New brewer kegging question

[brewerAR]

I just kegged my first brew today. The beer itself turned out well. My question is about the kegging process. I transferred the beer to the keg and hooked up my 5lb CO2 tank with the regulator.

The tank pressure began at 1000 psi. I cranked the pressure to 30 psi and shook the keg for 10 minutes then reduced it to 12 psi. The pressure on the tank has dropped to 600 psi. Is this reduction in pressure normal? I am new to this and I would appreciate any help I can get.

[Bugeater]

Don't worry. The tank will stay at 600 psi until just before it runs dry. It really shouldn't have read 1000 psi in the first place since CO2 liquifies at around 600-650 psi depending on the temperature. If you stick the thing in the refrigerator, the pressure will drop to about 400-450 psi due to the temperature. The gauge measures the pressure in the head space. That pressure will remain constant as long as there is liquid CO2 in the tank.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[BDawg]

Yeah, the only other thing that's easy to forget is to remember to purge the oxygen out of the keg by filling it then releasing the pressure a few (5 or 6) times before leaving it pressurized. This helps keep your beer from prematurely staling in the keg.

HTH

[numsquat]

Good point BDawg. Didn't do this my first couple of kegs and had some early retirement of some good beer myself.