Cold Crash “cask breather”

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Supergenious, Feb 15, 2021.

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  1. Supergenious

    Supergenious Maven (1,273) May 9, 2011 Michigan

    Anybody use a low pressure secondary regulator like this when cold crashing to prevent suck back?
    http://www.homebrewing.com/equipment/cask-co2-breather/

    Seems like a good idea, but I’m curious to how it works. Looks like no matter the inlet pressure it will regulate a positive pressure of 0.4 psi to the fermenter. Am I right?
     
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    That's my understanding. I've read about these before, I'm not quite sure how this is better than just using a normal (primary) regulator directly to the keg. Maybe the idea is that it's a very accurate/precise fixed 0.4 PSI (or 1 PSI...I've heard that spec also) and that typical regulator gauges aren't very accurate in that range? I don't really know why that would matter though. I don't crash all my batches in the fermenter, but when I do, I don't have any problems maintaining a small pressure with my regulators.

    ETA: I forgot to mention that what these breathers are really designed for is to replace cask headspace with CO2 as beer is being dispensed. But I have seen posts from folks using them for cold crash purposes.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Feb 15, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2021
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  3. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    A low pressure propane regulator gives a pressure of 10 inches of water. I have one to use with the hand pump, it will push the beer up from the corny, but not to the hand pump.
     
  4. scurvy311

    scurvy311 Savant (1,135) Dec 3, 2005 Louisiana

    I attached a barb on a Mylar balloon about 4 years ago and use that plugged into my bubbler tube while crashing. I just charge the balloon half full with CO2. I’m pretty good at estimating how much shrinkage the beer will have. I also use it when I’m kegging so it sucks in CO2 and not just air from the room. Hardest part was attaching/securing the barb into the balloon. I’ve only changed the balloon once when I decided to try to let the balloon fill up with co2 from the end of fermentation. The smell of the co2 was pretty funky with all the other aromas included.
     
  5. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

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