racking via co2

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by jlordi12, Jul 24, 2015.

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  1. PortLargo

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

    . . . you can add "mohel" to your resume . . .

    For @jlordi12 : I don't use CO2, but do connect the outflow of the racking tube to the liquid "out post" on the keg (fill the keg through the diptube). This minimizes splashing and nothing on the outside of the tubing ever touches the precious beer. I don't panic if a smidgen of trub finds its way over . . . it will settle and be poured off.
     
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  2. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    THat sounds like a nice compromise, will consider this too
     
  3. fistfight

    fistfight Initiate (0) Jan 13, 2006 Massachusetts

    For the last beer that I transferred I used CO2 to start my siphon, rather than use an auto-siphon, and then turned it off. Occasionally I would turn the CO2 back on, just to fill up the head space of my fermenter w/ something other than oxygen. I used a really low pressure. It seemed to work pretty well.
     
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  4. koopa

    koopa Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2008 New Jersey

    Along those lines, I typically shoot for 5.625 gallons of wort into the fermenter and fill the keg. Basically, I brew 11.25 gallon batches and split them into 2x 6.5 gallon carboys which go on to fill 2x corney kegs.
     
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  5. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    I think dedicating a keg as a Brite tank is worth the investment and extra time. You can also dry hop in this vessel as well. Brite keg has clipped dip tube. Either 1.5" (non-dry hop beer) or 2.5" (dry hop beers) cut dip tube.

    My recommendation is to auto siphon from primary to CO2 purged brite keg by gravity. If dry hopping, rack on top of hops. Close off keg and purge with CO2 again, through the dip tube so it CO2 flushes the beer and not just the head space. Do dry hop routine in this brite keg, even shaking occasionally to rouse the hops in suspension. If multiple dry hop additions, just purge after additions. Before transfer to serving keg, cold crash a few days at 34 F and then rack via CO2 from brite keg to CO2 purged serving keg under 5 psi, drawing from dip tube of brite keg and into dip tube of serving keg. During transfer, keep pressure relief valve open.
     
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  6. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    I kind of do this. I don't shorten the tubes and use exclusively though. I dry hop in the keg, and carbonate it. Then I put the keg in the keezer. Let it crash, carb up nice, chill. Draw off the sludge in the first pint or so, then jump to a an empty and purged keg, then swap the kegs out.
     
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  7. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    I use CO2, but not in a perfectly closed system...I don't think you need to. Upright kegs are purged w/o lids for ~ 8 sec @ 30# and burped 3 times when racking is complete. Primary bucket is drained to the keg by gravity through a spigot. First pour from spigot is tossed as is first pour from keg. I occasionally will xfer to another keg, but really not worth the extra effort unless I want to use my randal.
    This simple, easy method has served me well and racking/dryhopping day doesn't seem like a chore.
     
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  8. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    My best tip is don't be greedy.
     
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  9. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    How are you guys cleaning your racking canes? I don't have a good method for this yet either
     
  10. billandsuz

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

    like most of my equipment, i take it into the shower. just run hot water through it and any beer goes down the drain. then it gets hung up until it dries. more hot water right before use and its always ready to use.
    Cheers.
     
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  11. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Simple enough
     
  12. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    I just wash mine in the kitchen sink, but should really get a sink in the shed or garage before my wife kills me.
     
  13. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    What's a racking cane? : )
     
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  14. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    The carboy people don't want to hear how easy it is to co2 transfer from a sealed bucket with a spigot into a sealed keg.
     
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  15. VikeMan

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

    I'd like to hear it. What apparatus is used to feed the CO2 into the bucket?
     
  16. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Tubing with a tapered plastic barb on the end. The airlock gets pulled and the co2 barb is promptly inserted. I use low pressure 2-4psi. Gravity does most of the work until the last gallon, then the co2 helps to push the rest.

    The lid never gets removed during fermentation for gravity samples. Gravity samples are pulled from the spigot.

    I use a lid with a grommet and it holds pressure without leaking. The lid is standard on the 7.9 gallon LD Carlson buckets also known as the Vino Vessel. The smaller brew buckets have a lid without a grommet and leak co2.
     
  17. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    How many molecules of air enter during this questionable practice? : )
     
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  18. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Not enough to matter, apparently. I'm seriously considering making my homebrew less awesome just so I can drink professional beer without feeling like I'm settling for less. :grinning:
     
  19. VikeMan

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

    I have a 7.9 wine bucket. I'm thinking if I could sink an airtight thermowell into this setup, it could be sweet.
     
  20. ChrisMyhre

    ChrisMyhre Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2013 Massachusetts

    I have to admit that I regularly remove the whole bucket lid, replacing with a two hole lid that I forgot to use earlier in the process. I don't have any proof of this, but I feel like oxygen above the beer in the fermenter is much less of a problem than the oxygen introduced by autosiphon injection.
     
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