Pro Flow Dynamics

Pro Flow Dynamics

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

It's Tailgating Season: Portable Draft Serving Roundup!

It's tailgating season!

Here's a roundup of some different portable serving options that could come in handy come tailgate time!

 Tap A Draft
I'm a happy Tap a Draft user!
This system comes with three 1.5 Gallon Bottles, A Tap and CO2 Cartridges for serving.  4.5 gallon total capacity is just about the perfect size for a finished 5 gallon batch.  Or, fill one bottle up off of your kegerator faucet.

This tap also works with 3L PET Soda Bottles.

 Tap A Draft Setup - $69.95 Shipped

 Party Pig Dispenser
Similar to the Tap a Draft.  Party Pig Bottles Hold 2.25 Gallons of Beer.
Instead of using CO2 Cartridges, the party pig uses an expanding pouch.

Full details and instructions here

Party Pig Dispenser - $39.99 (on sale)

 Growler
One of the easiest options is filling up a growler.

I primarily use this one...
This is German made and pressure capable.

Filling this up is a straightforward task...
Start with a cold growler.  I suggest putting it in your kegerator so it's the exact same temperature as your beer.  This will reduce foaming.

If you're using picnic taps a 3/8" ID section of tubing should fit nicely on the end of your taps.  If you're using a Perlick style faucet, a section of 1/2" ID tubing should fit on your faucet.  Make sure the tubing is long enough to hit the bottom of the growler.  Turn down the pressure to 4 or 5 psi and slowly fill.  Close on foam and you're good to go.

The downside of using this in the context of tailgating is a broken German made, pressure capable growler.

2L Swing Top Growler GL520 - $27.95 + Free Shipping with a $59 order

Carbonator Cap/Kent Systems Soda Bottle Cap
Same idea as the growler, just using inexpensive 1L and 2L PET Soda Bottles. From a tailgating perspective, this is probably preferable vs a glass growler.  Fill up several 2L bottles and you're good to go.
Fill the 1L or 2L Bottle using a section of tubing.  Put on a carbonating cap and pressurize for easy transport.

See a full write up on the Kent Systems solution here.

This has the advantage of being more economical and safer vs a glass growler.  PET plastic bottles will not shatter.  Also, handy if you want to go into an area that restricts glass such as a pool area.

Kent Systems Soda Bottle Cap and QD - $9.95 + Free Shipping with a $59 order

Serving your full Corny Keg of Beer
Now we transition into solutions for serving full Cornelius kegs of beer.  Combine your keg full of homebrew with a faucet and a CO2 source.

Faucet Options
Faucet Quick Disconnect Assembly - $36 + Free Shipping with a $59 order
This is nice because it provides plenty of resistance for foam control, takes up minimal space and looks great.
Pin Lock Version:
Pin Lock QD Faucet Assembly - $36  + Free Shipping with a $59 order
Draft Box - 1 Faucet - $169.95 Shipped
These are for serving beer that isn't necessarily cold yet.  Ice in the cooler quickly gets beer down to serving temperature quickly.

Draft Box - Two Faucet - $289.95 Shipped
Picnic Tap
'nuf said

CO2/Pressure Options
Ball Lock Handheld CO2 Charger - $22.95 + Free Shipping with a $59 order

These things are great.  Compact and easy to use.  If you go with this option, I'd recommend running the thing yourself.  Guests tend to squeeze this for fun and sport and empty out the cartridge in short order.  You just need a couple of taps to keep the pressure at an acceptable level for serving.

Pin Lock Version:
CO2 Injector Pin Lock - $22.95 + Free Shipping with a $59 order

Mini CO2 Regulator Kit - $134.95 Shipped
Similar to the handheld unit above, but with a regulator and larger CO2 cartridges.  The CO2 cartridge on this is more than 4 times larger than the injector featured above.  The regulator also means this takes care of itself.  I have one of these and love it.  It has come in handy as a backup CO2 source when my main tank ran empty.  You could also use this to keep an already carbonated keg at a different pressure/carbonation level from your main CO2 source.
Pin Lock Version:
Mini CO2 Regulator Kit (Pin Lock) - $135 Shipped
Use a compact Paintball CO2 tank to dispense your beer using this CO2 regulator designed for the task.  Much more portable than your 5, 10 or 20 lb tank.

Ball Lock Hand Pump - $39.99
If you know you're going to go through a whole keg, or multiple kegs, this hand pump is a great option.  No tubing or CO2 to bother with.  Of course, it's going to cause oxidation, but that doesn't matter if you're drinking the beer quickly.

Complete 3 Gallon System
Adventures in Homebrewing has a complete tailgate system.

This includes the regulator, empty paintball tank, new 3 gallon Cornelius keg, picnic tap, beer line, gas disconnects and gas line

3 Gallon Tailgate System - $239.99 (on sale)

Cooling
A 5-6 gallon bucket with ice has worked well for me.

Cloudiness
If you don't filter your beer and decide to strap your keg on the back of an ATV and take off, you'll soon figure out why people filter their beer as your guests remark at how Budweiser doesn't have the same chunks of yeast that your beer has.

Options...
1.  Get it in place ahead of time and let it settle.
2.  Filter it.
3.  Transfer clear beer to a new keg and leave any yeast behind.

 Got an option to add to the list?  Email Homebrew Finds!

 Related: Adventures in Homebrewing, More Beer, Bottling, Draft, Kegs, CO2 Hardware, Tips Tag, Tips Page


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