Clogged Dip Tube, How To Prevent

Did you use any type of filter prior to kegging? If I'm transferring using a racking cane, I'll put a 1 gallon paint strainer bag over the cane, does a decent job of filtering out the hop debris

 

GIGO. if you fill your keg with beer along with trub, sediment, hop debris or anything solid then you are going to get a clogged dip tube and a fouled poppet.

I don't filter my beer but can pour with little problems after the first 6 ounces. Then the remaining 5 gallons are almost always fine.
I will always cold crash my beer prior to kegging. I also use gelatin as a fining agent, but not always. Transfer as little debris as possible and you will have less problems. When you transfer to the keg dump the first few ounces and don't move the racking cane. Once you get a clear flow of beer from the keg don't move the it. Not even a little. Just let it be. Every time you disturb the beer the sediment migrates to the dip tube and you have problems.
Cheers.

 

This is where the rubber meets the road...I will repeat some items (for next time) I have suggested in other threads.

1. Use a fine mesh nylon bag for pellet hops especially
2. Suspend the bag with flat, unflavored dental floss to keep it off the bottom of the keg
3. Make sure the bag is free of debris on the outside, knot it and tie it
4. Don't overfill the keg (leave ~2 inches from the lid)
5. Treat your dryhopped keg as if it contained nitroglycerin

Even with extreme caution, you will eventually experience a clogged dip tube or other problems...shit happens.
6. Almost forgot this one: put a spigot on that fermenter : )

Cheers

 

Just learned the hard way the flow control faucets are much more prone to clogging. Apricot puree clogged it after pouring less than an ounce. Ended up taking apart and switching it to the carbonated water keg.

Never had a problem with the standard Perlicks, despite dry hopping with loose pellets (keg hops are bagged) and not doing anything else to separate beer from trub.

 

Bingo.

 

They sell ss mesh screens that cover the dip tube, that along with taking off about 1/4 of the end of the tube and cold crashing before transferring into your kegs should help. I dh in a keg then cold crash, then transfer to serving keg.

 

???

 

We buy bottles of seltzer and pour them into a keg. Nice to have on tap.

 

He probably serves them in recapped Perrier bottles.

 

Couldn't you just force carb still water?

 

All I want to know is why one should treat their dry hopped keg as if it contained nitroglycerin.

@GreenKrusty101

 

Isn't it easier/ cheaper to just keep a keg of water on gas and carb yourself?

 

carbonating water can be done, but you need to blast it at 70 psi or so to get it to hold any gas, a carb stone helps a lot. at least that's been my experience.

check out "carbonating pump", made for bars and restaurants.

 

it's so you don't have a heart attack.

 

Definitely joking, just filled with filtered tap water and a bit of chalk, pressurize at 30 PSI, and give it a shake.

 

I have used kegs at 30 psi without much of a problem and often make a smaller amounts using a carbonator cap. I did once basically punch myself in the face with a two liter bottle though in the shaking process.

 

i could never get it to hold much gas at lower pressure. maybe I just like it super carbed?
why are you punching yourself in the face? don't do that.

 

I know you invert your dryhopped kegs, so this probably doesn't apply to you, but a dryhopped keg ready to serve will serve up A LOT of hop mung and yeast if jostled around...probably N/A also if you xfer to another keg and/or filter...something I don't usually do.