NMM: Homebrewers

[hz80408]

I believe there's a few on this board (although I mainly lurk and can't remember if I have the right board); do any of you have a home kegging system?

Last year H switched to all-grain brewing and now is wanting to upgrade to kegging. Trying to research for him. Anything you recommend/like/disklike/etc would be helpful. Thanks

eta: more detail: we will need some type of kegarator as well

[mbcdefg]

MH has home-brewed before, although he hasn't done a kegging system. He likes this website for supplies and it looks like they might have kegging supplies/advice: www.northernbrewer.com/

The message boards on Ratebeer.com might also be able to help.

[hz80408]

Oct 31, 2012 11:21:09 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

MH has home-brewed before, although he hasn't done a kegging system. He likes this website for supplies and it looks like they might have kegging supplies/advice: www.northernbrewer.com/

The message boards on Ratebeer.com might also be able to help.

Thanks; we order from Northern often! We've looked there a bit but are looking for "real" life reviews. I'll post on rate beer though! Thanks!

[ohgillian]

Oct 31, 2012 11:21:09 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

MH has home-brewed before, although he hasn't done a kegging system. He likes this website for supplies and it looks like they might have kegging supplies/advice: www.northernbrewer.com/

The message boards on Ratebeer.com might also be able to help.

Ditto -- northern brewer or austin homebrew are DH's go-to stores.

I can tell you that DH really loves having switched to kegging from bottling. We have two kegs in our outside fridge.

[bunch]

My h buys his kegs from a junk yard. It may not be the most ethical way to get them, but it's definitely the cheapest.

[protozoa]

I don't know if DH & friends really have a system per se. They use soda kegs. Our friend works at a junkyard and gets some there for free, and DH keeps an eye on Craigslist. NB is insanely expensive but I'm sure you could get everything you needed there much easier and it would work well.

[protozoa]

Oct 31, 2012 11:40:25 GMT -5 bunch said:

My h buys his kegs from a junk yard. It may not be the most ethical way to get them, but it's definitely the cheapest.

How would this not be ethical? Honest question.

[bunch]

Oct 31, 2012 11:42:10 GMT -5 protozoa said:

Oct 31, 2012 11:40:25 GMT -5 bunch said:

My h buys his kegs from a junk yard. It may not be the most ethical way to get them, but it's definitely the cheapest.

How would this not be ethical? Honest question.

. Because they are stolen and being sold for scrap.

[ohgillian]

DH's kegs don't look like "normal" kegs. They look like these:

www.amazon.com/Pin-Lock-Gallon-Reconditioned-Keg/dp/B0064OM3RE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1351702471&sr=8-4&keywords=keg

[protozoa]

Oct 31, 2012 11:44:02 GMT -5 bunch said:

Oct 31, 2012 11:42:10 GMT -5 protozoa said:

How would this not be ethical? Honest question.

. Because they are stolen and being sold for scrap.

How do you know they are stolen? My friend gets kegs all the time that are not stolen.

[bunch]

Well, the junk yard guy hides them in a back room. Where does your friend get non stolen kegs? Breweries don't sell them and new ones are a fortune. The only way I can figure these are obtained are from people who don't return them for their deposit, which is a rental fee and far less than the keg is worth.

[protozoa]

Oct 31, 2012 12:48:08 GMT -5 bunch said:

Well, the junk yard guy hides them in a back room. Where does your friend get non stolen kegs? Breweries don't sell them and new ones are a fortune. The only way I can figure these are obtained are from people who don't return them for their deposit, which is a rental fee and far less than the keg is worth.

OK, that makes sense. I was thinking about soda kegs, since those are what DH & buddies use. But of course you never said soda kegs Soda kegs are still being decommissioned from restaurant use.

My friend works at a scrap yard and is often the person that receives the stuff that comes in. So he has a decent idea of whether something is legit or stolen based on whether it comes from a real company or some random person.

We do have a half barrel from the scrap yard that they cut the top off and use for boiling. It is really nice looking

[hz80408]

Thanks; I guess I should have specified that really we'll have need a kegarator type setup. any specific advice on those?

H is super excited to make the switch. It will be nice not to have beer bottles in every room in our apartment (literally, besides the bathroom anyways)

[protozoa]

Oct 31, 2012 14:27:49 GMT -5 hz80408 said:

Thanks; I guess I should have specified that really we'll have need a kegarator type setup. any specific advice on those?

We bought a chest freezer from Sears and DH converted it into a kegerator. They put a wooden collar around the top and re-mounted the lid for the taps. It holds 4 soda kegs (plus whatever random beer and wine we throw in there). The top is painted with chalkboard paint so we can write what is on tap. Debating whether to line the bottom with wood like the collar, or just paint with the chalkboard paint.

[hz80408]

Oct 31, 2012 14:34:35 GMT -5 protozoa said:

Oct 31, 2012 14:27:49 GMT -5 hz80408 said:

Thanks; I guess I should have specified that really we'll have need a kegarator type setup. any specific advice on those?

We bought a chest freezer from Sears and DH converted it into a kegerator. They put a wooden collar around the top and re-mounted the lid for the taps. It holds 4 soda kegs (plus whatever random beer and wine we throw in there). The top is painted with chalkboard paint so we can write what is on tap. Debating whether to line the bottom with wood like the collar, or just paint with the chalkboard paint.

Nice! I think H is working along the lines of this idea; but the only downfall is the only place we get to keep it is in our living room; hence why I'm searching and trying to figure out something that won't look entirely awkward. I'm thinking if I could have my FIL build a wood cabinets or something to go over it and just have the taps stick out somehow? (H is envision 2 soda/pony kegs)