Hi all, I've got a problem that I'm not sure how to resolve. I have a kegerator with two kegs (one pin lock, one ball lock) on one CO2 regulator, which is set to ~10psi. Both kegs have have beer lines that are ~10' of 3/16" tubing. However, my current issue is that one beer pours considerably foamier than the other - as in, one pours great, and one pours a glass 2/3 full of foam. I did over force carb (at 60 psi for a few days - went on a trip and forgot...) the one that is pouring poorly. However, I bled CO2 out over multiple days until it was under-carbed, and then just let it sit at serving pressure to re-carb slowly. The good-pouring beer was also force carbed, but slower, at a lower pressure (30psi). Does anyone have ideas about why I might be having this problem? Are other other factors that are worth checking, or is it possible that I just didn't release enough CO2 when de-carbonating the beer? Thanks for any help!
You have a temp/carb-level/line-length/psi problem with the foamy beer (you're unbalanced). From your description the temp/line-length part of the equation is probably okay . . . evidence points to the foamy beer having a too high of a carb level. Correction action is to reduce carb-level (i.e. bleed more pressure over a couple of days). You didn't bring it up, but do you really know what your target carb-level is for each beer? beer temp? psi to achieve this?
Ah, thanks. You're right. I don't have an exact target for each beer. My goal right now is to have them be served within an acceptable range - not totally under- or over- carbonated per the style guidelines. I had thought (incorrectly?) that to have each beer carbonated to unique levels, I'd need separate regulators. I've got an IPA and a Hef on right now, so I'm kind of in limbo. My temp-controller regulated serving temp is 40 deg F. Online calculators recommend somewhere around 18psi for 3 volumes of CO2, but I can't tell how those calculators take into account head pressure, and whether they're at all representative of my setup. I'll try releasing more CO2 for the over-carbed beer. Perhaps that'll help.
You do need separate regulators for different CO2 levels. 3 is pretty high for an IPA, might be fine for a Hefe. Also just because your temp controller says 40, it doesn't mean your beer is. You need to take the temp of your second pour into a glass that started at room temperature.
You really don't know your temp, carb-level, or psi . . . not a dig, but without these you'll struggle. Suggest you read this link first: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/foaming.193492/. After reading this get back with your particulars. Carb level between an IPA and Hefe is pretty significant. To really solve this you need a dual primary reg (or secondary reg). But this isn't too difficult, most primary regulators let you "add on" another primary. So you don't have to buy a new reg, just half of a new reg:
I added a second primary to my existing Micromatic by simply buying another MM primary and a suitable left-hand thread nipple. You can buy a primary without a high pressure gauge and save a few bucks (as it was, I dropped the tank a few days prior to this upgrade and broke the gauge, so I got one with a gauge -- it was cheaper than buying a replacement gauge separately). FWIW, Micromatic also markets an 'add on' primary that has a connector like you'll find on a CO2 tank (not sure what that's called), but this solution saved me more than a few bucks and only took 5 minutes longer to hook up. And it looks a helluva lot cleaner, too.
Have you checked your connections? you could be vacuuming air from a source and that will foam out a beer. I would check my clamps.
Keg beer is under CO2 pressure. If there are any leaks in the line the gas cylinder will quickly empty. You would expect beer to leak as well. Cheers.
not unless you are pouring. I have a four Tap system ball locks. I had a problem similar once I tightened my lines it seem to dissipate.
the keg is under pressure when the faucet is closed. the keg is under pressure when the faucet is open. the regulator maintains the set psi. that is what it regulates. any opening that is big enough to allow air in is big enough to allow CO2 gas to escape. you may have had a burr or a scratch that was a nucleation point. Cheers.
One line foams, the other doesn't, there are lots of variables to check. Perhaps you could switch over couplers and see, sometimes little parts are bad such as gaskets, o rings, ball locks etc... Easy enough to check the temp of the beer too...all these little things enough to drive you crazy, but you'll succeed in tracking them down, process of elimination. Hoses clamps etc...you can never have enough hose clamps
