After reading a bit, it seems to be one of those topics that is pure preference. But I'm curios of people's opinions. To anyone that has cut a dip tube; do you have any regrets? How much did you cut?
I don't cold crash, secondary, filter, or fine my beer, and my unmodified dip tube doesn't suck up any trub unless I disturb the keg. Just one data point.
I bought a used keg that must have had a replacement dip tube because it was about 1/4 too long and did not seat correctly in the pickup cone at the bottom of the keg. 10 seconds with a sawzall took care of the the problem and I have zero regrets
Some people cut their dip tube to not suck up stuff that accumulates at the bottom of the keg. Ones that do seem to swear by it. People that do not cite that after the first few pours, they have clear beer with no sediment. Feel free to Google the topic. I was curious if tube cutters have any regrets.
I think if I did more dry hopping in a keg I might. Especially after the force carb where the hop-bag-wasn't-as-well-tied-as-I-imagined episode. Otherwise, no.
Understood. My dip tube is not cut and after a half to a full glass my beer is pouring incredibly brilliant and clear. Sediment is super low and non existent. I cold crash prior to kegging FWIW. I also don't dry hop in the keg ever and the aroma on my IPA's are insane and the strength of the aroma lasts beyond 3 months. There is absolutely no need to dry hop in the keg IMO... But everybody is different I suppose!
People certainly do seem to have differing opinions on that matter. I have yet to make an IPA. But I will eventually. It's a good style, it's just not my fave.
I hear ya! 3 out of 4 of my beers on tap currently are lagers. One IPA. But even my lagers pour super clear after a glass or so when tapped, so it's hard to understand why you would want to cut the tube unless conditioning in the keg and have a lot of sediment or dry hop matter. Never had an issue myself. Just doesn't seem to benefit anything with decent technique? Who knows!
One thing to consider--if you do decide to cut it, you an always put a small piece of tubing on the end to regain that length if you regret it later. I have a keg I use for fermenting, and I cut the dip tube on that one so I can transfer above the trub. When I want to use it as a serving keg, I slip a bit of vinyl tubing on the end (I can't remember what size--5/16?) so I can pick up from the bottom.
To interject - it isn't the end of world. Replacements are available- http://www.homebrewing.org/21-Curved-5-gallon-Soda-Keg-Liquid-Dip-Tube-With-Ears-Used-_p_6479.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=CjwKEAiA_9nFBRCsurz7y_Px8xoSJAAUqvKCKremZen8CJ2FOdU1axsjUwvgjp_LPj5ABSW7i8q-zhoCpwTw_wcB
I have cut more than a few of mine. If you get too much hop debris, or to much flocked yeast, you can clog the flow. For years I was fine with tossing a pint or two, but after a couple that were not flowing, cut off about 1/2 inch. Edit- the first ones I cut were for hop screens on the end of the tubes for dry hopping. I have had problems with clogging from dryhopping, even with fine meshed nylon bags.
I don't cut. After a few pours, my beers are clear, even when I dry hop. And I dryhop in the keg by putting pellets in a hopbag and gently placing them in the full keg; no weight or floss involved. When I remember, I dryhop by putting the hops in before I rack to the keg.
After getting continuous clogs from my keg dry hopped IPAs, I cut mine 1/4" and put a mesh sleeve on it and haven't had a problem since. There were several factors that lead me to that decision though. I was adding my first round of dry hops (pellet) into my carboy commando because of the narrow neck. So I was getting a ton of debris at the bottom. If my siphon even touched it for a second during transfer, I was getting some debris in the keg. That, plus not cold crashing, and dry hopping in the keg resulted in my clogging that lead me to cut it. If your process limits the amount of crap settling in your keg, you may not need to cut. Also, I bought a replacement dip tub for like $10 for my non-IPAs.
Thanks for the ideas guys. I've never like the way the dip tube rotates around in the keg and pushes into the side as I tighten the keg post. I've also had a problem with sediment in the past. The last beer was because I didn't cold crash, and it was a chocolate stout with cocoa powder. A lot of sludge in that one. Now that I just started all grain, perhaps I'll get clearer beer.
I've cut dip tube about 1.5" up and made a U shape with tubing and stainless steel wiring. Works like no other method for dry hopping under pressure. Shake keg every day with dry hops so they suspend. Then cold crash and all hop debris and yeast settle below the dip tube U. Can either carb and bottle or transfer to serving keg. Best dry hop method I have used by far.
I have only bent my dip tubes to shorten them in most of my kegs. It is easier than most would think!
