Aging in kegs

[Jonno]

Hey lads,

I've got a few 50L kegs around the place and i thought to myself, heck why i dont use these for some long term aging. Anyone else do this for there aging?

I'm thinking i might get a tap welded up onto the bottom and maybe get a 4-8" ferrule welded up onto the top so i can atleast pull out the old oak sticks. I think i read somewhere that instead of capping it off up the top they just used a coffee filter to atleast let it continue breathing and they didn't have to much trouble with the angels cut.

Also what would be the best way of just adding hearts to it. Just keep adding 65% spirit and the appropriate amount of oak until its full? Keep drawing off the bottom when i wanna have a drink and keep topping her up as i go?

So many thoughts but so unsure!! :laughing-rolling:

Cheers lads

[kiwikeg]

try this thread for everything known to man about aging in kegs

[Jonno]

Nice, thanks for that.

What did you do to clean out your keg? I know with my low wines keg I just used water. But I'd be aging with this one so may be abut different

[JayD]

finnaly got a picture of my storage pig...9 Gallon Keg.

I welded in a 2" ferrule and a cap over the drain hole...

storagepig1.jpg

in this photo you can see where the old tap has been caped...

storagepigjpg.jpg

I still have to weld a hanger plate onto the base of the 2" cap to hang my wood off. I almost forgot to mention I clean my kegs with a dishwasher tablet nd hot water left overnight then blast it out with a small gerni. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[dogbreath vodka]

Hey JD
I like your way of thinking....
Might just have to pay a visit to my local scrappy.
:handgestures-thumbupleft: :handgestures-thumbupleft:

DBV

[Aussiedownunder01]

A couple of questions how do you draw off your product And is it worth welding a tap in the bottom
I have 2 of those also and I was looking at getting my neighbour to turn up a fancy wood stopper with an o ring grove in it
Thanks for the clean out tip will give that a go :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[JayD]

it's up to you if you want to weld a tap in...I am curently planning on pouring out of the top until I get a tap as I had no tap handy to weld in...storage was my imediate issue. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Jonno]

I think i'm gonna get some drains welded onto the bottom of my kegs but i'm still trying to work out how to dangle the dominos up in her. I'm thinking i'll just drop a heap in there and once the 50L is empty just empty out the used dominos :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bt1]

blokes,

Bushy came up with it first...(ex electrical stripped wire cleaned in vinegar) wire tie the oak bits together to a oak bung and pull em out like a string.

simple and effective

bt1

[dogbreath vodka]

Well I went for a visit to my favourite scrap yard dealer this week.
Asked about 9gallon kegs.

After a bit of ummming and arrrrhing... he parted with the only one he had.

DSCN3193 (Copy).JPG

So now it's being soaked with water and steriliser.
Not sure how long I will leave it.
Looked fairly clean but you never can tell.

Other than welding a ferrule to the top, any ideas on sealing it?

DSCN3192 (Copy).JPG

Filled it right to the top with water - 23ltrs.

So will probably only store 20ltrs in it.

Would love to get another couple but this was the only one. :crying-blue:

DBV

[JayD]

2" s/s end cap n seal...have a close look at mine, doesnt leak a drop without me wanting it to... ;-) or have a wooden bung made up.

[dogbreath vodka]

finnaly got a picture of my storage pig...9 Gallon Keg.

I welded in a 2" ferrule and a cap over the drain hole...

storagepig1.jpg

in this photo you can see where the old tap has been caped...

storagepigjpg.jpg

I still have to weld a hanger plate onto the base of the 2" cap to hang my wood off. I almost forgot to mention I clean my kegs with a dishwasher tablet nd hot water left overnight then blast it out with a small gerni. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks for the idea.
:handgestures-thumbupleft: :D :D

small keg pig (Copy).JPG

Just got this back from my welder today. :D
Now all I have to do is find/make a cap for it.

DBV

[MacStill]

What size is that keg DBV, is it one of those little ones?

[dogbreath vodka]

Yeah Mac it's the same as JayD's
It's a pig.... bout 23ltrs.

Got it off my scrappy mate awhile ago, was the last one he had.
Just about had to pry it out of his hands.
He wouldn't put a price on it, said you tell me what you want to pay for it... I though about it and said.


$40
Shook hands and it was all mine. :D :D :D
Bargain... seen them on ebay for over $100


DBV

[MacStill]

Yeah that's a bargain alright, I seen one on gumtree over here go for $80 but it looked like it'd been used for target practice.

I'll find a good one for my bar one day :D

[Dominator]

Just got this back from my welder today. :D
Now all I have to do is find/make a cap for it.

DBV

Mac has 2" end caps. Look in the tri clamp fittings section of the web store. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Aussiedownunder01]

$80.00 or $100.00 you cant get that around here I put up 2 on ebay for $50.00 last year a few times and not one looker
that was before stilling took over :))
P/S I like your idea of the welded try clamp :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[dogbreath vodka]

Mac has 2" end caps. Look in the tri clamp fittings section of the web store. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Thanks Dom
But I decided I needed some way of oaking the keg not just storing booze.
So I went to a local timber supplier and picked up a piece of American oak.
Used a 2" hole saw in it.
Also had a 3" copper disc from Steampunk.
A stainless bolt, washers and nut. Bit of stainless wire.
The result?

DSCN3875.JPG

Drilled some holes in a few oak pieces.... the result?

DSCN3876.JPG

That saved me a looooooooooot of space
Now in one keg I poured this many 750ml bottles

DSCN3878.JPG

About 20ltrs in all.
:D :D :D

DBV

[Aussiedownunder01]

Started to clean these for ageing then I see these are bringing $150..00 on ebay [decisions decisions ] :-D

[Dominator]

Awesome work DBV! You need to drill a couple of holes in your plug and poke a hose from an aerator in there, that will move your spirit around and help flavour it quicker.