3 replies to this topic

[jayb151]

Hey all,I saw the "Beer Engine" thread posted here by armagh and it reminded me that I had been meaning to post on an experiment I did. Every X-mas, I end up trying to make a beer that I can serve to all my family that wont get them too smashed. I usually go for a bitter or a stout. This year I went for an oatmeal stout that was nicely low gravity. The beer turned out fantastic and was a huge hit.Also, wanting to experiment, I tried serving it as cask ale. I naturally carbonated the keg using some sugar. I put a dispensing line on the gas side out and turned the keg upside down to let gravity pour the beer. I also put an air vent on the liquid side. So, I was using the keg the opposite way that I normally would because it was upside down. This allowed me to pour the beer without adding any gas and without using a beer engine. I simply used a cobra tap, and the beer turned out great!Sorry for the poor quality photos. I was using my phone.

[neddles]

Looks like a nice way to do it. Do you know how long do you have before oxidation starts to give off unwelcome flavors? IOW, how quickly does it need to be consumed. I would guess a day or 2? Thanks for sharing.

[jayb151]

I've heard a day or two. When we were done, only about half of it was gone. I just hooked it back up to the gas and drank if till it was gone. took about another two weeks. I noticed a little oxidation, but no one else did.

[ChefLamont]

Very simple and neat idea. Good work.I have done some reading on the interwebs where people have build essentially a cask breather using a low pressure propane regulator in the CO2 line. It is putting out ~.5 psi so it is not enough to "push" the beer or anything, but it keeps CO2 on it if you dont finish the keg in a couple of days. May have to give that a try.