Converting a Coors style Keg "Keggle"

Ok, So I found a free keg on Craigslist but it was a coors keg with that bulk in the middle and beat to crap. But it was free! Click on this link to see the hole I cut on the top! http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=689378655768792635#editor/target=post;postID=1251898292968926146

The guy left it out on his lawn for me and I went to pick it up. I ordered a sight glass kit from Brewhardware.com  (Bobby). I believe he has the best hardware around especially sight glass kits. I made my own from a copper tube and  compression fitting, I'll take you through some of the steps.


With a Step bit or Unibit I drilled a hole about a 13/16" Hole in the lower sidewall of the keg
This is a picture of the Bulkhead hole but you get the picture. The bilkhead hole I had to keep going up a step until I got the right diameter. So we got our Bulkhead hole and our Sight glass hole. that's it you are done!

I love this Thermometer because it's 3 inches way bigger than the one on my 44qt pot and easier to read. The trick when using this set up is to ask Bobby for the extra elbow fitting to clear the bulk on your keg. Then when setting is up bend the first elbow that comes out of the T fitting to get it closer otherwise the sight glass with stick out at an angle. 

Here is a view of the inside with my copper dip tube. 

As for the bulkhead this one I bought from Brewhardware.com as well. What I love about it is that it comes with a flat high temp washer not the round ones that can slip. 

The sight glass is well built and easy to install. 

I'm very happy with my beat up and ugly kettle can't wait t use it!

Troegs Brewery Visit

Took a day trip out to Hershey, PA to visit the site where some of my favorite beers are made. I wasn't surprise of how big their operation is but it did remind me just how big a player Troegs is in the craft brew industry. We didn't do the guided tour because you have to book that months in advance. Good thing they had a self guided tour in a room where you have visual access to most of their equipment.
Walking into this place you were surrounded by cool Troegs related artwork. A lot of it was Nugget Nectar inspired and done by friends of the brew brothers. There were tons of bottle cap art and sculptures that were submitted via contest entry winners. I told my wife she should definitely enter in the next one her being an artist an all.
Their merchandise shop was great so many cool T-shirts, hats and misc stuff. They also had a snack shop where the food was just great pairings with their beers. We were in for a treat because Mad Elf is the seasonal beer being served. They also had a dedicated growler filler that filled growlers all day long without any waste due to spills or foam. Check out some the pics I plan to visit again with an appointment for the guided tour.

Yeast Lab!

 Tasting Room

OK, Before I forget this thing right here is dedicated room. There are 2 open fermenters that have small tanks in front of them that catches over spilling of yeast at high Krausen. Essentially top cropping yeast for future batches. I thought this was the coolest thing I saw there. They use this chamber mostly for fermenting the one and only dream weaver.

Brewing a Dubbel in My basement

My friends are always asking how I brew so I decided to "capture" by last brew day in which I made a Belgian Dubbel. It's not perfect because I put it together rather quickly. I guess I can make changes as I see mistakes.

Enjoy...