Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 10:22:56 -0800
Reply-To: Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET>
Subject: Re: chilling westy draft (beer)
In-Reply-To: <E8F5F9C2-19E1-4008-AE9A-3FD728E33A03@me.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Thanks Jason. If I do try it, I'll report back. It would be pretty easy
to the gear I have on a trip before doing any serious plumbing. It sounds
like chilling the keg before departure would be the most sensible solution,
then trying to insulate it. I've used this kind of thing once at an event:
http://brewerymall.com/draft-beer-supplies/build-a-keg-cooler
I think I get what you are saying about foaming, ie, CO2 is less soluble in
warm beer.
Tom
On Fri, Feb 14, 2014 at 10:05 AM, Jason Ellsmere <jasonellsmere@me.com>wrote:
> I am in the beer business so I can help you out a bit.
>
> First point - it's not worth the effort. Too messy and complicated for
> not much gain.
>
> The keg needs to be cold or you will end up with a foaming problem using a
> basic draught system. You can ice it but that water will need to drain and
> re-icing is a pain. Refrigerating a coil is beyond my expertise, cool if
> you could do it.
>
> Driving with a partially full keg will cause foaming issues, again with a
> basic draught system. You can spend money on a system that will help with
> that but it will take more space...and money.
>
> Wow that all sounds pretty negative.
>
> I can help trouble shoot if you do decide to take a crack at it.
>
> Jason
> Toronto
>
>
>
> > On Feb 14, 2014, at 12:56 PM, Tom Carchrae <tom@CARCHRAE.NET> wrote:
> >
> > So I have ended up with a small (5lb) CO2 canister. It seems it would be
> > pretty easy to install in the van. A 20L keg is pretty compact and would
> > fit nicely at the back of the 'wardrobe'.
> >
> > This seems like a practical way to carry an adequate supply of beer.
> > However, how would I chill it? Has anyone looked at ice bucket immersion
> > chillers, series of peltier coolers ($3 a pop on ebay), or any other
> things
> > that might make sense for a tight space. Perhaps a copper line wrapped
> > around the fridge cooling elements? Doubtful I think. I had previously
> > dreamed about using heat from the engine coolant to drive the westy
> fridge,
> > but that started to get way too far out.
> >
> > Or just stuff it and enjoy it english style (aka warm).
> >
> > Just dreaming of other work to do on the van while I slowly reassemble
> the
> > engine.
> >
> > Tom
> >
> > ps, if you recall the off-with-her-heads thread, I out-with-her-engine,
> and
> > then off-with-her-pistons, and now I am making good progress putting it
> > back together. doing it with the engine the van was hell, glad to be on
> > the 'other side' of vw owners now.
>
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