5 gallon Sanke Keg...Usable?

[TCC]

I may be able to get a few 5 gallon Sanke kegs. I am making sure I get them legally.

These kegs look just like the 15.5 kegs people use for HLT, mash tun or brew pot.

Here is an example of what they look like.
http://www.chicompany.net/index.php?mai ... cts_id=167

My question is can I use these in the home brew world? How would I fill them and carbonate?

[bewm]

Are you sure they aren't 7.75g kegs?

http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Usef ... Dimensions

AFAIK 5g sankes are

[Mylo]

Those are the 1/6th of a barrel kegs (5 Gallons). It would not make a good kettle, MT, etc - IMO - for a number of reasons.

They are very similar to cornies in size, but that's where the similarities end. They are pretty difficult to clean as a homebrewer. I'm pretty sure you could make a kick ass keg cleaner (along the lines of what the pros use), but it would be costly for sure. I'd stick to cornies.


Mylo

[TCC]

Are you sure they aren't 7.75g kegs?

http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Usef ... Dimensions

AFAIK 5g sankes are

It could be the 7.75g. I will have to look at them closer.

[TCC]

Those are the 1/6th of a barrel kegs (5 Gallons). It would not make a good kettle, MT, etc - IMO - for a number of reasons.

They are very similar to cornies in size, but that's where the similarities end. They are pretty difficult to clean as a homebrewer. I'm pretty sure you could make a kick ass keg cleaner (along the lines of what the pros use), but it would be costly for sure. I'd stick to cornies.


Mylo

I was more interested in them for putting beer in as you would a corny. Sounds like these may not be worth getting.

Out of curiosity, what do the bars use to hook up the kegs like this?

[Mylo]

They use a regular Sanke tap.


Mylo

[triple-oh-six]

I've got a 1/4 bbl (7.75 gal) sanke that I use as a fermenter.

I took out the spear and use one of these http://morebeer.com/view_product/16657/ ... ps5_Gallon

The biggest issue is making sure it's clean, you can't see inside the top.

[Quin]

My question is can I use these in the home brew world? How would I fill them and carbonate?

You can use them just as you would a corny keg. They need to be completely disassembled and cleaned with PBW each time just as you would a corny. You need a commercial keg coupler to fill/dispense. There are one way valves on the gas and liquid side. You would need to remove the check valve on the liquid side for filling. If you are going to use for secondary or fermenting, you would need to remove the check valve on the gas side. NB also sells flare tailpiece fittings to allow you to connect homewbrew gas/liquid lines to a commercial keg coupler.

Here is a link for disassembling sankey kegs
http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~workman ... Sanke.html

Heres a link for reinstalling the lock ring
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/install ... keg-64128/