Here is my setup: Fridge keeping beer at 38 degrees (Yuengling Lager) 10' of beer line stainless steel Tap, shank and Perlick 630SS Faucet. 15 PSI CO2 This has been working consistently with perfect amount of head until recently. Last keg was starting to get a bit more foamy (No observed changes to pressure or temperature) so before I tapped the current keg, I cleaned everything with BLC. Current keg is still pouring a little foamy. It's not terrible, but slightly annoying. I am noticing a little bubbling in the beer line just above the tap. Tap system was built new this spring and has been in use since March or so. I've probably had 8-10 kegs through it. Is it just time to change out the beer line or might there be something else going on?
Close enough. Ordinarily you want to take the temp of a second pour in the same glass. This ensures you aren’t averaging the temp between the beer in the line and the beer in the keg. It’s not air temp which is a common and misleading mistake. Yuengling is 2.6 v/v, so at 38 it is looking for around 12psi. Could be overcarbing it if you are drinking it slower than you originally used to and it has time to sit at the higher pressure. There is no harm changing the lines, it is easy and doesn’t cost much. Was this the first time you cleaned the lines since March? How long did you let the cleaner sit in the lines?
It was the second pour when I checked temperature. It was the first time that I cleaned it. I probably should have done it sooner, but it was pouring really well and I didn't want to mess with it. I let the cleaner sit in the lines about twenty to thirty minutes. It's at my camp so it will sit all week and then I can check it out again Friday and verify the temperature again and possibly change lines and pressure at that time. One thing at a time would be best, I would think.
Yes, one thing at a time and wait a day before you do anything else. If you choose to lower the pressure, after you adjust the regulator burp the keg with the pressure relief to get the head space down to the new setting. The good news is you can still drink while waiting, it makes the time pass quickly.
Bubbles in the beer line just above the coupler indicate that CO2 is breaking out of solution. I’m going to go contrarian to Doug and say that the pressure needs to be increased slightly to stop the breakout. Here’s why. Regulator gauges are like small children...they tend to lie a lot. It’s not their fault of course, but over time they get bumped and banged around a bit. The solution: Pour a few ounces of beer to clear the line of bubbles. Put a flashlight on the beer line where it exits the coupler and look for bubbles rising from the tapping device. If bubbles occur; Increase your psi by 1#...usually 1/8th of a clockwise turn. Wait 5 minutes and repeat the process with the flashlight until the bubbles disappear. Since you can’t check it until Friday, take a look at the line before pouring any beer. My gut says there will be a 3-4” CO2 gap (or two) somewhere in your line. Edit: This could also be due to a slight warming in your refrigerator over the summer as well. Even a 2*F rise will throw off a perfectly balanced system. Either way, this step-by-step should solve the problem.
Thanks very much. My first step will be to reconfirm temperature and then work from there. Like I said it's not bad, but it's not as good as it used to be. Hopefully, it shouldn't be too difficult to get it back where it was.
Thanks very much. My first step will be to reconfirm temperature and then work from there. Like I said it's not bad, but it's not as good as it used to be. Hopefully, it shouldn't be too difficult to get it back where it was.
I was thinking the same thing. With Yueng Ling in particular, that keg wants more psi than typical. It could be going flat in the keg. You end up pouring foam in the line. But not unlike a house plant that is turning brown it may need water. Or it may be getting too much water. You may need to increase pressure, of course it could also be the pressure is too high. Easy. There are two possibilities and there are no more. Well, three if you include temperature so be extra careful that you really are getting the same temp in the line as the beer in the keg. To be honest that is very difficult to achieve with a kegerator. Cheers. Edit Does the beer come out of the faucet with foam or is it beer color and then foams in the glass?
Comes out with foam at first, then pours better. It was pouring so nicely, not sure what changed. Hopefully will know more tonight.
So here is what I found. When I got to camp Friday, there was no visible foam breakout in the line but beer was still too foamy. 37° measured on second pour at 15 psi. Beer just seemed to be flowing too fast. Decided to go ahead and change beer line and add extra to try to slow it down. Went from 10' to 13'. Retapped and brought pressure up to 15 psi again waited a while and poured a glass to get beer through the line. Had to pour out about a pint or so. After that it poured perfectly. I was able to pour a glass with as little or as much head as I wanted. I'm not sure this is the perfect balance with the pressure being a little higher than is called for, but it's working and did not seem over carbonated so I'm going to leave it for now. Thanks for all the help.
