I commonly read about using CO2 blankets in any container you are going to put fermented beer into to avoid oxidation. I can do this in my corny kegs easily, but how do you use a CO2 blanket in a secondary fermenter such as a plastic bucket? I currently don't have an adapter on my CO2 regulator for this and wanted to know if anyone had a recommendation.
The fermentation will create a CO2 blanket, and it is heavier than the air and will push out the oxygen. Thats why you move it to secondary before it has finished fermenting.
A plastic bucket isn't necessarily the best vessel for a secondary. But having said that, if you want to put CO2 into a bucket, you can just put a gas line in the bucket (i.e. the end that would otherwise normally be attached to a quick disconnect) and turn on the gas. CO2 Tank --> Regulator --> Standard Gas Line --> Bucket
Lower gravity beers I just leave in primary for 2 weeks. The CO2 cap exists naturally in the headspace, and the pressurization will actually help to knock out some yeast and clear the beer. For bigger beers that really need aging and secondary fermentation to mellow, I do it like they did in the old days. Rather than wait until the absolute end of primary fermentation, I wait until it's most of the way done, maybe 5-10 points from final gravity, then rack it to a clean secondary fermenter. The agitation of the beer will help muster up some of the yeast that was starting to crap out and aid in attenuation, plus the CO2 production from those last few gravity points should be enough to kick the oxygen out of the carboy and keep the beer nice and cozy for a few weeks.
Heh, I never felt like trying to remove the quick connect from my kegging setup. I'm hoping someone has a way around this. I'd be afraid to attach an extra post to a quick connect to vent the gas. I bet the post wouldn't come out afterwards.
I remove the grey gas in ball lock connector and stick the hose into the carboy or bucket. Easy peasy.
