Seltzer Experiments

Requirements:

• Glass or metal only - no plastic, or very little plastic in touch with the liquid. Plastic touching gas or solids is more acceptable.
• Cost should be lower in the long run than either buying consumer bottles or siphon chargers or even SodaStream supplies if possible.
• Keep seltzer cold if possible.

Research:

• Explored existing systems and settled on using home brewing equipment.
  • Cost is similar in initial outlay to Penguin Sodastream
  • Long-term costs are much cheaper. Costs $15 - $20 to refill/exchange a sodastream 60L cartridge. Costs $15 - $20 to refill a 5 lb CO2 tank (Produces ~600 gallons of seltzer depending on usage patterns)
  • See Ask Metafilter question and answers for more details
• After acquiring equipment from Oak Barrel Winecraft set about figuring out the best method for pressurizing/dispensing.
  • Oak Barrel salesperson described complicated method:

1. 1. 1. COLD water, fill corny keg with 2.5 gallons.
      2. Set regulator at 30 psi, quick connect to keg.
      3. Roll and slosh keg around at 30 psi for 1 - 5 minutes.
      4. Disconnect tank line, close tank and purge tank line with valve on regulator.
      5. Purge pressure in keg with keg valve.
      6. Set regulator at 2 psi, quick connect to keg.
      7. Dispense at 2 psi until keg is empty.
      8. Disconnect tank, close tank, purge tank line, purge keg with keg valve.
      9. Repeat step 1 for new tank.

• • MeFi user pwb503 suggested a simpler method:

1. 1. 1. COLD water, fill corny keg with 2.5 gallons.
      2. Set regulator at 60 psi, quick connect to keg.
      3. Roll and slosh keg around at 60 psi for 1 - 5 minutes.
      4. Disconnect tank line
      5. Store keg in fridge to keep cold
      6. Attach tap and dispense at 60 psi of initial charge.
      7. Let sit to equilibrate and maximize bubbliness/taste.
      8. Recharge with relatively high pressure if the keg does not empty with initial charge.

• • MeFi user ttrendel suggested method more like Oak Barrel, but dispensing at 30 psi.
  • Discussion with pwb503 indicates that experimentation is probably necessary to get the right behavior I want.
  • Note-taking and experimentation on Google Drive spreadsheet
  • Some indication picnic tap was either not tightened properly or faulty. Troubleshooting.
    • First step: make sure top threaded "lid" is screwed down tightly.