carbonating kegs for short term storage?

Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:21 pm

I have recently started making 15 gallon batches but can only have 10 gallons in the kegerator at once. I have been brewing a significant amount of beer lately and have about 25 gallons of beer not in the kegerator. I have been force carbonating the kegs for storage, two days at 40 psi then removing from CO2 completely. Is it necessary to carbonate before storage and will it hold the carbonation though storage, probably a month or two? Is this the best way to store beer for the long term or should I not carbonate the kegs? I was assuming as long as my kegs don't have any leaks that the beer would be carbonated and ready to drink as soon as I cooled the stored beer, just as I do with bottles. I have been brewing for about 8 years and finally got the setup I have wanted for just as long. Now that I am brewing so much, storage and fermentation space are issues that are new to me. Any insight would be appreciated.
loadmaster
 
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Re: carbonating kegs for short term storage?

Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:10 pm

I quite often have more kegs of beer than what will fit in my kegerator. I check the carbonation charts and carb at room temperature. I generally do this while watching tv. I lay the keg on its side, hooked up to CO2 at the appropriate pressure, in front of the couch. I rock the keg back and forth with my foot for a while and then wait for the gas to quit bubbling. I keep the gas post on the low side so I can feel the gas bubbling with my foot. When the gas stops flowing I rock it again for a while. I just repeat until I can't feel it taking more gas even after fairly violent rocking. I then unhook the gas and set the keg in the basement until it's time to chill and serve. As long as there is no leak, the keg will stay carbonated.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
http://www.lincolnlagers.com
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Bugeater
 
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Re: carbonating kegs for short term storage?

Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:13 pm

The issue of having to much beer is not an issue :lol: I wish it was my problem.
Rictanica
 
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