01 Mar Home Brew – Force Carbonation
Home Brew – Force Carbonation
This method has the gas coming from the top to get into the beer. So you need to lay the keg on its side and roll it back and forth quite vigorously. This creates a longer headspace.
Once your brew is in the keg and chilled down to 4 degrees Celsius. Release the pressure in your keg using the pressure release valve. This will prevent any chance of CO2 back flowing into your regulator. Connect the gas line to the gas post of your keg and lay the keg on its side. Make sure the gas post at the bottom.
Turn the CO2 Regulator to 30psi. You will hear CO2 bubbling into your beer, it will gradually slow down as the pressure equalises.
Vigorously roll the keg back and forth until you hear the gas stop bubbling, normally 1 minute 45 seconds. Turn the gas off at the regulator and keep rolling the keg, the gas pressure will drop so keep rolling the keg until the gas pressure drops down to between 15 and 20 psi. You are aiming for 15 – 17 psi.
If the pressure stops above 20 psi then the keg may be over carbonated. Should this happen, then release the gas in the keg via the PRV and rock the keg for 1 minutes. If it falls below 15 psi the beer is not gassed enough and you will need to repeat the gassing and rolling stage again. but for only 20-30 seconds each time until you get the pressure to where you need it.
Put the keg back into the Kegerator and wait for an hour and then vent the excess pressure via the pressure release valve.
NOTE: The bead of the bubbles and the flavour will be improved if you leave the beer overnight before drinking it. The CO2 needs sufficient time to form weak hydrogen bonds with the water molecules to become carbonic acid. After you finished, turn your regulator back to serving pressure and dispense your beer.
Enjoy!
Download the full tutorial here
No Comments