pressure to and in the keg. Liquid line should be an equal distance to the gas line, in a home kegerator five foot lengths are ideal. When pouring your beer hold the faucet fully open.
Kegging your homebrew in a Cornelius keg is a straightforward process that can significantly enhance your brewing experience. With proper cleaning, careful transfer, and correct carbonation, you'll be able to enjoy fresh, delicious beer right from the tap. Cheers to your next brew!