Serving Lager from Bright "Keg"

Brewing Processes
1

I’m anticipating my second season of lagering.  Last year I cold conditioned in carboys and then transferred to bottles and some kegs toward the end of the season.

Now that I’m kegging…

If I use the kegs for cold conditioning this year can I serve from the same keg and  just expect the first few pints to be cloudy and then clear up?

…or will the beer always be pulling some small amount of sediment from the bottom?

2

My experience is 2 or 3 cloudy pulls - then so long as you don’t disturb the keg the rest will be clear. There is still sediment in the keg once it is emptied - it doesn’t normally pull through though unless you shake up the keg.

3

Also depends on how careful you are racking off the primary yeast.

4

You could cut off an inch of the diptube and make that a bright tank.  That way when you serve, all the yeast should be below the dip tube level.

5

I do a double transfer.
When I rack beer from fermenter I rack it into clearing keg with 1/2 inch cut dip tube.
Put it on gas thru Out post.
I chill it and next day I add Gelatine.
Wait another 4 to 5 days and transfer it into serving keg.
This works pretty good for me.
It is true that I have to wash more kegs thou :slight_smile:

6

I only double transfer if I am taking the keg to a party.  If it is for home consumption, I drink out of the keg I racked into from primary.  So long as it remains unmoved in the kegerator after coming out of lagering, its only the first pint, maybe two and then crystal clear till the last drop.

I also use a conical though, so there is minimal yeast pickup in one keg and almost none in the second keg for each batch.

7

Thanks guys.  That’s kind of what I figured.

I’m a little hesitant to cut my dip tubes.

I was a little concerned because I’ve done a couple Belgians since starting to server straight from the lagering keg.  Both have been cloudy but I’m now attributing this to my water being too soft.

8

I do pretty much the same as blatz - I serve right from the same keg used for lagering.  I cut the dip tube in one of my kegs a while back to do the double-transfer thing, but have since fount that unnecessary unless I’m going to travel with the serving keg.  As others have said, as long as the keg remains still once it is on tap, there’s usually only a pint or two of cloudy beer and the rest of the keg pours crystal clear after that.

9

^^^^^^^

This