Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:39:57 -0500
Reply-To: phishman068@GMAIL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Craig Cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: chilling westy draft (beer)
In-Reply-To: <CAEwp_cSmqaRN52H2rB2ZdNT8iCB50PxwPZJEBA1M8pZcFaJaHw@mail.gmail.com>
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What I do is chill the keg before hand, then wrap it in blankets. Fleece blankets do nicely. There are also fender covers made to decorate and protect the bumpers on boats that are made of fleece, and have a convenient hole on the top. It just so happens that a size exists that is just bigger then a corny keg, so you can blanket wrap the keg then toss the sock over top. It keeps it chilled and looks good.
-craig
> On Feb 14, 2014, at 2:35 PM, Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> Tom,
>
> A friend of mine who makes beer ran a copper line through iced water to
> chill the beer. It didn't foam that much as I recall.
>
> I don't know what the laws might be with regard to having something like
> that on board, I'm sure no different than carrying a cooler full of beer or
> a keg, but without the environmental waste of bottles and cans. :) However,
> my mind went immediately to a tap mounted on the outside of the van, where
> the other three outlets are (Westy, non-Syncro). Think Kegerator on wheels!
> :D
>
> So, baffle the keg somehow to prevent sloshing/foaming, build a dry ice
> container for the coil in the cabinet in front of the wardrobe, and run a
> tap to the outside, and inside, in case it's raining. I'd put the inside
> one next to the sink for easy cleanup.
>
> Sounds like fun!
> Marc in snowy Va., where my van has been plowed in to non-moving state. :(
>
>
>> On Fri, Feb 14, 2014 at 1:22 PM, Tom Carchrae <tom@carchrae.net> wrote:
>>
>> 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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