I am thinking of buying the Northern Brewer 3 Gallon system but I would be interested in hearing some opinions about it. I know very little about kegging. I brew 3 or 2.5 gallon batches.
Since I have absolutely no kegging equipment I would like to get started with an eye to the future. I could imagine having (2-3) kegs and bottling from the kegs for an occasional bottle.
The Northern Brewer 3 gallon system is 229.00 but it’s 20% off today,
It is the same as their 5 gallon system ( that’s what they say).
1.The poppets can’t be removed or replaced. Is that a bad thing or a deal breaker?
2. New 3 gallon kegs are 129.00. Can others manufacturers be used?
3. I can’t tell if a tank is included
4. Are there better ways to go. I’ve seen systems from Adventures In Home Brewing and Midwest Supplies that are priced in the same range .
I brew 3 gallon batches and use a 3 gallon keg exclusively.
I just soak the connecters in PBW and have not had any infection issues
2.That’s what I paid for my new keg at my LHBS. You can find them used.
I can’t either
Its easy to clean one keg vs 52 bottles. Your CO2 will last longer and carb faster than a 5 gallon. I still bottle if its a beer I need to age (I only have one keg). I still need to master bottling from a keg for competitions. You will need some type of refrigeration may need to be dedicated.
Start kegging. Its a hoot to share draft beer with friends.
Looking at the 5 gallon keg system’s product page it says it doesn’t come with a co2 tank. So I would imagine it’s not included. It looks like you get a new keg, a new regulator, and a picnic tap line.
Depending on shipping thats a pretty good deal. i am surprised if the poppets cant be removed? I flush mine with PBW and lube them as needed. They can go south on ya so it would be a deal breaker for me especially paying that much. One other thing is that depending on if your gonna throw it in the fridge or have a designated fridge for it. 2 1/2 Gal work better in the standard fridge without adjusting shelves and what not. Just go to your local Norco/medical supply for 02 tank they are ugly and SS but easier to exchange. Check williamsbrewing also.
I thought that the poppets might have to be replaced at some point when I saw them for sale as a separate item. I’m not even sure what the poppets are for.
More Beer has a ball lock kit for 249.00.
It has an Italian 2.5 keg and 5 lb tank. The price with free shipping is 249.00. It’s out of stock but I’m in no hugh rush.
In just not sure what things really matter when buying a kegging system. I want to keep it to 2.5 or 3 gallons so that I can easily put it in my mini fridge.
Do you need it now? AiH runs sales on new 2.5 gallon kegs a few times a year, and they tend to run about $70-80 apiece. I just waited for a sale and pieced my system together. I started out with 4 new kegs, a new aluminum CO2 tank, cobra tap, fittings, an extra set of O-rings, plus a portable CO2 charger and extra set of CO2 canisters for it. I got it for just over $470 (including shipping). Plus I got another $20 worth of reward points, which I put towards the next keg sale they ran.
Needless to say, if you aren’t in a huge rush, the subscribe to AiH’s newsletter and jump when they run their next sale. You can score a much better deal there.
Poppets are the tiny springs that keep the posts sealed up. I had one keg with stuck poppets. I yanked em out and replaced them with universal poppets. I don’t know if this will work with all kegs
I am not going to buy from NB at this time. I think it makes sense to learn about kegging before I jump in.
I didn’t want to pass up the 20% discount but I can wait for the system that is right for me. There will always be another sale.
Thanks for all of the comments and suggestions.
NB and midwest are the same company and frequently alternate between running the same or similar sales. Keep an eye out on both sites if you want to jump on one of their deals down the road.
I bought an aluminum tank with my original setup. It looked nice, but the only way to keep the tank was to take it to a fire extinguisher company. That used to be $15 to $20 to get it refilled. Air Gas (welding supply company) will exchange empty cylindars with filled ones for about $10. They are a little beaten up and steel… but I actually like the extra weight. (The lighter aluminum one would tip over much easier and can ruin the regulator)
Later, after playing with the 5# tank, I upgraded it to a 10# tank. It lasts WAY longer, and is about the same cost to refill. (And it is heavier than the 5#, so it is very stable)
I have gone the rout of using AIH for kegs over the past few years, I have 8 5 gallon used kegs that I like a lot, and recently bought 10 3 gallon used kegs from them. All were great, just needed some cleaning and they were ready to go.
I really like the 3 gallon compared to the 5 gallons… Lot easier to move around, and I recover space in my fridge twice as fast. (A half gone 5 gallon keg…still takes up 5 gallons of space…
Yyyyyyyup. When I started kegging I bought the whole shebang. Then I go to airgas to get my shiny new bottles filled. They walk off and come back with two hobo looking things. Uh, where’s my tanks? Oh, you just exchange them for filled tanks… if you want YOUR tanks you can have them back but we’re not filling them. And, how much would 5 pounds be if I didnt have tanks? Hmmm, ya a little less than my shiny new tanks that I never saw again.