Cheap Experimental Minikeg

By no means is this a state of the art 'look at me I brew stainless' device, this is an untested prototype that may not even work. I'll report back mid-January 2016 with results. I'm hoping to have created a good enough seal, and to have added enough sugar to the bottle that there is enough pressure in the bottle to deliver beer through a tube connected to the nipple on the top, but at the same time in a hope that it doesn't explode

This whole setup costs about £10 if you don't have any of the equipment, I had all of it lying around.

TIP: Don't skimp on the PTFE tape, SANITIZE, and tighten everything as much as you can.

MK2 may need a cheat/cheap gas supply.

Best of luck.

You will need:

- 5L water bottle (£1.10 - Tesco)
- 15mm female coupler (£1.50 - Local Plumbing Supplies)
- 15mm backnut (£0.90 - Local Plumbing Supplies)
- 15mm ball valve (£2.76 - Amazon (click here))
- 2 part hose connector (like this one) (£0.90 - Local Plumbing Supplies)
- 'Bush' to connect hose connector to coupler (£1.50 - Local Plumbing Supplies)
- 30/40cm of clear 1/2 inch tubing

Tools:
21mm holesaw (or something to make a hole with)
Adjustable spanner (up to 22mm)
Locking pliers/ vice grips (whatever you want to call them)
PTFE Tape

Using the holesaw, make a hole in the lid.

It is very important it is perfectly in the middle.

Use the dimple on the top of the lid as a guide.

Pass the male end of the connector through the top of the plastic lid and secure with back nut.
PTFE tape is essential to ensure a good seal. Tighten as hard as possible with the spanner and locking pliers.
If it is loose or not straight, you will have to buy a new bottle and start again.

On the few threads of the connector that are showing screw on the bush and tighten as much as possible with spanner and locking pliers.

Make sure the rubber seal is on the bottom of the nipple part.

No rubber seal = gas leak/loss of carbonation = no beer.

PTFE the hose connector assembly onto the 'bush'.

Screw the ball valve into the female end of the whole assembly (don't forget lots of PTFE tape).
Attach the hose to the other end (use a jubilee clip if it is loose).

Double check everything is as tight as possible with your spanner and locking pliers.

Trim the hose so it is about an inch from the bottom of the container. This will avoid any sediment being sucked up by the hose.

Add about half a pint of lemon juice (try vinegar too, but it might leave a taste) and plenty of sodium bicarb, whack the lid on (make sure the tap is closed) and see if any gas leaks.

Better to do this, have the £1.10 bottle explode than lose a gallon of beer.

You can shake, run and watch from a distance, fun to do with children. If it doesn't explode, open the tap and you have a lovely fountain of foam for a couple of seconds.