Mini-kegs...how to?

[buffburgo]

I'd like to start using mini-kegs but I am not too sure about how to set the whole system up. I have a kegerator with 2 taps and 2 cornies, but I have been finding I am not cycling through the 10 gallons of beer regularly enough so I have started brewing 1/2 batches of 2-3 gallons each. So I thought, maybe I should try mini kegs. I was figuring on buying some mini-kegs of Warsteiner or Paulaner Hefe, etc... drinking them, and reusing the kegs. I guess I could just buy new mini-kegs but thought I might as well kill 2 birds with one stone the next time I need to stock up on the beer supply.

Anyway, how does it work? I know there are rubber bungs that need to be "poked out" and it is recommended to use a Phil-tap or something with mini-CO2 charges. Do you need the CO2 to force out the beer? could I just charge the keg initially with my kegerator CO2 tank, and then dispense by internal pressure/gravity from there? Anyone know of a link anywhere that discusses this stuff?

[Techie101]

I've run a few scenarios of mini kegs around in my head a few times over the past year or so. I'm in the same boat (almost) as you. I didn't think I could go to a full kegging system (which I know you have) so I tried the Tap-A-Draft system. Great for the first batch, not so great after that. It's now used to make sodas. The mini kegs you were talking about seem to be a good option but I've heard the pressurization is a little iffy. But seems that is w/ natural carbing. Using the Phil Tap I don't think you have any way of adjusting the PSIs to dial in a styles perfect CO2 volume. I'd love to have a way to use the mini kegs for parties or what-not.

Northern Brewer sells the posts for cornies and states "Now you can put a corny style connector on anything" I was wondering how that could be added to one of the mini kegs and then you could use a regulator to pressurize the beer and to serve with as well. ~$10 for one of those posts and another $10 for a new mini keg (or free w/ beer) I'd say it would be worth a shot to see if I could get it to work.

[jeremymm]

By Mini Kegs do you mean 1/6 or 1/4 barrel Sankey kegs or those things that Heineken comes in at the grocery store??

[bub]

the heiny ones
BUB

[buffburgo]

yeah, I meant the ones that Heiny comes in. Although, the Heiny ones by me (Northern NJ) seem to be more specialized. It looks like they have a different kinda tapping system than the one's I've seen they previously had, or the one's that Becks, Warsteiner, etc... comes in.

[Bugeater]

Here is a short FAQ article about mini kegs.

http://www.brewery.org/library/mini112994.html

Here are the instructions that Northern Brewer includes with their mini keg kit. http://www.northernbrewer.com/documenta ... system.pdf

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[DannyW]

Dan Listermann http://listermann.com does a lot of work with Minikegs. He has a document on his page of instructions http://www.listermann.com/PDF/Index.asp that has an entry for Phils_Mini_Tap_Instructions. That describes the whole minikeg process.

Then you should, of course, buy one of his mini taps!

[HomoBrewer]

Make sure you dry them REALLY WELL when they're empty. All my mini kegs promptly rusted after the first use and just draining them dry.