brewing for the holidays...storage and serving questions

[Kazi the Younger]

I have several brews planned for holiday times. I'm new to kegging, so I just wanted to make sure I got some things right.

I kegged two beers this weekend--an English special bitter and an Amber Ale. I racked them to kegs and cleared the headspace with co2. Now they are just sitting in the garage @ about 50-60 degrees. Is this ok for them? It's just like being in secondary, right? I plan on brewing, fermenting and kegging until I have all the beers I want, then about two weeks before holidays arrive, I plan to hook them up to co2, carbonate and have them ready to serve.

Is this the way you guys do it?

[Brew Engineer]

50-60 should be fine for a while. You just don't want them to get too warm, or see a lot of temperature variation. As long as its cool, and consistent, you'll be fine.

Beers are stored in a bottle on the shelf for months before someone comes along and buys them and puts it in the fridge!


You've protected them from oxidation (CO2 purge) and keeping them away from mlight (they're in kegs).

Relax!

[greatLake]

Is there any advantage/disadvantage (flavor or otherwise), if you planning on storing kegs, to carbonate them and let them sit as opposed to filling them, clearing the head space and letting them sit uncarbonated?

I'm planning on doing the same thing, kegging up three or more kegs, but I only have a single regulator. I assume it is ok if you brewed three kegs carbonated them and unhook them and let them sit, so if I pile through one keg on a good night, I can hook up the next and serve right away. Tell me if I'm wrong, I've been reading up but am about to embark into kegging.

[Brew Engineer]

I'm not aware of any disadvantage to letting the beer sit carbonated vs uncarbonated. I would think carbonated would be better. More assurance that any oxygen is purged. You're pressurized against your seals, so nothing can leak in or out. Also, you'll be ready to serve quicker.

I think Bugeater noted this though- be careful if you're carbonated at room temperature. Once you put it in the fridge. If you carb to a "volume of CO2" for room temperature, then put it in the fridge, the pressure will be high, and can cause beer to leak back up your CO2 line.

If you're going to store it at room temp carbonated, when you go to serve it, your best bet is to put it in the fridge and let it come down to temperature before you hook up the CO2.

[Sent From My iPhone]

If your kegging a lager you may not want to carbonate it fully. I believe a lager will 'lager' better uncarbonated, allowing the yeast to work their magic. Then again, what the hell do I know.

[Brew Engineer]

If your kegging a lager you may not want to carbonate it fully. I believe a lager will 'lager' better uncarbonated, allowing the yeast to work their magic. Then again, what the hell do I know.

I agree with you. I am of the same opinion, but Kazi is brewing a Bitter and an Amber.

Good luck-