Tap-a-draft question

[Brew Engineer]

So, I got myself one of them fancy tap-a-draft systems. Can't make the investment to a whole corny set-up and kegerator (just yet). I bottled my first batch into it this weekend. Damn it smelled so good I can't wait to try it. It was pretty damn easy compared to bottling.
So, I'm carbonating the first bottle with the CO2 cartridges, How do I know when I should replace the CO2 cartridges to push the beer? Should I just try to pour a beer, and use that as a gage of when its carbonated?
What's your experience with the system?

Thanks!

[bub]

Can you force carb with those things?? I thought you had to natrually carb and just serve with the cartridges. My guess is it would take several cartridges to force it, but figuring that out would take math, I don't do math.
BUB

[Brew Engineer]

Supposedly you can force carbonate with two cartridges, then you need to change them out before you serve. The flyer says it takes about 7 days to force carbonate, but I'm not a patient man. Especially when it comes to beer.

[bub]

Get it COLD then carb... then SHAKE like an epileptic having an orgasm, wait 24-48 hours... serve
BUB

[awalker]

Get it COLD then carb... then SHAKE like an epileptic having an orgasm, wait 24-48 hours... serve
BUB

[Techie101]

The TAD system is pretty neat but is limited however. The built in regualtor is set to 15psi. There's not many beers out there that taste good at that level save for Hefes. Don't believe me brew an Ordinary Bitter or even an ESB and put it in there. It'll taste like crap when first served, set it in the fridge for an hour or two to let it go flat and then taste the difference. DON'T DO THE "SHAKE THE PISS OUT OF IT" TRICK. It'll actually put too much CO2 into the liquid too fast, pressure builds up and it will 1.) Exhaust the excess gas and 2.) the pressure will actually force the tap open and pour your beer out on the floor or into your fridge. I did shake mine up to speed the carbonation process but not much. About 5 to 7 seconds of good hard shaking should do it. You could probably go back in a few hours and give it a little more.

2 CO2 cartridges will carbonate, then you'll need 2 more to push a full 5L bottle. I've switched to full 5 gallon keggerator but still think it was a good investment to use for parties.

[Brew-boy]

I use those carb drops in mine works like a champ and I use only 1 co2 cartridge to push the beer, this saves on those cartridges.

[Brew Engineer]

I ended up leaving it to force carbonate for 6 days with two cartridges, and I replaced only one to dispense. It seems to work really well, and doesn't seem over carbonated.

And it's DELICIOUS!!! My beer has gotten a lot better since I started listening to the BN! Thanks Jamil (and I suppose Justin too)