I've had problems with keg beer skunking in a short time. I keep the system clean, keep the co2 set at 8-10 psi and the temp at around 30 degrees f. Seems I notice it going bad in as little as a week. Any thoughts /suggestions?
That's probably not skunking. Skunking is only caused by exposure to light. Something else is going on and I'd suggest looking at how you're doing the cleaning of the system.
You're keeping your beer way to cold. If you're serving a hoppy beer at this temp, you won't taste the hops and it'll taste like the hops faded
Way too cold for any style beer. If you are really at 30 you are freezing off the water portion of the beer and are well on your way to freezing the alcohol portion of it too. Prior to freezing solid You will effect the taste because you are concentrating the alcohol. Do you hear slush in the keg if you shake it?
Are you sure you are using co2? I remember reading recently of someone who was getting tank refills at a paintball supply store thinking they were getting pure co2 only to find out they were getting plain old compressed air. Also 30f is too cold. You should be more like 38. At 30 there could be some ice crystals making the unfrozen part taste wrong.
Thanks for the replies /suggestions. Actually the temp is closer to 35-40. Misprint on my part. I tear the system apart and clean with hot water and baking soda. Skunking was not an accurate term- it just starts to taste old- not fresh- is the best way I can describe it. They are 1/4 kegs of bud lite. The system is a Danby that I purchased. I fo not use the system daily. A keg can last me a month or so. Would it sitting unused for periods of time have something to do with it?
Baking soda ? That's for baking. Get some Beer Line Cleaner aka BLC. And follow the instructions. It's not hard to clean your system. Don't use baking soda. That's a new one for me and really not helping the flavor or your beer. 1 month Bud Light is no problem. Bud Light is known to be a finicky leg to be honest, but as long as you keep it cold it is not an issue. 1 month old beer in a warm tower, that is a problem. You need a tower fan if you don't have one. Not only does it reduce foamy first pours it keeps the beer in the line chilled, and keg beer must be kept cold. If the beer is left to sit in the line for a week at 60F it will sour and contaminate the line, shank and faucet. Cheers.
