I am going to home-brew some root beer for my wife's halloween party. I will use dry ice. I did it last year (in an open container) but it was syrupy and flat, so this year I want to pressurize the system. Here is my plan, I need some feedback.
I have purchased a 10 gal Corny keg. It has 2 pressure relief valves on it (one built into keg top, one built into lid) so I won't kill or maim anyone.
It has the typical 2 posts, one liquid, one gas.
I want to build a makeshift manifold, and on it have 3 items:
1) the small vent tube (& weight) from a pressure cooker, which will be used to regulate pressure as it brews (approx 5, 10 or 15psi) Leading to that will be a valve to isolate it, so we can presurize keg for dispensing. 2)low pressure gauge 3) Air filler valve (from bike tire) I plan to make that manifold by basically soldering copper pipe.I would also like to get one of those beer dispensing taps, either on a short hose, or that can connect directly to liquid outlet post on keg.
I plan to put rootbeer solution & Dry ice, seal keg. Then let it pressurize for a while, excess pressure being bled off by pressure cooker relief valve. When done I would shut valve, and pressurize using air filler valve & small air compressor, and distribute rootbeer through liquid post/quick connect.
Things I could use a hand on:
1) My current plan to get manifold mounted on keg is to drill out the gas post(so air can pass freely through it) then dropping a 1' copper pipe over it, and making an air-tight pressurizable union using epoxy putty. Once I have the short copper pipe on it, airtight & seure, I will build the manifold onto the pipe, using sweated copper fittings & threaded fittings. I figure I can protect resale value of keg by not drilling into body of keg or anything like that, and just replacing that post if I ever wanted to sell the keg. Does this sound workable? Is there a better solution for integrating a home-made manifold into the corney keg? I considered buying a "quick disconect" and mounting the manifold on it, but in the end, replacing the post seems like it would be just as cheap, and give me a more stable mounting.2) best (CHEAPEST) dispensing system, I'm considering a "Picnic ("Cobra") Faucet" dispenser for about 13 bucks, but it ends in some kind of threaded connector, how do I get from that to a "quick connect" Are there ones that do end in "quick connect"? are there simular dispensers without the hose, that you can just connect directly to the liquid post "quick connect".
3) I am hoping pressurizing with regular air (via small hobby type air compressor) will work, since I am already WAY over budget and don't want to buy CO type unit. The rootbeer will not be stored, the kids will drink it all in about 20 minutes.. if that makes a difference.Any other advice for me??