So I just started kegging this winter and am on my second batch in the keg. The first batch was good but the second was one of the best beers I have made, a really nice IPA. I know I am getting to the end of the keg and every time I pour a beer it could be the last. I feel nervous and will miss this beer. Good thing I just bought more hops to brew it again this summer.
That’s awesome! Its good to brew a beer you love. It’s also good to savor the bitter sweet feeling when the keg blows. Its good when people are sad that it’s gone. My high school drama teacher always said “leave them wanting more”. It’s sad but not as sad as wondering when the hell this crappy keg will kick, if ever. Good for you!
The good always die young…
Rule #1: The beer in the keg will always achieve the perfect balance of flavor, carbonation, and clarity about 2 or 3 pints before it blows. ;) RDWHAHB and build up an inventory.
^^^^^ Golfbum, I bet you’ll like your re-brew of it even better. Nice job !
That’s the one downside to kegging, you are never really sure how much beer is left. In the bottle, it’s easy to see what you have left and can plan ahead to re-brew something but in the keg, it’s wild ass guess!
I know, it’s always such a bummer. My lagers are tasty from the day I tap them, but those last few pints are as clear at the German lagers I strive to make. I just wish the whole keg could be like that.
Gelatin after cold crashing the primary. It really works and you will get your wish.
Definitely works as advertised.
+1…Totally.
+1
So true. We were having a party and a guest came up raving about how clear his glass of beer was. I told him to enjoy it, it’s probably about to blow. The next guy came up and said the O-fest just blew. Everybody looked at me like I was nuts and all I could do was laugh.
paul
I did notice that they are getting clearer. Which I like, but now that I know this bit of information I know that kegs days are numbered.
Does anyone know of anything similar for homebrewers to what the breweries and pubs use, which shows the amounts left in each keg? There has to be a solution out there somewhere… right?
There’s something you can tape to the side called a Smartstrip or similar.
Sure, you can’t see how much is left, but after a few batches, you’ll get the ‘feel’ by weight. Full, 3/4, 1/2, and near empty are (of course) much different.
By merely lifting the keg, you’ll have a good understanding of what is left. Such as, this is going to blow after a few pints or damn, this keg is lasting a long time 
Here’s a low tech one - a dry erase board to mark each pint you pour. 40 pints/keg. The only drawback - non pint glasses. Still not hard to ballpark.
A friend of mine uses a scale. Weigh the keg empty first and then you’ll know how much beer weight it has.
You can also take the keg out of the cooler and observe the condensation line as it warms.
I just lift mine gently and guesstimate the weight if I’m curious.
The anxiety is peaked when trying to fill a growler when you know it’s getting close.
Yeah, been there. You get it 3/4 full of clear beer, then the damn sediment blows in there. Expletives usually fly.