Brewing Master

Question:

Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response:

I clean mine with a soft scrubby pad and soap…I use my carboy brush to get the bottom.  I also take the whole thing apart, which all you need is a set of wrenches if you have the pepsi kegs.  You’ll need a pin lock wrench if you have a coke keg. After everything has been washed, rinsed and reassembled, I fill it with my iodophor solution, shake it up, let it sit a few minutes.  Then turn it upside down, let it sit for a few minutes, then I pressurize the keg with about 20lbs.  I get something to poke the valve down on the in and out and let the solution drain out for about a minute or 2 on each side. After that, I dump the iodophor out into my bucket, turn the keg upside down to air dry.  I’ll poke the valves one more time to get any left over solution out, then once air dried, I place my sanitized top on, seal it and pressurize it until I’m ready to use it.  I normally do this about a few days before I’ll need it.  Then the beer goes in. Oh, don’t use chlorine on stainless steel…Don’t know why, but that’s what I’ve heard. It’s easy to replace the o-rings and stuff.  Very easy actually.  Just take the valves out, replace everything, put them back in.  No bigga deal.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response:

I have some used corny kegs that I am going to use for my brew.  Does anyone know if I should actually replace the "o" rings and such, or should I leave well enough alone?

I have 10 used corny kegs, the orings have never been replaced on any of them, and they have not affected my beer that I can tell.  I once put beer in a keg I used just for homemade rootbeer, and I didn’t detect any off flavors. I keep hearing that the "o" rings will give the beer an off flavor.  Is there any truth to that? Should I replace gaskets or leave alone since the keg holds pressure very well.

Do what you think is best.  If the kegs seal, the rings must be in ok shape. If you do not detect any noticable odors or flavors in your beer, then you are probably fine leaving things be.  On the other hand, it won’t hurt to replace them either.  Others may report that they always replace the gaskets on each used keg.  Whatever works for you is the right way to go Any thoughts?

You will love kegging! Peter

DaveG – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

The in and out o-rings won’t  imapart any flavor. Take them off and stretch them a little. If you see any cracks, it’s a good time to replace them. Although they’ll work for a while as is. The o-ring that seals the lid could be a problem for off flavors is a strong flavored soda was used in the keg (like root beer). Take it out, clean it and let it dry. Then smell it. If you smell something, it’ll get into your beer. Again, test for cracks and replace if necessary.. Burp, -Dan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have some used corny kegs that I am going to use for my brew.  Does anyone know if I should actually replace the "o" rings and such, or should I leave well enough alone? I keep hearing that the "o" rings will give the beer an off flavor.  Is there any truth to that? Should I replace gaskets or leave alone since the keg holds pressure very well. Any thoughts? Peter I use  about a tbs. of dishwashing detergent to clean and Iodophor to sanitize. Chorine is fine if you don’t let it soak for a long time. Chlorine and SS no good. My experience is that – don’t muck with the rings if they don’t leak, especially the poppets. Poppets seem to match with the I/O ’s. If you need to replace things on ball lock cornies, no special tools are reacquired. My $0.02. Colin T Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts? Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter Medford, NY swap net.optonline to reply via e-mail

Response:

I have some used corny kegs that I am going to use for my brew.  Does anyone know if I should actually replace the "o" rings and such, or should I leave well enough alone? I keep hearing that the "o" rings will give the beer an off flavor.  Is there any truth to that? Should I replace gaskets or leave alone since the keg holds pressure very well. Any thoughts? Peter

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I use  about a tbs. of dishwashing detergent to clean and Iodophor to sanitize. Chorine is fine if you don’t let it soak for a long time. Chlorine and SS no good. My experience is that – don’t muck with the rings if they don’t leak, especially the poppets. Poppets seem to match with the I/O ’s. If you need to replace things on ball lock cornies, no special tools are reacquired. My $0.02. Colin T Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter Medford, NY swap net.optonline to reply via e-mail

Response:

Oh, don’t use chlorine on stainless steel…Don’t know why, but that’s what I’ve heard. Chlorine will pit stainless steel over time.

DaveG

Response:

Peter, I use a couple of packs of C-Brite ($0.25 each) and near boiling water to clean my kegs… Take them all apart and soak everything until the keg is cool or overnight… Drain and reassemble.  I usually pressurize the keg with 10 lbs CO2, and then store them that way. When it’s time to keg your brew, de-pressurize, (if the pressure isn’t there, now’s the time to replace those seals (a 5 pc set is around $5.00)), rinse with a cold water splash and then fill with cold water & Iodophor to standard solution strength… wait 5 minutes, empty solution, splash rinse with cold water and your ready to go. As far as the O-rings are concerned a pen-knife is all you’ll need to remove the o-rings on the ball-lock posts, everything else can be done by hand.

: Hi All, : : I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the : necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I : start. : : 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? : 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I : need special Equipment?  Where do I start? : : Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! : : Peter : : :

Response:

I use  about a tbs. of dishwashing detergent to clean and Iodophor to sanitize. Chorine is fine if you don’t let it soak for a long time. Chlorine and SS no good. My experience is that – don’t muck with the rings if they don’t leak, especially the poppets. Poppets seem to match with the I/O ’s. If you need to replace things on ball lock cornies, no special tools are reacquired. My $0.02. Colin T – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Medford, NY swap net.optonline to reply via e-mail

Response:

Chlorine will corode and pit stainless steel. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Joey, Thanks for the info. How much do you pressurize the keg (psi) with when waiting for beer to be filled into it? Pete I clean mine with a soft scrubby pad and soap…I use my carboy brush to get the bottom.  I also take the whole thing apart, which all you need is a set of wrenches if you have the pepsi kegs.  You’ll need a pin lock wrench if you have a coke keg. After everything has been washed, rinsed and reassembled, I fill it with my iodophor solution, shake it up, let it sit a few minutes.  Then turn it upside down, let it sit for a few minutes, then I pressurize the keg with about 20lbs.  I get something to poke the valve down on the in and out and let the solution drain out for about a minute or 2 on each side. After that, I dump the iodophor out into my bucket, turn the keg upside down to air dry.  I’ll poke the valves one more time to get any left over solution out, then once air dried, I place my sanitized top on, seal it and pressurize it until I’m ready to use it.  I normally do this about a few days before I’ll need it.  Then the beer goes in. Oh, don’t use chlorine on stainless steel…Don’t know why, but that’s what I’ve heard. It’s easy to replace the o-rings and stuff.  Very easy actually.  Just take the valves out, replace everything, put them back in.  No bigga deal.. Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts? Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response:

Joey, Thanks for the info. How much do you pressurize the keg (psi) with when waiting for beer to be filled into it? Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I clean mine with a soft scrubby pad and soap…I use my carboy brush to get the bottom.  I also take the whole thing apart, which all you need is a set of wrenches if you have the pepsi kegs.  You’ll need a pin lock wrench if you have a coke keg. After everything has been washed, rinsed and reassembled, I fill it with my iodophor solution, shake it up, let it sit a few minutes.  Then turn it upside down, let it sit for a few minutes, then I pressurize the keg with about 20lbs.  I get something to poke the valve down on the in and out and let the solution drain out for about a minute or 2 on each side. After that, I dump the iodophor out into my bucket, turn the keg upside down to air dry.  I’ll poke the valves one more time to get any left over solution out, then once air dried, I place my sanitized top on, seal it and pressurize it until I’m ready to use it.  I normally do this about a few days before I’ll need it.  Then the beer goes in. Oh, don’t use chlorine on stainless steel…Don’t know why, but that’s what I’ve heard. It’s easy to replace the o-rings and stuff.  Very easy actually.  Just take the valves out, replace everything, put them back in.  No bigga deal.. Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response:

Replacing the o rings is easy and no tools are necessary unless you want to replace the poppets in which case you will need a 5/8 inch box end wrench to take the in and out valves off.  As far as cleaning I use Five Star PBW to clean kC

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi All, I have been brewing for over 5 years and now have accumulated all the necessary equipment to keg my beer.  I was wondering two things before I start. 1. What should I use to clean the kegs out?  Brushes? Iodine? Clorine? 2. How easy is it to replace the gaskets ("o" ring) and other parts?  Do I need special Equipment?  Where do I start? Any help would be much appreciated.  Thanks! Peter

Response: