Category Archives: Reviews & Top Posts

Making a Utility CO2 Line Using Luer Lock Disconnects

Part of Our Homebrew Tips and Tricks Series.  Check out the complete list – Homebrewing Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts! This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts

What are Luer Lock Disconnects?

Luer Locks are a generally inexpensive and effective disconnect system.  I think these are typically used in the healthcare industry, Luer Locks provide a solid, pressure capable connection with a quick twist.

Valved/Quick Disconnects vs Disconnects

Luer Lock connectors are not what I would call “quick disconnects” meaning that they are not valved to allow easy disengagement while pressure is turned on.  You need to turn off CO2 pressure to disengage these.

Tip: If you’re using these for kegs, disconnect the ball lock gas QD before you disconnect your Luer Lock.  This will prevent the keg from emptying itself of CO2.

A Hybrid Approach

Of course you could use all valved QDS or all Luer Locks in your kegerator setup.  I use a hybrid approach.

Valved QDs for most of my keg lines and Luer Locks to operate a “utility” CO2 line.  One of my CO2 lines has a female Luer Lock on it.  I have a selection of attachments that consist of: The attachment, 5 inches or so of CO2 line and a male Luer Lock.

With this setup I can easily swap out more specialized attachments that I don’t typically need to be hooked up all the time.  Since Luer Locks are generally cheap, this setup saves a good bit of money vs and entirely valved QD approach.

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Vacuum Sealing Mylar Bags Using FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers

foodsaver mylar bags

Vacuum sealing with a FoodSaver, Seal-a-Meal or similar is a great way store food, hops, grains, spices and more. Vacuum bags work to seal out oxygen, prevent freezer burn and more.

What Are the Advantages Mylar Bags?

Generally speaking Mylar bags consist of three layers. Two Mylar layers that laminate a center aluminum foil layer. This combination provides strength, flexibility and durability along with an extremely low Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR). These bags also block potentially damaging light. Combine this with vacuum sealing and you’ve got an outstanding way to store food & more.

Search Amazon for “food grade mylar bags” – to see lots of current offerings

For homebrewer’s… Vacuum sealed Mylar bags are an excellent  way to store hops and other oxygen sensitive materials.  As a testament to this, many hop distributors distribute hops in Mylar bags.  Sometimes those are vacuum sealed and sometimes they are nitrogen flushed.

Do Mylar Bags Work with FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers?

A FoodSaver (or similar) is a standard home suction type vacuum sealer that relies on special bags. We generally call them… vacuum sealer bags. These bags are embossed or textured to create channels on the inside of the bag. Those channels allow a FoodSaver to draw out air and create a vacuum all while the machine is clamped down. When this process is done a heat strip seals the bag locking in the vacuum state.

Mylar bags have smooth walls. Since they don’t have the required special channels they will not work with FoodSaver machines.

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American Homebrewers Association Membership is a Great Deal! Benefits & Deals

American Homebrewers Association AHA Membership

Membership in the American Homebrewer’s Association (The AHA) is a great deal!

Get a Deal on Membership!

More Deals! American Homebrewers Association [AHA] Membership Deals, Discounts, Coupons and Promotions

When you become a member, you get:

  • A print subscription to Zymurgy Magazine.  zymurgy magazineAmerica’s longest running homebrewing magazine. Available if you choose a print+digital membership
  • Access to eZymurgy.  Quicker access to the latest edition and access to many older editions (back to 2000) of Zymurgy Magazine.
  • Access to Zymurgy Magazine via free iOS and Android mobile apps.
  • NEW! Access to the Zymurgy Live Webinar Series – includes by live as-they-happen evens and archives of previous events.
  • Access to National Homebrewers Conference Resources and Audio!  Access content back to 2012.
  • Food, Beverage and Merchandise Discounts at Pubs and Homebrew Shops through the AHA Member Deals Program.
  • Book & Merchandise Discounts.  10% Off all merchandise in the AHA store.
  • Members’ only invitations to AHA Rallies and events including the National Homebrewers Conference and National Homebrew Competition.
  • Access to pre-sale Great American Beer Festival (GABF) tickets.
  • Access to members’ only GABF sessions including Members-Only Tasting.
  • Pre-publication book discounts.
  • You’ll be helping the further homebrewing through the AHA’s Government Affairs and Homebrew Legalization efforts.
  • Help your AHA registered club get free insurance.  If your club has 75% or more of your clubs members have AHA membership, your club qualifies for free insurance.  Check the the AHA for complete details.
  • Save Money!  at participating breweries and homebrew shops via the Brew Guru App
  • and more!
  • The list of benefits to you and to the community is significant.  If you’re not a member of the AHA, you should strongly consider joining today.

Join the AHA!

As a bonus, if you join through Homebrew Finds link, you’ll be helping to support this service as we get a portion of your membership fee and it doesn’t cost you any more.

Get a Deal on Membership!

More Deals! American Homebrewers Association [AHA] Membership Deals, Discounts, Coupons and Promotions

This is a Top Post! See: All Top Posts

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Using a Pedal Foot Switch for Easy Pump Operation

MLCS 9089 Billy Pedal Foot Switch, 2 Step ON/OFF(Continuous Running)Pictured: MLCS 9089 Billy Pedal Foot Switch, 2 Step ON-OFF Continuous Running

I use an on/off foot pedal foot switch for easy, hands free control of my brewing pump while brewing. I keep it at the base of my brew stand, relatively close to where my pump sits.  One foot press turns the pump on or off.

Always use caution when using your pump with hot liquids.  Likewise use caution when using electricity around liquids.  Hot liquids and electricity can be dangerous.  Always read and follow manufacturers directions.

Another style of deadman style foot switch is available.  That version requires you to hold your foot down to engage the switch.  As soon as you release it is disengages and turns off whatever is plugged in.  I went with the on/off, but understand that the deadman style is also available if that suits your needs.  Depending on what you’re trying to turn on and off is GE’s Handy Switch is another option that’s out there.  I use that for my keg cleaner and draft line cleaning pumps.

MLCS 9089 Billy Pedal Foot Switch, 2 Step ON/OFF(Continuous Running) – affiliate link, note that multiple variations of this product may be available, as such a different version may appear at this link

MLCS 9089 Billy...image
MLCS 9089 Billy Pedal Foot Switch, 2 Step ON/OFF(Continuous Running)

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Build a Spunding Valve! – How and Why

June 26, 2024

A Spunding Valve allows you to maintain a set pressure.  If pressure in the vessel exceeds the set point, it is expelled.  It generally consists of an adjustable PRV valve, a tee, a gauge and a way to connect to your keg.

Homebrewing Applications of a Spunding Valve

  • Pressurized fermentation.  Ferment in a 5 or 10 gallon corny keg and use your Spunding Valve instead of an airlock.  This allows you to ferment at your desired pressure.
  • Dry hop under pressure.  This allows you to dry hop earlier while reducing oxygenation.  Active yeast are more likely to metabolize oxygen that’s introduced during dry hopping during active fermentation.  Since CO2 is not exiting beer as vigorously under pressure, wanted compounds, flavors and aromas are more likely to stay in your beer under pressure.
  • Naturally and accurately carbonate beer right in the keg.
  • An airlock replacement.  Keep the valve wide open for non-pressurized fermentations.  Only do this if you have plenty of head space.  This wouldn’t make a great blow off tube.
  • Keg to keg transfers.  Use the Spunding Valve to allow excess gas to exit the receiving keg as you transfer under pressure.  Helps you achieve a slow, controlled and pressurized transfer.
  • Fix over-carbonated beers.
  • Test for keg leaks.  Pressurize your keg to serving pressure.  Put the Spunding Valve on (with the pressure set well above your serving PSI) and note the reading.  The gauge should remain steady.  If pressure drops, you know you have a keg leak.  The digital build, see below, is especially helpful for this task,  The digital gauge reads with .1 PSI resolution making pressure changes easy to spot.  It’s worth noting that this checks the entire keg including gas body o-ring.  That spot is hard to check and other way as it’s only in function when the gas QD is on.  When the gas QD is on… it’s difficult to spray and check for bubbles underneath the gas QD.  Thanks to Scott Janish for this tip!
  • As an airlock for long term aging of beers.  Airlocks can run dry over time.  A Spunding Valve will not.
  • Utilize CO2 from fermentation for flushing kegs and fermenters.

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Cask Widge Floats for Fermenting and Serving Using Corny Kegs? – You Can Help

I periodically ferment in 10 gallon Cornelius style kegs.  For the most part this works great.  They are stainless vessels that aren’t prone to breakage and are pressure capable.  The biggest headache is transferring fermented beer.  I do this under CO2 pressure and transfer from “liquid out” to “liquid in” on the receiving keg.  It usually works ok, but problems arise when there is a lot of trub or if I dry hop a lot.  To combat this, I used to have three dip tubes of different lengths.  I tried to guess which one was the right length based on the beer.  It was always a guessing game that I never exactly won.  I either leave good beer behind, transfer yeast and trub or worse get clog during transfer.  Worst case scenario is multiple clogs as I I’ve experienced with heavily dry hopped beers.

Update: William’s Brewing has released the Top Draw.  Although not identical to the Cask Widge, the Top Draw is a purpose built device that’s designed to do the same thing.  It also features stainless steel construction.

I shared this in some of the forums and got some good feedback and ideas.  One post pointed to part of the Cask Widge system as a possible solution.  This system, used for serving cask beers, contains a float.  It floats on the end of a very flexible piece of tubing and has a screem on the intake part of the float.  Beer is transferred out through the float.

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Bulk Keg Orings and Keg Parts Reference

homebrew keg parts

Updated: 6/3/2024

You can save a bunch by buying homebrew keg o-rings in bulk.  Here are some part numbers, background and tips on keg gaskets along with part numbers and sources for everything related to your homebrew kegs.

This is a extensive resource post. Here’s what’s covered…

  • Replacement Keg O-Rings
  • Keg O-Ring Materials Selection – EPDM, Silicone and Buna-N
  • Keg Dip Tube O-rings
  • Keg Post O-Rings
  • Keg Lid O-Rings
  • Internal Ball Lock Quick Disconnect O-Rings
  • Ball Lock Keg O-Rings vs Pin Lock Keg O-Rings – are they the same?
  • Universal Poppet O-Rings
  • Universal Poppets – 304 Stainless + Food Grade Silicone & Reliable O-Ring Replacements
  • Food Safe Materials for Keg O-Rings?
  • Shelf Life and When Should I Replace My Keg O-Rings?
  • One-Off and Metric Sized Keg O-Rings
  • Other Keg and Kegerator Rebuild & Replacement Parts
  • Replacement Lids
  • Poppets
  • PRV Valves
  • Keg Posts
  • Post Thread Sizes
  • Keg Lid Feet
  • Keg QD Replacement Parts
  • Replacement Dip Tubes
  • Faucet Repair Parts and Resources
  • Replacement Keg Handles and Bases
  • Keg Quick Disconnects
  • Racetrack Style Keg Parts
  • Tools for Removing Keg Posts
  • Odds and Ends
  • Keg Parts Landing Pages
  • Keg and Draft Related Reviews
  • Rebuild Your Kegs
  • DuoTights
  • Our Curated List of Keg Deals

Limited Time Deal on Keg Parts

valuebrew blowout sale

Valuebrew offers a lineup of food grade keg replacement o-rings in bulk quantities.  Most offerings are silicone or EPDM with one Buna-N option.  Everything they carry is food grade, more info below.  They have some unique offerings like bulk pin lock size post o-rings, replacement universal poppet o-rings, bulk internal QD o-rings and color coded Blue and Green post o-rings

Some of these offerings are detailed in our Keg Rebuild How-To

Valuebrew Blowout Sale!

For a short time Valuebrew is discounting select gear by a whopping 17% when you place an order of $100 or more.

This sale is the largest % off sale they’ve ever offered and beats all previous Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals they’ve run. This STACKS with existing (non-coupon) discounts!

Valuebrew Blowout Sale!

Use coupon code blowoutsale with a qualifying order of $100 or more to get the deal

Replacement Keg O-Rings

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