Category Archives: Top Posts

Top 10 Reasons to Homebrew – According to ChatGPT

What is ChapGPT?  ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI, based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. It’s designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the input it receives. ChatGPT is trained on diverse internet text and can perform various language-related tasks, such as answering questions, engaging in conversations, writing creative content, and more. It’s a part of the GPT-3.5 series, and its capabilities include natural language understanding and generation, making it versatile for a wide range of applications. – ChatGPT’s explanation of itself

I asked ChapGPT to tell my why someone should homebrew.  Here’s what it said along with some of my commentary.

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Building a Dry Hopper for Corny Kegs – Dry Hop Under Pressure!

Thanks to /u/NachoTacocat on r/homebrew for this photo and build info!

Benefits of Fermenting Under Pressure + The Challenges of Dry Hopping Under Pressure

Fermenting under pressure has some great benefits. One of the challenges that using this method presents is… dry hopping. When fermenting under pressure the beer is carbonated. Adding dry hops to a fermented and carbonated beer, especially one at relatively warm fermentation temps equates to a Mentos+Diet Coke sort of situation. The hops provide lots and lots of nucleation points that can cause the beer to erupt expelling foam all over the place in the process denaturing head retaining proteins.

FermZilla fermenters from Kegland have a ready made solution called the Hop Bong. It allows you easily dry hop under pressure. Since the beer and dry hops are under pressure you don’t have foaming problems when dry hopping.

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Using Temperature Activated Stickers to See Keg Levels

Thanks to u/CivilDistribution576 on r/homebrewing for this tip and picture

u/CivilDistribution576  Says…

They sell these sheets that are like 1 square foot vinyl stickers that change color at 59°F. I cut a strip out of one and placed it from top to bottom of the keg. Throw it in the kegerator and the sticker is a bold color (<59°F), take it out, and rub it to generate heat until the color turns white. Give it a couple seconds, and the color will be restored up to the level of the beer and make a clear indication of the fullness of the keg.


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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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Homebrew Keg Post Types and Sizes

homebrew keg post types and sizes

Before you purchase any replacement posts for your keg, you’ll need to determine the brand/maker of that keg. You can figure this out by finding the stamp or markings on the side of the keg.

  • Cornelius, Ball Lock (all types) GAS 19/32″ – 18 LIQUID 19/32″ – 18 – View +
  • Cornelius, Pin Lock (all types) GAS 19/32″ – 18 (2 Pin) LIQUID 19/32″ – 18 (3 Pin) – View +
  • Cornelius Spartan 19/32″ – 18 19/32″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • Cornelius R (Pin Lock) 19/32″ – 18 (2 Pin) 19/32″ – 18 (3 Pin) – Shop ++
  • Firestone V, VI & Super Challanger, Ball Lock* GAS 9/16″ – 18 LIQUID 9/16″ – 18 – View +
  • Firestone Challenger, ball lock (racetrack) GAS 11/16″-18 LIQUID 3/4″-18 – +
  • Firestone, Pin Lock (all types) GAS 9/16″-18 (2 Pin) LIQUID 9/16″-18 (3 Pin) – View +
  • Firestone A (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin) – Shop ++
  • Firestone R (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin) – Shop ++
  • Firestone Challenger 11/16″ – 18 3/4″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • Firestone Super Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • Firestone V Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • Firestone VI Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • John Wood 85, Ball Lock (racetrack)* GAS 11/16″-18 LIQUID 3/4″-18 +
  • John Wood RA or RC, Pin Lock GAS 19/16″-18 (2 Pin) LIQUID19/16″-18 (3 Pin) – +
  • John Wood 85 11/16″ – 18 3/4″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • John Wood RA (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin) – Shop ++
  • John Wood RC (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin) – Shop ++
  • AEB, Ball Lock GAS 19/32″-18 LIQUID 19/32″-18 – View +
  • AEB Kegs 19/32″ – 18 19/32″ – 18 – Shop ++
  • Super Champion 19/32″ – 18 19/32″ – 18 – Shop ++

* The vast majority (99%) of Firestone Ball Lock Kegs on the market use the same post except for the original Challenger, which had “racetrack” style lids. Racetrack style lids had straight sides like a race track and are rare. All other kegs had standard rounded sides.

+Thank you to Keg Connection for this information – Complete Lineup of Posts and Poppets at Keg Connection

++Thank you to Keg Outlet for this information – Complete Lineup of Posts and Poppets at Keg Connection

Related: What’s the Difference Between Pin Lock and Ball Lock Kegs?

What about Wrench Sizes?  Find Compatible Tools

ball lock post sizes


+ Keg Connection Says… ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Reviews Are In – BEST KEGS EVER

18+ Liter Ball Lock Keg | Fully Remanufactured (AEB/SAFER/Cornelius) | SEE DESCRIPTION

18+ Liter Ball Lock Keg | Fully Remanufactured (AEB/SAFER/Cornelius) | SEE DESCRIPTION

More Info

From the product description, check product page for current description, price and availability:

18+ Liter Ball Lock Keg | Fully Remanufactured (AEB/SAFER/Cornelius)
These are top-tier, refurbished Corny kegs made of stainless steel. With stainless steel costs climbing and high-quality used kegs becoming increasingly scarce, this is an offer you won’t want to overlook.

Every keg in our collection undergoes a comprehensive refurbishment process. This includes deep cleaning, machine polishing, and the replacement of o-rings on the lid, PRV, as well as liquid and gas dip tubes, in addition to two o-rings on each post. These kegs are all sourced from elite brands, including AEB, SAFER, and CORNELIUS.

Additional Information on Our Refurbished Kegs:
Though these kegs are pre-owned, they may exhibit minor cosmetic imperfections such as small dings and scratches that couldn’t be completely polished away. None of these issues impact their functionality.

After the cleaning and polishing operations, some residue might be present on either the keg’s exterior or its rubber components. While it may transfer onto your hands, this is merely a reminder that all kegs—whether new or used—need to be meticulously cleaned before usage. Proper sanitization is also crucial before filling them with any beverage.

A subset of these kegs has experienced sun damage to the rubber areas, affecting the seal. This could lead to the formation of black marks, particularly when the rubber is wet, although this is less likely when it’s dry.

Lastly, you might find some kegs with double o-rings on their posts. While this may appear out of the ordinary, rest assured they function as effectively as those with single o-rings.

Diameter: 8-7/8″ (225mm)
Height: 22-1/4″ (565mm)
Weight: 9 lbs 9oz (4.34kg)
Volume: 4.75 gallons (18 liters) but some are also slightly more in full volume
Post Thread Size: 9/16-18 UNF Thread on both the IN and Out.


 

The fact is… the era of cheap and readily available used homebrew kegs is… done. I could give you a bunch of reasoning behind that opinion including one of the best sources for used kegs… de-listing used kegs, but I’ve got a regularly updated article on the topic you can check out.

Keg Connection Says…

“People have been receiving these new PREMIUM REMANUFACTURED KEGS and already love them! That’s because there hasn’t been a used keg on the market in this good of condition, EVER. They’re ‘used’ in a literal sense but each of these kegs has undergone an extensive refurbishing process. They have been meticulously cleaned, machine-polished, and fitted with new o-rings including the lid, pressure relief valve, and both liquid and gas dip tubes. Plus, we’ve added two new o-rings on each post.”



Ball Lock Vs Pin Lock Kegs!

pin lock keg orings

Rebuild Your Kegs

This post may contain affiliate links. We may make a commission when you use our links. This will never cost you extra. Thank you for supporting Homebrew Finds!

Price, promotions and availability can change quickly. Check the product page for current price, description and availability. tag:lnksfxd tag:postsizes tag:tpr 

Make Your Own Hop Water!

Making Hop Water at Home!

By Vito Delucchi

Are you looking for a hoppy non alcoholic beverage to have on tap? Hop Water is the perfect drink to hold down a tap handle and give you an N/A alternative to beer. In the past, I’ve always enjoyed having some “carbonated water” to fill this void. But after trying Hoppy Refresher from Lagunitas Brewing, I was hooked and wanted to make one myself. Luckily I live close to the brewery and actually knew someone there. After a few text messages back and forth I was armed with everything I needed to brew my own hoppy refresher hop water at home! But being the awesome peeps they are, we took it a step further and they invited me to their innovation lab to brew our own experimental batch of hop water and sat down with me to answer any questions. Check out that full video below and keep reading for a summary of everything I learned, including a step-by-step hop water recipe

The Secret To Making Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher

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How Often Should I Clean My Kegerator Beer Lines?

Clean kegerator lines are a key part of serving delicious beer. Bacteria and mineral build in lines can cause off flavors, quick loss of head, under-carbonated beer due to rapid co2 loss and lack of legs forming on the inside of your beer glass.

How Often Should I Clean My Beer Lines?

The Draught Quality Beer Manual says… every two weeks.

That recommendation is for a commercial operation.  What about homebrewers?  We serve far fewer beer on our kegerators, but on the other hand, we can have been on tap and in lines 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Considering all of this, my recommendation is to clean home kegerator beer lines every 1 to 2 months.

Line Cleaning Options

Our Line Cleaning Builds:

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Using a CO2 Detector in Your Kegerator

INKBIRD WiFi Indoor Air Quality Monitor, CO2 Detector, Accurate NDIR Sensor, Temperature and Relative Humidity, Indoor CO2 Meter with Data Logger, for Cars, Wine Cellars, Grow Tents, Homes (INK-CO2W).Pictured: INKBIRD WiFi Indoor Air Quality Monitor, CO2 Detecto

Losing a tank of CO2 because of leak is frustrating. It’s a waste of time and money. Adding a CO2 monitor can help warn you of leaks minimizing loss, wasted money, wasted time and frustration.

A CO2 Monitor Alarm in Your Kegerator

Placing a CO2 Monitor with alarm inside of your kegerator can serve as another line of defense to protect against co2 leaks and loss. CO2 should not be building up in your kegerator. A CO2 monitor with alarm can alert you of this condition.

Options with WiFi and a companion app are nice because you can get notifications on your compatible phone.

Beyond CO2 Levels…

Some models display additional information that can be helpful information about your kegerator. These vary model to model and can sometime include temperature and humidity.

  • Temperature – monitor your kegerator temperature
  • Humidity – Help judge whether your Eva Dry (or similar) needs recharged for the purpose of handling excess kegerator and fermentation chamber wetness.  See: Damp Kegerator? Fix Kegerator Condensation

Not A Replacement for Checking for Leaks…

A do not consider a CO2 alarm as replacement for thoroughly checking for and addressing leaks. Rather this is another layer that could save you a trip to swap out a CO2 tank.

The Biggest Trouble Spot

Color coded post o-rings. From our Keg Rebuild Post – Jump To: Replace O-Rings

In my opinion the most difficult spot to check and the cause of many a lost CO2 tanks are… gas post o-rings.

Testing at this point using the “spray bottle method” (spray Star San everywhere and check for bubbles) is impossible or at the very least difficult and messy.  Leaks will only surface here when a gas QD is actually engaged.  The problem is, you can’t easily see that spot when a QD is on.

The problem stated more simply… You need a QD on to see if it’s leaking, but you can’t see it if a QD is on. You can use what I call the pressure gauge method to check for overall leaks. But even using that method you know that you have a leak but it gives no indication where it’s at.

Be quick to replace gas side o-rings… I’m quick to replace gas post (and gas dip tube) o-rings. Beyond slow and no-carbing beers, a bad gas side o-ring can lead to empty tanks. That’s a waste of time and money and it’s frustrating.

These o-rings cost pennies each when you buy them in bulk. Liberally replacing these can save time, money and frustration.

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The Most Difficult Spot to Check for CO2 Leaks

hard to find keg co2 leak

If you’ve found this article odds are pretty good you’re having trouble tracking down a pesky leaks.


I recommend changing o-rings when Daylight Savings Time Ends

How Often Should You Replace Keg O-Rings? – A Proposed Schedule for Keeping Kegs in Great Shape


Check for CO2 Leaks

First things first, if you haven’t already used traditional methods to try to track down your leak, check out my resources on the topic.

The Most Difficult Spot to Check for CO2 Leaks…

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Where to Find RAPT Pill Digital Hydrometer from Kegland?

rapt pillThe RAPT Pill allows accurate and precise, true real-time specific gravity and temperature logging and control via wifi/bluetooth integration with the RAPT fermentation chamber (KL15813), RAPT mobile app or RAPT IOT.

The RAPT Pill acts as both a real-time gravity testing hydrometer and thermometer allowing instant gravity and temperature measurements and also logging from inside your fermenter during fermentation.

The RAPT Pill boasts many advantages over other wireless hydrometers and thermometers including tough design, better ergonomics, sanitary design and less susceptible to error as a result of hops, krausen or CO2 bubbles generated from fermentation.

The iSpindel is a DIY Wi-Fi enabled hydrometer.  The project originated in Germany, but an English translation is available.


This integrates directly with RAPT fermentation Chamber and can also work independently via RAPT mobile app or RAPT IOT. 

Finding RAPT Pill:

Availability of RAPT Pill in the US has been scant. eBay has been the only place I’ve been able to find them.

Search eBay for RAPT Pill for additional options

Also…

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Are Used Kegs Running Out??

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.



Are Used Kegs Running Out?

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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.



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’s Craft Cleaning Chart PDF…

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Fun with Carbonation Caps!

Carbonation caps are available in a number of styles and materials from various manufacturers. These are generally designed to thread into standard 1L and 2L PET bottles.

Sourcing a Carbonation Cap

FERRODAY Stainless Steel Carbonation Cap Forced Carbonation PET Bottle Filling 5/16 Barb CO2 Coupling to Carbonate Soda Beer Stainless Steel PET Bottle Carbonation Cap + O-ring + GasketWorks with both liquid and gas (double check current specs to confirm) – Ferroday Stainless Carbonation Cap Counter Pressure Bottle Filling With 5/16″ Barb – Hands on Review

Tee Fittings

These caps along with tee fittings have proven to be very flexible. Here are some application ideas…

PET Bottles as Growlers:

Fill up a 1L or 2L PET bottle with your favorite homebrew.  Put one of these on (purge the headspace by squeezing if you want to) and then pressurize for transport.  This should help to reduce oxygen pickup and maintain carbonation levels.

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What’s The Difference? Comparing AEB and AMCYL Ball Lock Kegs!

AEB and AMCYL manufacturer ball lock kegs, also called soda pre-mix tanks. Homebrewers use these for beer, cider and seltzer. Coffee shops use them for cold brew, Kombucha makers use them for kombucha and on and on.

A common question I see, or directly hear, is… what’s the difference between AMCYL and AEB?  It’s a great question. Both make new ball lock kegs, both go by abbreviated company names and both start with…. A.  Maybe they’re the same? This write up aims to answer the question and will give you a complete run down of what’s the same and what’s different.


Hands on Reviews of Both:

This post will give an overview of each keg with comparisons. If you want a deep dive into either one, I have in depth hands on reviews of both kegs.

AEB vs AMCYL Kegs, Compared…

Important Note: In this comparison, when two kegs are pictured, AEB kegs will always be on the left an AMCYL kegs will be on the right.

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Homebrew Keg Post Thread Size Reference

cln_img_3027It can be tough tracking down the right 

Keg Type Gas Post Size – Thread Liquid Post Size – Thread Product Link

  • Cornelius Spartan 19/32″ – 18 19/32″ – 18
  • Cornelius R (Pin Lock) 19/32″ – 18 (2 Pin) 19/32″ – 18 (3 Pin)
  • Firestone A (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin)
  • Firestone R (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin)
  • Firestone Challenger 11/16″ – 18 3/4″ – 18
  • Firestone Super Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18
  • Firestone V Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18
  • Firestone VI Challenger 9/16″ – 18 5/8″ – 18
  • John Wood 85 11/16″ – 18 3/4″ – 18
  • John Wood RA (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin)
  • John Wood RC (Pin Lock) 9/16″ – 18 (2 Pin) 9/16″ – 18 (3 Pin)
  • Super Champion 19/32″ – 18 19/32″ – 18
  • AEB Kegs 19/32” – 18 19/32″ – 18

Thanks to Keg Outlet for this information. They carry many of these options.

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Kegerator Draft Line Cleaning Options!

Clean kegerator lines are a key part of serving delicious beer. Bacteria and mineral build in lines can cause off flavors, quick loss of head, under-carbonated beer due to rapid co2 loss and lack of legs forming on the inside of your beer glass.

How Often Should I Clean My Beer Lines?

The Draught Quality Beer Manual says… every two weeks.

That recommendation is for a commercial operation.  What about homebrewers?  We serve far fewer beer on our kegerators, but on the other hand, we can have been on tap and in lines 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Considering all of this, my recommendation is to clean home kegerator beer lines every 1 to 2 months.

Line Cleaning Options

Our Line Cleaning Builds:

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Keg O-Ring Materials Selection! – EPDM, Silicone and Buna-N?

See More About O-Rings in our Keg Rebuild Post – Jump To: Replacing O-Rings

Selecting the Right Material for Keg O-Rings

I would venture a guess that Silicone and Buna-N are the two most commonly used compounds for keg o-rings. EPDM, which has been the choice of professionals for a long time, is probably a distant third, but coming on strong since they’ve become more accessible to homebrewers.

This post is going to take a look at all three, with the goal of helping your choose the right material for your application.

But first things first, let’s talk about food safe materials…

Food Safe Materials for Keg O-Rings?

Most of the o-rings that are marketed to homebrewers do not claim to be food safe.

In my experience, it’s extremely difficult to find offerings that claim to be safe for food contact.  Maybe some of the o-rings that are available are food safe, but very few are actually labeled as such.

But why?  One possible reason… they aren’t food safe.  Beyond that, one industry insider I spoke with said suppliers have a potential problem with fulfillment.  Since many options and materials are available, It’s difficult for some distributors or sellers to guarantee you’re getting a food safe option.

  • Just because an o-ring is marketed for use in a keg doesn’t automatically mean that the materials and production processes used are food safe.
  •  If you think about it from a random supplier or manufacturer’s perspective… they don’t know what you’re putting in your keg, maybe it’s not even food.  The problem that we, as homebrewers, have is is… beer is food and meant for human consumption.
  • You cannot say all o-rings made from [fill in material here] are food safe.  Certain quality standards and processes are required.

One notable supplier features all food safe o-ring offerings.

Generally speaking, food safe o-rings may cost a little more, but, we’re, generally, only talking a few cents per o-ring.  It’s worth it.

If you’re using your keg for anything food related (beer=food)… My recommendation is to purchase o-rings made out of material safe for food contact.

Compound Selection – Comparing EPDM, Silicone and Buna-N

Terminology

  • Compression Set Resistance – A measurement of the ability of a substance to return to it’s original thickness after long term compression.
  • Compressibility – How well can a material compress to make a quality seal? This is related to hardness, but practically it’s not exactly the same thing. Most keg o-rings are the same hardness, 70A, yet we see Silicone sealing better than Buna-N.
  • Permeability – How well can well can air or oxygen transverse a compound. This is measured in different ways, I’m going to generalize labeling materials excellent or good.
  • Typical Durometer – A measurement of the hardness of a material

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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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