Mint Chocolate and Gingerbread are done. I must say, the ginger did not come out like it did this year, but I've found with spiced beer that less is usually better. Either way, it's a nice stout. The Mint Chocolate was good, with plenty of chocolate and a slight mint flavor. As usual, we didn't end up with as much as I would have liked, but still enough to share. Last night Santa made his list. Were you naughty or nice?
(above)The lid is a little wider than the hole, for overlap. I kept one of the lids from a previous keg conversion and reinstalled it's ball valve after removing the old pickup tube. (below) I seal the lid by using a bar that clamps using the handles of the keg. One side is stationary, the other has a bolt that pulls the bar down and applies top pressure to the lid. I used a couple scraps of the gasket material to make it extra tight.
I didn't even know it! Anyway, a lot has happened. I recently finished a 15gal fermentor using a 1/2bbl keg and ran my first 15gal batch of brew. I must say, it's exciting to have a "triple" batch of beer. I would love to go even bigger, but for now 10-15gal of beer is all I am willing to screw up at a time!
