Keg left outside for two days; beer flat

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by kfordham281, Jun 19, 2014.

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  1. kfordham281

    kfordham281 Crusader (475) Oct 29, 2005 Georgia

    My sister in-law had a party at her place on Saturday and they had a keg of Sweetwater IPA. It was left outside Sunday and I received the keg Monday evening. So it was outside for basically two days (about 85 degrees each day). It's been in the kegerator for about two days now and on gas for about a day. I pulled a pint tonight but it's pretty flat. CO2 was around 11 but I've bumped it up to about 14 as of a few minutes ago.

    Any recommendations for saving this keg? It's a 1/2 barrel about half full.
     
    #1 kfordham281, Jun 19, 2014
  2. DougC123

    DougC123 Savant (1,186) Aug 21, 2012 Connecticut

    Was it used with a hand pump or CO2 when it was first tapped? If hand pump you've got oxidation going on also. If you are trying to re carb, you need to really give it some pressure for a while, I'd go to around 20 for a few days.
     
    #2 DougC123, Jun 19, 2014
  3. PortLargo

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

    I routinely carb half kegs (sometimes less) and find it doesn't take long to reach the desired level. There's some complicated math involved I don't really understand, but the beer is carbed much quicker than a full keg. Maybe hit it once at 20 then set your desired psi. The OP will know quickly if it's oxidized.
     
    #3 PortLargo, Jun 19, 2014
  4. kfordham281

    kfordham281 Crusader (475) Oct 29, 2005 Georgia

    Yes; hand pump when it was first tapped. I'll give it 20 for a day or so and report back.

    Appreciate the info!
     
    #4 kfordham281, Jun 19, 2014
  5. PortLargo

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

    If you invite everyone you know over tonight, start them with tequila shooters, serve them jalapeno tacos, then chase it with the Sweetwater you might be able to salvage it. Seriously, you want to drink this quickly (if at all).
     
    #5 PortLargo, Jun 19, 2014
  6. mikehartigan

    mikehartigan Maven (1,421) Apr 9, 2007 Illinois

    I wouldn't get my hopes too high. The hand pump is a killer.:slight_frown:
     
    #6 mikehartigan, Jun 19, 2014
  7. kfordham281

    kfordham281 Crusader (475) Oct 29, 2005 Georgia

    Well, at the very least it got me off my ass to do a thorough cleaning of my kegerator. It needed it...
     
    #7 kfordham281, Jun 20, 2014
  8. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    that keg was long gone after the first day in the 85 degree heat. I was going to wait to see the results...

    the hand pump was really just a final shot in the groin, in case there was any chance it could have survived. the only thing worse for keg beer than heat is oxygen.

    at least it wasn't exposed to UV light.
    sorry about your beer.
     
    #8 billandsuz, Jun 20, 2014
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  9. kfordham281

    kfordham281 Crusader (475) Oct 29, 2005 Georgia

    On the plus side is was a free keg (at least for me).
     
    #9 kfordham281, Jun 20, 2014
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  10. kfordham281

    kfordham281 Crusader (475) Oct 29, 2005 Georgia

    Verdict: Drain pour

    Flat and most of the hop aroma is gone
     
    #10 kfordham281, Jun 21, 2014
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