Source
r/beer•
CodisG

Co2 kegorator questions!

So I've had great results when I hook a keg up to my kegorator and used no co2 until the co2 in the keg has pretty much done (molson canadian) is this normal. If I try to add co2 before all I get is foam,

I also have one of those maybe 10 pound bottles of co2 that come with the costco kegorator and I have no way of telling how much co2 is left in the bottle, if I disconnect it from the lines there is still plenty of pressure coming directly from the bottle I've had 2 full sized kegs on this bottle so I figured its probably time to swap it I just dont wanna swap a bottle if I dont have to

Btw. The kegorator that comes from costco comes with a regulator, I'm trying to figure out how to tell how much co2 I have left in a bottle with no gauge on it. So to be clear like everyone else in the world... I have a regulator

Posted Mar 26, 2020, 1:59 AM UTC · edited

314
beerguy74•

A full 10lb bottle should last 10-13 kegs depending on your pressure.

2
CodisGOP•

Thanks man!

1
MelbPickleRick•

Sometimes if the CO2 pressure is too low it allows the keg CO2 to come out of solution. Maybe try increasing the CO2 pressure to force the CO2 in the keg back into solution.

I think I remember something about pouring hot water down the side of your CO2 bottle to show the level.

Edit : I think the hot water is to do with liquid gases, so not sure. I know you can get special gauges to measure capacity.

2
CodisGOP•

I still can't figure out how much co2 I have left at this point I am just kinda hoping that i have enough for this keg and I'll swap it next time cuz I'm cheap lol

1
MelbPickleRick•

I forget, also download and have a look at this, https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/brewersassoc/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Draught-Beer-Quality-Manual-2019.pdf

1
CodisGOP•

Thanks buddy!

1
WinskiTech711•

Definitely think about adding a gauge to your kegerator in the near future. https://www.amazon.com/High-Pressure-Gauge-System-Regulator/dp/B07CMJKXSJ

1
CodisGOP•

I have a regulator I just cant figure out how much co2 I have left in the bottle itself

1
Adam2uBer•

CO2 bottles should have the tare weight engraved on them.

1
backward_z•

So what you're saying is that you don't have regulators?

You need a regulator. Then you can set the pressure and just leave the gas hooked up. Like everybody else in the world does.

1
CodisGOP•

Really... could you imagine hooking a fuckin co2 tank directly up to a keg come on bud... no I'm trying to find out if people use the co2 pressure from the keg itself first before adding pressure. Like eeeeveryone else in the world I have a regulator

1
backward_z•

Any kegs should be hooked up to CO2 for the duration of their use. If you're using pure CO2 and you have short lines, anywhere in the 8-12 psi range should be fine. If you're getting too much foam, reduce your pressure, bleed some gas off, maybe leave it disconnected for a few pours. If you're consistently getting foamy pours while hooked up, your pressure is set too high, you need longer fluid lines, or some sort of flow restriction.

1
CodisGOP•

I usually try to have it on when I first tap the keg but I've had such bad luck until I depleted the co2 that was in it not to the point of flattening the beer but until the pressure of the keg wont push itself out even if I turn the co2 on I geame 3/4 of a pint of foam at the moment I have the pressure set to 4-5 psi and I'm not getting a tonne of foam but it's still probably more that there should be but I dont want to have 1- 2psi because I dont want the keg to go flat

1
backward_z•

Okay, so think about it like this:

There is already a certain volume of CO2 that is dissolved into the beer. When you buy the keg, the pressure of the CO2 in the beer is equal to the pressure in the headspace of the keg. When you run beer without hooking it up to CO2, you will deplete the CO2 in the headspace and everything inside the keg will try to find equilibrium, so the CO2 that is dissolved in the beer will move to the headspace to make up the difference, resulting in flatter beer.

So if your beer is overcarbonated (pouring all foam), the trick is to disconnect from CO2, bleed some gas off of the tank (usually you'll have a ring or something that'll let you do this. Otherwise, if you're using corney kegs, you can push the plunger on the gas line with a screwdriver or something) and then wait for the dissolved CO2 to fall out.

So if your pressure is really low but you're still getting foam, try this. Disconnect your gas, bleed some CO2. Walk away for an hour or two. Come back and try to pour a beer. If it's still too foamy, repeat the process. When it's pouring well, hook your CO2 back up to normal pressure (8-12 psi) and all should be good.

But what you need be thinking is that there's already a volume of CO2 dissolved into the beer and you're using the CO2 tank to keep that consistent. If the CO2 gets too high or too low, you can compensate to fix it.

Conversely, if you overshoot and your beer is too flat, kick the pressure up overnight. Usually, like 20psi. Just don't forget to kick it back down in the morning or before you open the tap.

1