Are you thinking of starting brewing at home? If so one thing that you will definitely need s good kegs and the equipment for brewing. Sometimes, as a newcomer to the field, you will find it a little challenging to find these gear easily and even if you do, you may feel a little confused by the sheer amount of choice that you have with it. So how can you delve into the basics of choosing good quality kegging gear? Here is a simple guideline that may sound basic but is actually covering all the bases so that you are investing your money in the right way.
What Needs To Be Looked For In A Keg?
Obviously when you want to start kegging the beer, you are going to need a keg. The best type of keg, especially for home brewers is the old Pepsi style 5 gallon kegging equipment according to research. You can find these kegs brand new for quite an affordable price and it is really a good deal to get one. You can buy a used one for even less and that can be good, if the gear is itself in good condition. You should also try and look for bundle and discount deals and make sure that they are in good condition as well.
Even if the outside looks a little used, if the inside is solid, that could still be all that you need really. All that you need will be for the keg to hold pressure. You will also need to replace some of the rings that come with the keg. You should also keep in mind that there are rubber rings that come attached to the lid as well as the gas tubes and liquid tubes inside. You may need to replace and buy all these rings but they are actually quite affordable.
Get the CO2 Cylinder and Fittings
Now that you have a keg and you have also filled it, you will next need to carbonate your beer. This means that you will need a regulator, fittings, tubing, a CO2 tank, and a tap that will help you dispense your beer. The fittings are the gas and liquid ones that will disconnect those which attach to the keg. The grey disconnect part will attach to the gas post, and the black disconnect part will usually be attached to the liquid post.
If you want to tell the difference between the posts, the gas post in general, has several notches and also comes with a star like pattern towards the edges. The liquid post will look more like a hexagonal shape so they are easily differentiated. Many of the home brew shops may sell you all this equipment under something called a draft system. Some places will however, omit the CO2 gas tank form the list when they compile this draft system. Generally omitting the CO2 tank is a better deal because many shops will exchange the tank but they will not be able to fill it for you.
