Noob kegging questions regarding temp

[popihead]

Newbie to kegging here and I have a few questions. I want to start kegging soon but also want to be able to do some bottling for friends or competition. The forced carbonation will alleviate some of the carbonation mishaps I have had, mostly under carbed. Is it important that if you are filling bottles from a keg that is chilled to have the bottles chilled as well? Once filled, do they have to stay chilled, fridge temp, or can they go back to cellar temp, 65 degrees? For cellar storing, would it be better to let keg come to room temp before bottling? I would still carbonate for the serving temperature not the temporary storing temperature? Do you step up the carbonation level in the keg a bit due to loss during the transfer to bottles?

thanks for the help

[Push Eject]

Is it important that if you are filling bottles from a keg that is chilled to have the bottles chilled as well?

Yes

Once filled, do they have to stay chilled, fridge temp, or can they go back to cellar temp, 65 degrees?

The don't *have* to stay cold, but cycling temps will age your beer quicker.

For cellar storing, would it be better to let keg come to room temp before bottling?

Absolutely not, all your co2 will burst from solution.

I would still carbonate for the serving temperature not the temporary storing temperature?

Yes.

Do you step up the carbonation level in the keg a bit due to loss during the transfer to bottles?

I don't, some people do.

[popihead]

thanks so much. I am picking up 4 cornies today so I need to be as prepared as possible. I have been reading the boards and now assembling the gear needed for kegging. Hoping tovpick up a fridge this weekend as well.

[popihead]

one other question: after the beer is carbonated, a week or so of being on the gas in the fridge, can you take the gas off and leave it in there for a later date? Will it lose its carbonation? Or do you just reconnect the gas to pump it out of the keg?

[ApresSkiBrewer]

You should be able to disconnect the gas from that keg and it will maintain its carbonation just fine.... as long as you don't have any leaks. If you are purchasing used kegs, you really need to be pretty meticulous at checking the poppets/posts/pressure relief valves to be sure that your keg is holding pressure perfectly. I tend to have to replace at least one thing on a used keg... doesn't bother me, it is still significantly cheaper than buying kegs brand new. If you are though, more power to ya.

If you do have a micro leak (ex. your gas in poppet doesn't form a perfect seal with your gas in post due to wear, cracked, worn or old gaskets etc...) Your keg will slowly vent co2 and you'll have flat beer the next time you hook it up. Otherwise, you are good to go.

Worst case scenario, you can even force carb cold.... and store warm. As long as you chill your keg down to the proper serving temp again, you carbonation should still be correct.

As long as your system is balanced, you have no co2 leaks (or worse, out post leaks...) and your beer is properly carbonated - you really only need to hook up the co2 to push the beer from that point on.