Went to swap my 10lb tank today and was told that they have zero CO2 and don't expect any for a long time...and when it does come it will be allocated to mega accounts. I heard that this was coming, but I didn't want to believe it. So, I have 4 kegs in the fridge plus a another beer fermenting in a keg that I would normally pressure transfer. Is my only option to use a siphon and bottle what I can? Other ideas? Anybody else run into this yet?
Is your fermentor ported? If so, can you just drain into the keg? That’s what I have always done. No issues. as for serving kegs, not having CO2 will be an issue. I have had a few spares, so I haven’t gotten CO2 in a while.
Maybe check some independent welding supply places if you have those or companies that do fire service equipment.
[QUOTE="skleice, post: 7635458, member: 1024904" Anybody else run into this yet?[/QUOTE] Not specifically with regard to homebrew but I haven’t brewed a beer in many months. However, this past summer, sourcing dry ice started to be a problem nationally for the business I work for.
Not homebrew related, but the restaurant supply store I work at hasn't been able to get in butane for about 8 months now, and the price of propane has really gone up as well, so I think maybe everyone involved in gas business is feeling some sort of hit.
*Looks at all my bottles and am happy to not like kegging* Is bottling not an option? Still my ideal method of packaging beer. I do keg some stuff, but have two five pounders and a twenty still going strong. I guess I better check for when those run out. But if it is an issue, I would just get/empty more bottles.
Yes, I have bottles and generally reserve them for certain styles. However, I've put a lot of energy into refining my process to mitigate O2 ingress, particularly for hoppy beers. I will adjust as necessary and hope that things turn around sooner rather than later.
A spunding valve and priming sugar solves the carbonation issue for those who use the 'set it and forget it' method of force carbing (I like to call that the lazy method. Which I use). It looks like it may be time to start developing creative techniques for pushing the beer with yeast. Maybe a corny keg filled with H2O, sugar, and bread yeast (insanely cheap) in place of a CO2 tank? As long as it can develop serving pressure or above, it seems like it should work.
Nitrogen is a good replacement for CO2 when transferring purging Nitrogen can be used to dispense beer if the beer has been naturally carbonated but as headspace increases and is replaced with nitrogen, CO2 will come out of solution, and the beer will begin to go flat. Recharging occasionally with a dose of priming may be effective though a hassle. YMMV.* You will need a nitro regulator, around $80. Do not use a CO2 adapter for the N tank. Don't; CO2 gauges are not designed for 2,000 psi tanks. Nitrogen is cheap (air is 78% nitrogen after all) and it is readily available from any supplier. Small nitrogen generators are a few thousand dollars in fact, so there is zero chance we will have a nitrogen shortage. Cheers *edit Right here you may be thinking "maybe I can used a bottle of Guinness gas, 75%N 25%CO2?" Beer gas on a short draw system is useless. You wouldn't be gaining anything over 100% N. Unless you are dispensing a nitrogenated beer. And the CO2 shortage is going to effect blend gas in any event.
I've seen that this is a problem ini New England now. Have others had issues in the rest of the country?
If it does get to the point where CO2 will not be available at the individual level, I think I will need to stop brewing until that corrects itself. There is no way I'm going back to bottling.
I just got a 20lb tank exchanged two months or so back at Airgas, price went up a little, but otherwise no mention of a shortage. I have a second 20# tank that I should maybe consider getting filled, just in case this goes on a while (if I can even do that at this point). At least my single tank should last me a solid year or so at my rate.
Today in Camp Hill, PA... 5 Lb swap for $18.01, which I think is about what it has been for the last couple of years. I suspect that whatever shortage is out there is local/regional.
I was told that depending on where the vendor is getting their supply, they may not be having any major interruption. Or, it may be a very big deal as the vendor has to allocate to existing contracts. So far none of our clients have been hit really hard as far as I know. I am waiting for the inevitable price spike though. Never underestimate the potential for a business to seize upon others misfortune. Cheers
Here in Knoxville TN I use Holston gases and it is just over $15 to fill a 5lb cylinder. They filled mine problem. We also have them deliver propane to my work and I asked the delivery driver if he noticed any shortages delivering CO2 to breweries and restaurants in our area. I know Holston gases supplies a lot of the southeast and he said there has not been any deliveries he was not able to make due to supply issues.
My regular place said it was a northeast problem at the moment. I may be able to get a fill through another supplier on Tuesday *fingers crossed*.
