[USMChueston0311]

Hey Guys. I am Steve, fairly green to all grain brewing. I brew all grain, with a fly sparge setup. My question is, what equipment would i need to purge my secondary (brewing with fruit/cholaca/cacao etc) with CO2, to reduce oxidation?

I know I obviously need a CO2 tank, but what would i use to actually blow the co2 into the carboy? Ive seen some people with a cane, and stopper... What is and how does that function? I could push water/sanitizer out with the co2 etc, or even purge, until I feel the oxygen has been pushed out enough.. What hardware/equipment would i use to just blow CO2 in?

My current brew, a chocolate porter, been in primary for 24 hours now. I am doing late additions of Cholaca, and cacao nibs in secondary. I will rack on top of Cholaca and nibs, let sit until I'm satisfied, and then cold crash before bottling.

Thank you, and nice to meet you all.

Steve
CPL USMC
Hueston Guitars

[kmycek]

Steve, I wouldn’t recommend pressuring glass carboys, at all. Ideally, you’d use some stainless vessel - like a conical, Ss brewtec brew bucket, or even a corny or snake keg. For a cheaper approach, you could use a racking cane, carboy cap, and a better bottle. You could fill the better bottle up with starsan, and then push it all out with CO2. Then you just keep it closed, remove the gas in to the carboy cap and rack back down the cane.

Mylo


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[USMChueston0311]

Steve, I wouldn’t recommend pressuring glass carboys, at all. Ideally, you’d use some stainless vessel - like a conical, Ss brewtec brew bucket, or even a corny or snake keg. For a cheaper approach, you could use a racking cane, carboy cap, and a better bottle. You could fill the better bottle up with starsan, and then push it all out with CO2. Then you just keep it closed, remove the gas in to the carboy cap and rack back down the cane.

Mylo


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Roger. Im also confused on what exactly I need to blow the actual CO2. A co2 tank, hose, and what do i use to control the flow etc. Sorry im totally ignorant to CO2.

[tommymorris]

For a closed transfer you can fill with starsan then transfer out under pressure to remove all air, leaving only co2.

If you have a Speidel you can use something like this setup:

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=31119.0

If you have a carboy you can use something like this setup:

http://www.love2brew.com/Articles.asp?ID=675

For a carboy you should keep the pressure very low (1 PSI or less).

To just fill the carboy mostly with co2, you can just connect the co2 to your racking cane and release co2 into the bottom of the carboy. Leave the carboy open so you don’t pressurize at all. Move the end of the cane around the bottom of the carboy while releasing co2. This is how the bottle guns purge bottles.

[a10t2]

Roger. Im also confused on what exactly I need to blow the actual CO2. A co2 tank, hose, and what do i use to control the flow etc. Sorry im totally ignorant to CO2.

You also need a regulator that screws onto the high-pressure CO2 tank. https://www.morebeer.com/products/co2-regulator-fermentap-dual-gauge.html for example.

Although if you aren't already kegging (or planning to) this seems like a lot of expense for a marginal benefit.

[jtoots]

Although if you aren't already kegging (or planning to) this seems like a lot of expense for a marginal benefit.

Hopefully this is a step in that direction! Kegging is such a massive improvement, reducing workload by a TON.

[chinaski]

I think the most sensible approach (if you have the funds) is to buy a kegging set-up with one extra keg.  It will have a regulator, a keg, and hoses to connect gas to the keg and to dispense beer with a picnic tap.  When I purge anything other than a cornie keg, I use my extra keg to hold CO2 at pressure and attach the picnic tap hose to dispense CO2 rather than beer. 

[USMChueston0311]

I think the most sensible approach (if you have the funds) is to buy a kegging set-up with one extra keg.  It will have a regulator, a keg, and hoses to connect gas to the keg and to dispense beer with a picnic tap.  When I purge anything other than a cornie keg, I use my extra keg to hold CO2 at pressure and attach the picnic tap hose to dispense CO2 rather than beer.

I’d like to move on that direction. I saw some options. What kit would you recommend? I’m racking from primary to secondary because of my ingredients. So I wanted to be sure, there wasn’t any oxidation when going between carboys.

Which keg setup would be best for under 200$?

[USMChueston0311]

I got it all figured out. put in an order for the co2 kane racking system, and a 5 gallon ball valve keg, with fittings, regulators, tank and hoses. Thank you

[jtoots]

I got it all figured out. put in an order for the co2 kane racking system, and a 5 gallon ball valve keg, with fittings, regulators, tank and hoses. Thank you

Bravo, nicely done!!!

[macbrews]

For a closed transfer you can fill with starsan then transfer out under pressure to remove all air, leaving only co2.

If you have a Speidel you can use something like this setup:

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=31119.0

This set up is a Gravity fed closed transfer. The CO2 tank is connected to a cask breather so it functions at atmospheric pressure.  It isn’t a pressure transfer.  If you use pressure be very careful and use low PSIs.  I wouldn’t use a glass carboy at all.





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