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Author Topic: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?  (Read 5893 times)

Offline pyrite

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Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« on: November 18, 2010, 08:13:06 pm »
I'm trying to choose which bung holes to use on this oak barrel.  Do you guys have a preference.


« Last Edit: November 19, 2010, 06:55:41 am by pyrite »
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Bung Hole. Which would you choose?
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2010, 12:54:34 am »
I prefer the silicone breathable bung for things that are not actively fermenting, and an airlock for things that are.  The breathable bung lets you age stuff for a long time with no worries about the airlock drying out or any liquid getting sucked into the beer as the ambient temp rises and falls.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline pyrite

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Re: Bung Hole. Which would you choose?
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2010, 06:40:30 am »
Yup, I'll be aging a soured Belgian Tripple.   Normally I'd use the longer silicone bung with the air lock attached, but I going to try the shorter breathable silicone bung for exactly the reasons you stated.   The longer bung with the air lock creates to much of an air space inside the barrel, which prevents me from keeping the liquid level filled to the top.
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline lonnie mac

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2010, 05:25:44 pm »
I always prefer the superball method for aging. :)


Offline pyrite

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2010, 07:43:09 pm »
Wow. You totally got me. That is cool.  What is a super ball?  Also, can you age, with a super ball if the barrel is placed outside with flying bugs all around?  What size is your barrel and what are you aging in that barrel?
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline lonnie mac

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2010, 08:03:46 pm »
Wow. You totally got me. That is cool.  What is a super ball?  Also, can you age, with a super ball if the barrel is placed outside with flying bugs all around?  What size is your barrel and what are you aging in that barrel?

:)

Indeed... I found this silly rubber superball sitting by my mailbox one day. I walked in the garage and had no where to place it so I set it in the bung hole for safe keeping! Been using it every since. In this photo, I have it full of washing soda in this 8 gallon cask. I'll be putting a big nut brown ale in there this weekend. This goofy ball is just a bit bigger than the hole, so a very slight pounding with the palm of my hand secures it perfectly tight.

Offline bluesman

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2010, 08:49:18 pm »
Lonnie...that is very creative or should I say spontaneous but I love it.  8)

Glad to see you posting.   ;)
Ron Price

Offline lonnie mac

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2010, 09:00:47 pm »
Lonnie...that is very creative or should I say spontaneous but I love it.  8)

Glad to see you posting.   ;)

:)

Yea, it's ALL spontaneous with me these days my good friend! :)

I'll have to show my "Cask IV" I have been working on. Tired of your cask evaporating beer, and you need to fill it to the brim? How about a beer "IV" drip to keep it topped off...

Offline pyrite

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2010, 09:12:30 am »
I've noticed the evaporation rate on the beer level in the oak barrel goes faster than I thought.  If possible can you show what a "Cask IV" is.
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline euge

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2010, 11:00:16 am »
I've been following this thread. Very interesting.

I am so glad it's about casks and not about what I initially thought... :-\
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

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Offline pyrite

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2010, 12:26:50 pm »
lol. Yeah, the title can be deceiving.  If you have a preference on a particular bung hole plug for any kind of barrel please share.
If you don't get in over your head, how are you ever going to know how tall you are.

Offline tubercle

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2010, 01:52:54 pm »
Wow. You totally got me. That is cool. What is a super ball? Also, can you age, with a super ball if the barrel is placed outside with flying bugs all around?  What size is your barrel and what are you aging in that barrel?

 Only us old folks know the answer to that ;D
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Offline realbeerguy

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2010, 09:09:29 am »
Wow. You totally got me. That is cool. What is a super ball? Also, can you age, with a super ball if the barrel is placed outside with flying bugs all around?  What size is your barrel and what are you aging in that barrel?

 Only us old folks know the answer to that ;D

Wasn't it fun to play baseball with one!  ;)
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Offline Kit B

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Re: Bung hole plug. Which would you choose?
« Reply #13 on: December 06, 2010, 03:18:35 pm »
I though everyone knew about super balls.

Hours of fun, made from the simplicity of a solid rubber sphere.