Ex-Lax Kegging Moment (noob I am)

**wedward** · 03-05-2009, 06:23 AM

So I was force carbing my first keg - my Irish Red Ale - and we tapped it after a day or so of burst pressure at 35 PSI. It tasted great - not very carbed but great. SWMBO said it was like silk.

Then I kegged my stout and moved the CO2 to that keg. Not a huge problem, except that I left the tap (picnic) connected to the red ale with no CO2. I came back the next day & 1/2 or so... I figured the next draw would flush the lines and I'd be OK. But there was little to no pressure when releasing the CO2 valve... I realized the tap line must have allowed a slow leak.
I tasted today and I sense a small off flavor, but SWMBO still thinks it is great. Anyone else done this and know how badly it can affect the kegged beer?

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 03-05-2009, 06:35 AM

Odds are it was the poppet in your gas side not the picnic tap. You would likely have lost beer not gas out that post.

Beer should be fine as I doubt negative pressure would have occurred.

TwoHeadsBrewing · 03-05-2009, 06:54 AM

If this is a new kegerator with new lines, that off flavor might just be a new line taste. I noticed it too when I kegged my first batch. If you pour off a few ounces it's not quite so noticable, and most people don't notice it at all. It may take a couple weeks to flush out, but eventually it will fade. The strange thing is, I bought some new line a few weeks ago and had no problems with that taste. I'm thinking it's a manufacturing issue, and some lines have more residual plastics on them that get dissolved in the beer that sits in the line.

**wedward** · 03-06-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny's Evil Concoctions

Odds are it was the poppet in your gas side not the picnic tap. You would likely have lost beer not gas out that post.

You nailed it. The poppet does not seem to seat 100% when I pull the CO2 off. I can get a slight whistle with my thumb on it. A little push seals it from there...