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jkidd152 Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 408 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject: Draft beer in a Vanagon! |
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This was my inspiration, to share my home brewed draft beer right from my van!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=526482
Samba legend BellePlaine from the link above is a genius! What I am showing you here is a light, light version of his set up. Although I would have liked to follow his ultimate set-up, I was after something less permanent.
However, I have already made a couple major mods that are necessary for the home brew dream to be a reality.
First is the closet door mod.
Now a 5 gallon keg in a bucket of ice will fit!
Although not pictured, a little CO2 tank and regulator fit back there too.
A beer line runs from the back closet...
...through the cabinetry to a 2" shank attached to the metal plate portion of the fridge vent.
I "borrow" a tap from my kegerator
Remove the cover and bam! We are in business!
Bob likes it:
So does Mark:
When it's all over, the tap screws off and the cover goes back on. Here you can see the shank underneath the cover:
Bet you can't see it from here though!
Just in time for MogFest!
Cheers!! _________________ '85 Syncro Westy |
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markz2004 Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2007 Posts: 944 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Very fun mod and the beer was seriously good beer. That's why bob and I look so serious. _________________ 87 Westy, 250k GW 2.4 - 2.0 , 16" wheels |
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Altoona Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011 Posts: 505
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, my.
That sir, is by far, the most inspirational mod I have seen in a long time. Kudos. |
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singler3360 Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2009 Posts: 1191 Location: Corvallis, Oregon
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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This is truly an inspiration. The greatest VW GTG mod ever. |
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kirsplat Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2008 Posts: 412 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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mod of the year nominee
you'd have to let the keg settle for a while before tapping it, right?
(edited my distasteful comment) _________________ 86 Syncro|EJ253|Carat
Last edited by kirsplat on Sat Aug 10, 2013 10:46 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2013 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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Can't wait for the rollover red and syncro stout at mogfest next weekend! _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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slobrewer Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2013 Posts: 65 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:08 am Post subject: |
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Very nice. As a fellow homebrewer I've been thinking of how to set up draft beer in my van too. I really like the setup you've got since I find little use for the wardrobe and I've already pulled the Dometic. That said, 5 gallons of beer is generally more than I need for all but the biggest homebrew fests so I'm thinking of doing something similar but instead using 2.5 gallon kegs.
Hmmm, this has gotten the wheels spinning and I'm going to have to pull something together before our club trip next weekend... _________________ White 1988 Vanagon Westfalia (Automatic, A/C, solar, aux battery, 15" GW wheels, 8' Fiamma awning, 63 qt. Edgestar fridge, homebrew on tap) |
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VanWilder Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2009 Posts: 1349 Location: PDX-Weird Town, USA
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:39 am Post subject: |
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Senor Kidd, you have out done yourself. That is shaweeet.
I second, the"Mod of the Year". _________________ VW
________________________
"83.5" Vanagon GL Air cooled "VanWilder"
VanWilder has given back to me more then I could ever put into it September 22, 2010
Malama Ka `Aina—"Respect the Land" |
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chojinchef Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2011 Posts: 1539 Location: Central Massachusetts
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 5:37 am Post subject: |
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Very, very nice mod.
Almost makes me wish I did not get rid of my external vent.
The ingenuity of the VW folk never ceases to amaze me.
LP _________________ Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory. |
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Steelhead Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2007 Posts: 1791 Location: Kentfield, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Thanks a lot...30 years in vanagons and this is first time I've wanted a rear cabinet. _________________ '77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper) |
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One more islander... Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2010 Posts: 399 Location: Canada: British Columbia West Coast
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 8:05 am Post subject: |
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slobrewer wrote: |
Very nice....I'm thinking of doing something similar but instead using 2.5 gallon kegs.... |
So...with brain-cogs turning and a seriously underutilized stock fridge...would a 2.5 gallon keg fit into the fridge compartment if the fridge were removed? |
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slobrewer Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2013 Posts: 65 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:53 am Post subject: |
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One more islander... wrote: |
So...with brain-cogs turning and a seriously underutilized stock fridge...would a 2.5 gallon keg fit into the fridge compartment if the fridge were removed? |
Yes, I confirmed that last night. A 2 1/2 gallon keg fits in a 6 1/2 gallon fermentation bucket (the standard homebrew variety) with the lid on. That whole bucket fits just fine under the shelf if you remove the Dometic fridge. Even better, a 1 .75 gallon keg fits in a standard 5 gallon bucket leaving you even more space. I'm going to whip up something today and post some pictures.
The benefit to going this route is that you can keep your draft lines coiled up in the bucket with ice and minimize the foaming from warm lines running along the inside of the van.
I do love the idea of that fridge door mounted to the wardrobe so that the space is more accessible, though. _________________ White 1988 Vanagon Westfalia (Automatic, A/C, solar, aux battery, 15" GW wheels, 8' Fiamma awning, 63 qt. Edgestar fridge, homebrew on tap) |
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SteelB12 Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2010 Posts: 591 Location: Central Virginia
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Holy crap, that is awesome. _________________ 1987 Westy |
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jkidd152 Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2009 Posts: 408 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Guys, thanks so much for the compliments!
And I love the ideas that are "flowing" now.
I really haven't any foaming or settling issues. The first time I put in action, my biggest concern was the heat from the engine was melting my ice! It turned out to not be a problem, though.
That said, a smaller keg is a great idea! It is actually not that easy to lift a full 5 gallon keg in a bucket of ice into the rear cabinet.
Are you all familiar with a jockey box?
Beer line runs into the back of cooler, through a stainless steel coil sitting on ice. Cold beer runs out!
Check out this cooler...
It fits in here....because the shelf was removed (not my doing)
I would then have a short line out to my outside tap with this idea.
Just another way to do it.
Thanks again y'all!
_________________ '85 Syncro Westy |
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GWTWTLW Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2008 Posts: 2174 Location: Portland, OR
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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We certainly can't have warm beer or foam at mogfest... _________________ 89 Syncro Westy - GW 2.5, now with a double knob job
@gwtwtlw |
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gregaz Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2012 Posts: 407 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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Please come to the AZ Meet Up in Flagstaff next weekend. Pretty please? |
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1621 Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006 Posts: 2174
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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All I can say is...
Beautiful work, and I'm happy to see the ideas being generated. John, please design the fridge-elimination-beer-tap kit and I'll buy one for every cabinet I have. I enjoyed your beer as well, you are truly a craftsman in all aspects. _________________ '85 Westy |
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Racerrojo Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2006 Posts: 827 Location: ALBUQUERQUE 87120
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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you Sr. are my new hero! _________________ Tight is tight... too tight is expensive!!!!
Too many vans and mostly all projects |
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syncromike Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2011 Posts: 660 Location: Boise, ID
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Steelhead wrote: |
Thanks a lot...30 years in vanagons and this is first time I've wanted a rear cabinet. |
LOL - Me too! _________________ _____________________
'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop |
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slobrewer Samba Member
Joined: July 05, 2013 Posts: 65 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Nice! That could be the perfect spot for a full five gallon keg vertically.
I took the plunge and started drilling everything tonight. I've got the shank and line all plumbed in behind the vent cover. I rigged up a 1.75 gallon keg (http://www.williamsbrewing.com/175-GALLON-BALL-LOCK-KEG-P3222.aspx) in a 5 gallon bucket with foam insulation and it looks really nice. There's still room for a small CO2 setup and plenty of ice and the whole thing will be self contained. If I want to run a 2.5 gallon keg I can easily do so in a 6.5 gallon bucket, which also fits in the cabinet.
I'll post a bunch of pictures later this week when I go camping up in San Simeon with my homebrew club.
Good to hear you're not getting foaming. A long enough 3/16" ID line will prevent most foaming issues but some times hot lines can be an issue. There's minimal actual beer in a 3/16" line so it doesn't take long to clear it through.
I'm not a fan of jockey boxes with the coils. They certainly can work but I find I get more consistent results just keeping the beer cold in the first place.[/url] _________________ White 1988 Vanagon Westfalia (Automatic, A/C, solar, aux battery, 15" GW wheels, 8' Fiamma awning, 63 qt. Edgestar fridge, homebrew on tap) |
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