Category Archives: Top Post Updates

What’s the Difference Between Ball Lock Kegs and Pin Lock Kegs? + A Source for NEW Pin Lock Kegs!

Ball Lock Kegs vs Pin Lock Kegs – What’s the Difference?

The containers we call Ball Lock and Pin Lock Kegs come from the soda industry.  Also called Cornelius Kegs, Corny Kegs and Corney Kegs, they were originally intended to store and distribute soda pre-mix.  The big soda companies decided on different style containers for their pre-mix.  Pepsi landed on the Ball Lock style while Coke uses the Pin Lock style.

Homebrewers have since re-purposed these as homebrew beer kegs.

Announcing: NEW Pin Lock Kegs Now Available!

new pin lock kegsThe availability of of used kegs has recently become an issue. See: Are Used Kegs Running Out?

This has been especially true of pin lock kegs, because new pin locks have not been coming on the market. To my knowledge no new pin lock offering was generally available to homebrewers. This has caused the price and availability of pin locks to be a serious issue. For example, MoreBeer’s Pin Lock offering has sky-rocketed to $85 per keg.

Well, today is a happy day… Announcing NEW Pin Lock Kegs from cornyieg.com

First, It’s important to understand both do the same thing with slightly different and dimensions and features.  Note: All measurements in this post should be considered approximate.  There are different models and manufacturers of kegs.  Their sizes are generally about the same, but some kegs and manufacturers vary slightly.  There are several sizes of kegs available including 2.5, 3, 5, 10 and 15 gallons.  This post focuses on the commonly used 5 gallon size.

cln_img_3151The first thing you’ll notice is dimensions – Pin Lock Kegs wider than Ball Lock kegs.  Ball Lock on Left, Pin Lock on Right.cln_img_3150Left [Brand New 5 Gallon Ball Lock from AIH – Review] | Right [Used 5 Gallon Pin Lock] – Pin Locks are also shorter than Ball Lock Kegs.  Ball Lock on Left, Pin Lock on Right.  Both of these kegs have a ~5 gallon capacity.

Limited Time Keg Deals, Article Continues Below:

keg deals

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Our Huge Collection of DuoTight and EVABarrier Resources

duotight evabarrier reviewKegland’s DuoTight Fittings are designed to work with EVABarrier Double Wall Tubing.  They offer quick, reliable connections, easy implementation, a variety of fitting options and feature amazing versatility.  They’re also, generally speaking, very well priced.  DuoTights are push to connect fittings and require no tubing clamps.

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Three Ways to Convert a Keg Into a Fermenter

The containers we call Ball Lock and Pin Lock Kegs come from the soda industry.  Also called Cornelius Kegs, Corny Kegs and Corney Kegs, they were originally intended to store and distribute soda pre-mix.  The big soda companies decided on different style containers for their pre-mix.  Pepsi landed on the Ball Lock style while Coke uses the Pin Lock style.

Homebrewers have since re-purposed these as homebrew beer kegs. It makes sense. These high quality stainless steel beverages that are meant for years of commercial food use. They’re also tough, can be had for cheap and are easy to move around.  Related: Five Benefits of Using Corny Kegs As Fermenters

What if someone said there was a pressure capable, heavy duty stainless steel fermenter that could be had for 50 bucks or so?

Great news…. kegs make great fermenters! Same high quality, stainless steel construction, toughness and easy portability, but this time used for fermentation.

Converting Kegs Into Fermenters, 3 Options

One issue needs to be addressed to convert kegs into fermenters… handling CO2 produced by fermentation. Kegs are generally designed to be airtight. Fermentation requires that we allow excess CO2 to escape.  I can think of three options…

  1. A blow-off tube. Remove the gas post or gas post poppet and get use tight fitting tubing to route CO2 to a container of sanitizer.
  2. Use a converted lid to add a stopper and airlock
  3. Use a Spunding Valve

FIVE Reasons to Ferment in Kegs!…

Keg Deals

keg deals

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Universal Poppets Tips and Tricks!

I use universal style poppets exclusively when rebuilding kegs. Finding the right OEM specific replacement poppets can be a chore. Beyond finding the right part number, these can be prohibitively expensive. Paying $10 to $14, or more, for an OEM poppet isn’t fun. In fact, if you really had to pay that, it may not even make sense to keep the keg.

Enter universal poppets.  These can be picked up at a reasonable cost, regularly under $2 each, and fit the vast majority of kegs.

Tip: Immediately Replace Universal Poppet O-Rings

I remove and discard the o-rings that come with universal poppets.  That may sound a little odd, but there are a couple issues. First, I have no idea what these are made of. They are probably okay, but I’m not sure. This is one spot that has a lot of contact with beer. I want to make sure these are food grade.  Second, when it comes time to replace these o-rings I want replacements that won’t change fit.  I’m aware of a single source for bulk food grade o-ring replacements for universal poppets. Size may vary slightly compared to OEM, so I replace these before adjusting for fit so that the replacements won’t change the way these fit. The stainless parts of universal poppets should last a long, long time, having a reliable source for replacements that you know aren’t going to change anything is a big benefit. Beyond that, being sure you’re using food grade materials at this point is worth a few cents.

OR… Universal Poppets – 304 Stainless + Food Grade Silicone! & Reliable O-Ring Replacements

universal poppetsSince this guide was published, Valuebrew has released a 304 Stainless Steel + Food Grade Silicone Universal Poppet option!

I’m excited that there’s finally there’s an option that comes with quality o-rings made from the right materials out of the box!  Beyond that, Valuebrew has pledged to always carry replacement o-rings, so you’ll always have a source when the time comes for replacements.

Universal Poppets – via Valuebrew – These are made of 304 SS and come with food grade silicone o-rings. Valuebrew has committed to always carrying replacements.

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Craft Cleaning Chart – Contact Times, Dosage, Temperate and More for Star San, PBW and lots more

Resource Posts on PBW and Star San

I have resource posts on Star San and PBW that have loads of information, tips & tricks.

Star San and PBW Tips and Tricks

About Star San

Star San is my homebrew sanitizer of choice.  When mixed properly, it’s food safe and no rinse.  Required contact time is five minutes.  It has worked very well for me for quite some time and I’m convinced that it’s one of the most economical solutions available if you’re using the “Spray Bottle Method” outlined here.

Five Star -...image
Five Star - Star San - 16 Ounce - Brew Sanitizer High Foaming Acid Anionic
$19.50 ($1.22 / Ounce)

About PBW

Five Star Chemicals PBW – Powder Brewery Wash – is my go-to brewery cleaner. It is a non-hazardous buffered alkaline brewery cleaner and it… works great.

Five Star P.B.W....image
Five Star P.B.W. Cleanser - 4 Pounds
$28.98 ($0.45 / Ounce) -$0.23 $28.75 ($0.45 / Ounce)

Five Star’s Craft Cleaning Chart PDF…

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Step by Step Small Batch, All Grain Stove Top Brewing!

small batch homebrew

I periodically brew small (1-3) gallon all grain batches of beer on my stove top.  Some reasons I do that… 1.  The weather – it’s too cold, too hot or too something else, 2.  Time or 3.  I want to test something.  It’s a fun, simple, quick and economical way to brew all grain with minimal investment.

For the extract brewer, what kind of gear is needed to accomplish this amazing feat?  A comprehensive list follows…

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Making Wine as a Homebrewer!

Thank you to HBF Contributor Aaron Nord for this hands on review!  Aaron is an advanced award winning brewer, a long time reader and a serial tipster!

Making Wine as a Homebrewer

Background

I can remember when I first considered delving into brewing all grain beer. After gaining experience from doing boxed recipe kits, to then slightly modifying a boxed kit or two followed soon by making my own recipes with partial mash batches, I figured it was time to step up to all grain. The amount of time and research I poured into the endeavor before pulling the trigger was considerable. I was concerned that I would miss a step or need to make a brew-time adjustment without being prepared and be left with gallons of potentially ruined wort. It all ended up working out. Sure, there were some missteps along the way and the inevitable audibles during brew day, but each time I was rewarded with a drinkable beverage that trended upward in the flavor and quality departments with each experience.

When I considered throwing my hat in the ring for making wine, I had the same feelings I had when I made the move to all grain brewing from kits and partial mashes. I was apprehensive. What if I forget something in the process? What if I don’t have the requisite knowledge to be able to make prime time adjustments? What if the wine just doesn’t turn out? While I was overthinking the endeavor, I had another thought that brought be back into reality.

As a kid I remember getting the occasional taste of an adult beverage when we would visit my great grandma at her farmhouse in rural southern Iowa. She was a crafty and capable maker of all the things one needs on a farm and even some that might not be considered a necessity, like wine.

Make Your Own Wine!

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How To: Step by Step Making a Magnetic Drip Tray

Update International (DTS-419) 4" x 19" Rectangular Drip Tray, Stainless SteelPictured: Update International (DTS-419) 4″ x 19″ Rectangular Drip Tray, Stainless Steel  – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

Step by Step instructions for making a magnetic drip try for your Kegerator or Keezer.

This is a project that requires materials and tools. Operate power tools carefully. Make sure the components you use are compatible and rated for your intended application.  Contact manufacturer with questions about suitability or a specific application.  Always read and follow manufacturer directions.

By: HBF Reader Andrew Cunje

Materials:

  • Update International (DTS-419) 4″ x 19″ Rectangular Drip Tray, Stainless Steel – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link
  • Alternate: DasMarine 19″ Length 4″ Width Rectangular Stainless Steel Beer Surface Mount Drip Tray
  • 4′ of 6x.5 Poplar Wood (actual width is 5.5″)
  • 1’4″ of  6×1 Poplar Wood (actual width is 5.5″) Note: A thicker wood will suffice for this…remember the longer the wood extends down from the joint, the less likely the magnetic bond will break from the leverage applied to the edge of the drip tray.)
  • 4-5ft of Decorative Trim of your choice (Sold in lengths of 8′)
  • MUST BE 1.25-1.5 inch trim. I used 1.5 which I highly recommend.
  • 3/4″ mounting screws (for magnets) or Epoxy/Gorilla Glue
  • 1″ wood screws
  • Brad/Finishing Nails
  • 1 large old school hard drive magnets (Bigger with Mounting Holes than newer drives) (Alternative: rare earth neodymium magnets that are .5″ thick (Approximately 8); these can be stacked if you can only find .25″ magnets)
  • Wood Glue
  • Wood Putty (Optional)
  • Wood Stain (Optional)
  • Tennis Racket Grip Tap (Or an old yellow rubber glove). Anything rubbery and tacky to increase friction against the fridge.
Update International (DTS-419)...image
Update International (DTS-419) 4" x 19" Rectangular Drip Tray, Stainless Steel
$43.99
DasMarine 19
DasMarine 19" Length 4" Width Rectangular Stainless Steel Beer Surface Mount Drip Tray, No Drain, Silver
$90.00

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Vacuum Sealing Mylar Bags Using FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers

foodsaver mylar bags

Vacuum sealing with a FoodSaver, Seal-a-Meal or similar is a great way store food, hops, grains, spices and more. Vacuum bags work to seal out oxygen, prevent freezer burn and more.

What Are the Advantages Mylar Bags?

Generally speaking Mylar bags consist of three layers. Two Mylar layers that laminate a center aluminum foil layer. This combination provides strength, flexibility and durability along with an extremely low Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR). These bags also block potentially damaging light. Combine this with vacuum sealing and you’ve got an outstanding way to store food & more.

Search Amazon for “food grade mylar bags” – to see lots of current offerings

For homebrewer’s… Vacuum sealed Mylar bags are an excellent  way to store hops and other oxygen sensitive materials.  As a testament to this, many hop distributors distribute hops in Mylar bags.  Sometimes those are vacuum sealed and sometimes they are nitrogen flushed.

Do Mylar Bags Work with FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers?

A FoodSaver (or similar) is a standard home suction type vacuum sealer that relies on special bags. We generally call them… vacuum sealer bags. These bags are embossed or textured to create channels on the inside of the bag. Those channels allow a FoodSaver to draw out air and create a vacuum all while the machine is clamped down. When this process is done a heat strip seals the bag locking in the vacuum state.

Mylar bags have smooth walls. Since they don’t have the required special channels they will not work with FoodSaver machines.

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Homebrew Storage Options! – Base Grain, Specialty Grain and DME + Limited Time Free Shipping on Malt!

When it comes to storing grain and DME, we’re concerned about keeping ingredients fresh minimizing oxygen and moisture exposure.  We’re also interest in keeping Grain and DME away from possible pests.  Beyond that convenient access and efficient use of space are issues to consider.  This post also includes some tips and general sizing guidelines.

Buckets for Grain Storage – Pros and Cons

Pictured: Food Grade Buckets via Amazon

Buckets are one of the most basic and popular options out there and for good reason.  They are generally easy to source, well made and cheap.  Food safe options are also easy to find.

Search Food Grade Bucket on Amazon

Grain Storage Capacity Estimations

My rule of thumb for grain storage capacity is about 5 lbs per gallon for unmilled malt storage.  That’s a rough estimate, actual storage capacity will vary.  A 5 gallon bucket holds about 25 lbs Two buckets = a 50 lb bag.  Two 6 gallon buckets would comfortably hold a 55 lb bag.

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Jester King Brewery Homebrew Recipes – Straight from the Brewery! + Source for Jester King Brewery Culture & More Recipes!

The fine brewers at Jester King based in Austin Texas have released homebrew recipes for 6 of their beers.  Kudos to Jester King for sharing with the homebrewing community!

Recipes include…

  • Biere De Miel, an ale brewed with Texas wildflower honey
  • Das Wunderkind!, a blend of young, fresh ale with mature, barrel-aged ale
  • Gotlandsdricka, an ale brewed with smoked malt, juniper, and sweet gale
  • Kvass, an ale brewed with miche bread
  • Noble King, a hoppy ale
  • Snörkel, an ale brewed with oyster mushrooms and smoked sea salt

Update: Recipes have since been removed from their website after an update.  No fear, we have them archived!  And, we have additional recipes along with a source for Jester King’s Mixed Culture

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Adding a Tri-clamp Fitting to a Homebrew Keg Lid

This article is by Homebrew Finds Reader Kris G.  Thank you Kris for your creativity and hard work!

Editors Note: This is an advanced project that requires additional tools, skill and materials. This post outlines the process that Kris took to modify his keg lid with a weldless tri-clamp bulkhead. Product specifications can change over time, double check to make sure that current specifications match your needs.

Adding a Tri-clamp Fitting to a Homebrew Keg Lid

Carboys, conicals, buckets, kegs, etc. There is an ever-growing number of options for fermentation vessels. I recently moved away from carboys to experiment with pressurized fermentation. I didn’t feel like buying anything new, so why not repurpose a corny keg for fermentation? This past year I “right-sized” my batches down to 2.5-3 gallons making a corny the perfect size for fermenting. With a couple modifications (shortened dip tube, hop screen, etc), I had an old 5 gallon corny now as a dedicated fermenter. An added bonus was that it fit perfectly in my temp-controlled chest freezer.

Fermenting in a Keg Using TC Equipped Lid

Related: Fermenting Under Pressure

Commercial Option Now Available, Build Continues Below:

304 stainless steel Cornelius Keg Lid with 1.5" Tri-clamp Ferrule,NEW Corny Beer Keg Lid 60PSI PRV Food Grade Dry Hopper

304 stainless steel Cornelius Keg Lid with 1.5″ Tri-clamp Ferrule,NEW Corny Beer Keg Lid 60PSI PRV Food Grade Dry Hopper – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

This article contains affiliate links. We may make a small percentage if you use our links to make a purchase. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting Homebrew Finds and more content like this. Thank you for your support!

I started seeing some other homebrew fermenters with tri-clamp connections on top. Blogs all around showed them used with blowoff tubes, thermowells, carbonation stones, CIP spray balls, etc. It seemed like a great universal connection with a ton of uses. Most importantly to me, I wanted the tri-clamp connection to build an oxygen-free dry hop dropper (that build is an article for another day).

TC Equipped Lid with Butterfly Valve – Also: Color Coded Keg O-Rings

Read on to see my trials and tribulations while adding a TC bulkhead to my corny lid.
Build note: This is a weldless build. If you’ve got the ability/skill/tools to weld stainless, go for it!

Safety Note: Ensure that you are using all tools properly and wearing all the proper PPE. You will be drilling/cutting metal which is both sharp and hot.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
HBF is not responsible for your irresponsibility. At time of this writing, I am fully up to date with my tetanus shot. That may or may not be related…

Supplies

Editors Note: Note that multiple variations of these products may be available, as such a different version may appear at these links. Double check sizes and features.

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Hands On Review: German Made Speidel Fermenters

Hands on Review Speidel Fermenters

German Made, Speidel Fermenters are available in a range of sizes 3.2 gallons all the way up to… 132 gallons.  Check out the full lineup including accessories and replacement gaskets.

I’ve owned a 5.3 gallon Speidel fermenter since October of 2011.  I use it for small batch BIAB beers.  I’ve been very impressed with that fermenter.  More recently, I picked up the 7.9 gallon version so that I can ferment full 5 gallon batches with all the same advantages.  This is a hands on review of both fermenters.

Compare Prices, Speidel Fermenters, Review Continues Below:

NorCal Accessories for Speidel Fermenters

Since their introduction NorCal Brewing Solutions has introduced a number of accessories to extend and enhance Speidel Fermenters

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What Does a Flow Control Faucet Do?

what does a flow control faucet do

In order to properly serve a pint of beer from your kegerator you need to have a balanced system.  You decide what carbonation level you’d like to serve and what temperature you want your beer to be and set a CO2 pressure based on those two factors.  To pour a proper pint, well carbonated without excessive foam, you need to balance your system.  Balancing offsets your set CO2 pressure with the proper amount of resistance.  Not enough resistance = fast pouring and excessively foamy beers.  Too much resistance = beer pours too slowly or not at all.   Each component along the way provides some resistance.  Typically most of the resistance comes in the form of adding more beer line.  More line = more resistance.  For a full rundown of this see: Step by Step Balancing Your Kegerator Draft System

What do flow control faucets do?

Flow control faucets feature a built in flow compensator that allows you to adjust the resistance your faucet is exerting.  That means less tubing and potentially less foaming and wasted beer. The compensation feature also makes it easier to serve higher carbonation beers as you can set the faucet to provide resistance to offset the increased pressure needed to store and serve these beers at higher pressures.  Instead of replacing your beer line with ever increasing lengths of tubing, you simply turn a knob to increase resistance.

In my opinion Intertap and Perlick are top faucet manufacturers and both have a flow control model.

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Sourcing a Replacement Pump for Mark’s Keg and Carboy Washer

The purpose built Mark’s Keg and Carboy Washer is… awesome. It saves on cleaning and sanitizing solution, it’s versatile, doesn’t take up a lot of space and it saves me time. It’s one of my favorite homebrew tools and it has been for years.  Check out my in depth Hands on Review.

Mark’s Keg & Carboy Washer can be found at…

Finding a Replacement Pump

The pump on Mark’s Keg and Carboy Washer is, in general, very reliable.  Mine has lasted, for years, with no issues.  According the manufacturer, most pump issues that do arise are resolved by cleaning the pump.  Having said that, it’s possible that a pump needs replacement.  Finding a replacement is a bit difficult.  These are not sold by themselves.  It is possible to get a replacement from the manufacturer, but you usually need to provide proof of purchase and they aren’t cheap.

I put the call out asking HBF Readers [Let’s be friends!] if they had found any third party pumps that work as replacements for the Mark II Keg and Carboy Washer and Adrian got back to me in short order with this recommendation. Thank you Adrian!

Here it is….

Note: This post features the 740 GPH version. Other versions may be available and could show up by default of the 740 GPP version is out of stock. Double check the product page to see what’s available.

LYQILY 740GPH Ultra Quiet 2800L/H 55W Submersible Water Pump with 8.5ft High Lift for Fountains, Hydroponics, Ponds, Aquariums, Fish Tank – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

LYQILY 740GPH Ultra...image
LYQILY 740GPH Ultra Quiet 2800L/H 55W Submersible Water Pump with 8.5ft High Lift for Fountains, Hydroponics, Ponds, Aquariums, Fish Tank
$19.99

Note: This write up is about size and fit of this pump I’m making no commentary on materials compatibility of food safety of the materials used in any pump.

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Serve Homebrew on Any Kegerator & Convert Commercial Kegerator to Homebrew

convert sanke to homebrew

Homebrew and Commercial Kegerators do the same thing.  They chill beer and allow you to serve it.  Each has lines for gas (typically CO2) and beer.  The only difficult thing about switching back and forth are the fittings and taps.

Commercial kegs use commercial keg couplers or taps.  These taps vary based on the brewery.  A typical style for US kegs is Sanke type D.  Commercial taps typically handle liquid and gas in single unit while homebrew couplers separate these out into gas and liquid quick disconnects.

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Oxygen Free Transfer and Cold Crash Using a Spunding Valve!

homebrew oxygen free transfer

What is Cold Crashing?

Cold Crashing is chilling your beer after fermentation is complete.  Typically you want to get as close to freezing as possible, without actually freezing your beer.  These cooler temperatures cause break, yeast and trub matter to drop out of your beer.  This increases clarity, helps to hasten the conditioning process and helps you get a cleaner transfer to your serving vessel.

What is a Spunding Valve?

A Spunding Valve allows you to ferment under pressure, naturally and precisely carbonate in the keg, fix over-carbonated beers and more.  See: Build a Spunding Valve for more info.

Related Gear and Resources, Article Continues Below:

Kegland BlowTie v2

Kegland BlowTie v1

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Homebrew Fermentation Heating Sources – Maintaining Fermentation Temps in Colder Weather

cold weather homebrewing

Fermentation temperature has a lot to do with how your finished beer turns out.

As seasons turn, you may need a boost to keep fermentation temperatures up.  Here’s a roundup of some of the available options out there along with some related reviews and resource posts

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