Combining Two Partially Filled Corny Kegs

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by koopa, Jun 24, 2012.

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  1. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    I brought 2x5 gallon corny kegs of pale ale to a party yesterday. One was run plain on a multitap kegerator, the other run through a Blichmann HopRocket filled with Centennial leaf hops first. Not as many people showed up as intended and by the end of the night both kegs were half empty. Since it was the same beer and I could use a spare keg at the moment, combining them seems like a great solution.

    Can I just rig a 1/4 hose with two ball lock liquid disconnects on the ends, connect each end to the liquid out of each keg, push co2 on the gas in valve of the keg I want to empty, and put a tube on the gas in valve of the keg I want to fill that has a gas in quick disconnect on one side then run the other end into a bucket of water a la blow off tube style?

    This should allow me to push the beer safely out of one keg and into the other right?
     
    #1 koopa, Jun 24, 2012
  2. tylermains

    tylermains Initiate (0) Apr 6, 2010 Kentucky

    Sounds about right to me.

    Honestly though, I'd probably just wind up depressurizing both kegs, opening them up and just siphoning one into the other.

    Your plan sounds good to me though.
     
    #2 tylermains, Jun 24, 2012
  3. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    your forgot to put the hop rocket between the kegs, but yes I do not see why this would not work. I would probably just open the pressure release valve on the receiving keg.
     
    #3 NiceFly, Jun 24, 2012
  4. skivtjerry

    skivtjerry Pooh-Bah (1,865) Mar 10, 2006 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Yes, partially open the pressure release on the receiving keg periodically, just enough to allow the beer to flow. You will lose less carbonation and aromatics that way.

    This is also a good thing to do with a keg that's pouring clear but has a bit of sediment if you want to take it somewhere without stirring it up. Just purge the receiving keg, pressurize slightly and transfer as above. Keep the flow slow toward the end to make sure you leave the sediment behind.
     
    #4 skivtjerry, Jun 24, 2012
  5. Homebrew42

    Homebrew42 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 New York

    Put the jumper tube as you describe, from one beer out post to the other beer out post, apply 5 psi of CO2 to the keg you want to empty and slowly release pressure from the pressure release valve on the keg you want to fill. If you don't release the pressure from the receiving keg slowly the beer will foam and you'll have a mess on your hands.
     
    #5 Homebrew42, Jun 24, 2012
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  6. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Thanks everybody!
     
    #6 koopa, Jun 25, 2012
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