loxnar
Well-Known Member
So i am not quite sure this is the right forum for this but seeing as there are so many DIY ideas and designs on here i figured id post here. Well i bought my first set up about 3 days ago and got it fully put together and what i thought would be fully dialed in. The issue im having is just tons of foam and head i have to double pour the beer and sometimes triple pour to let enough head settle in order to get a beer i can drink. After hours of research and even more hours of messing and troubleshooting with the thing (this also included about drinking 9 beers in the process lol) i just cant figure out what the best solution is to this. Let me give you guys the lay out of what i have and what I have tried...
Current keg is sam adams boston lager and ive written to the brewmaster for proper PSI/temp storage for their beer and have yet to get a response.
Temperature varies from 36-38 degrees.
Currently i have the PSI set at about 12psi
So everytime i pour a beer if i pour it straight through i get like 60% head in the pint glass. Far beyond acceptable. From being a complete newbie and reading threads and forums I have concluded the problem could be A) the pressure is to high and causing the beer to come out to fast and be agitated B) the warm beer in the tower is creating the foam C) bends in the line can create foam. D) pressure is to low and air is escaping into the beer line creating air pockets which when coming out of the spout release as foam....
ok so here are the solutions i have tried....i have gone back and forth with the pressure regulator trying to get it dialed in perfectly...the issue im having that is really frustrating me is that when i turn the psi up high enough to keep CO2 from escaping into the beer line it just seems like it is pouring WAY to fast and obviously creating head. When i turn the regulator down enough so it seems the beer coming out of the spout is pouring right i get air bubbles in the line =/ it really just seems like i cant find the happy medium...
another solution to help reduce head would be to follow something like
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/pvc-tower-cooling-solution-43072// this....i can for sure see how this helps with the beer keeping cold but i really dont think that is my issue since i get the same result if i pour 1 beer or 3 beers in a row....
my OTHER thought which i think may help the most is to lengthen my beer line to increase the amount of restriction which should let me raise the PSI without increasing the flow out of the spout to eliminate my issue with gas escaping the keg....i read elevation can effect this but seeing as im like 200ft above sea level i really dont think this is a factor. the beer line as it stands now is about 5 feet long which seems to be standard and shouldnt really be the issue.....my only real life friend that i know, who has now moved away and cant help me in person, thinks that perhaps shortening the line would help with the issue....as much as i love him i dont agree with him....so here is my plea for help as im at a crossroads as to what my issue could be....any input would be greatly appreciated as i really dont wanna have to try all these ideas if none of them are gonna work....as i said insulating the tower i dont think will do much and i dont think i should need 9 feet of hose inside my kegerator to increase restriction. but with the psi at 12 it is shooting out of the spout and i remember my buddies kegerator it should be a nice constant fast trickle almost....taking about 6-8 seconds to fill a full pint...i will stop rambling and await assistance from the outside world
Current keg is sam adams boston lager and ive written to the brewmaster for proper PSI/temp storage for their beer and have yet to get a response.
Temperature varies from 36-38 degrees.
Currently i have the PSI set at about 12psi
So everytime i pour a beer if i pour it straight through i get like 60% head in the pint glass. Far beyond acceptable. From being a complete newbie and reading threads and forums I have concluded the problem could be A) the pressure is to high and causing the beer to come out to fast and be agitated B) the warm beer in the tower is creating the foam C) bends in the line can create foam. D) pressure is to low and air is escaping into the beer line creating air pockets which when coming out of the spout release as foam....
ok so here are the solutions i have tried....i have gone back and forth with the pressure regulator trying to get it dialed in perfectly...the issue im having that is really frustrating me is that when i turn the psi up high enough to keep CO2 from escaping into the beer line it just seems like it is pouring WAY to fast and obviously creating head. When i turn the regulator down enough so it seems the beer coming out of the spout is pouring right i get air bubbles in the line =/ it really just seems like i cant find the happy medium...
another solution to help reduce head would be to follow something like
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/pvc-tower-cooling-solution-43072// this....i can for sure see how this helps with the beer keeping cold but i really dont think that is my issue since i get the same result if i pour 1 beer or 3 beers in a row....
my OTHER thought which i think may help the most is to lengthen my beer line to increase the amount of restriction which should let me raise the PSI without increasing the flow out of the spout to eliminate my issue with gas escaping the keg....i read elevation can effect this but seeing as im like 200ft above sea level i really dont think this is a factor. the beer line as it stands now is about 5 feet long which seems to be standard and shouldnt really be the issue.....my only real life friend that i know, who has now moved away and cant help me in person, thinks that perhaps shortening the line would help with the issue....as much as i love him i dont agree with him....so here is my plea for help as im at a crossroads as to what my issue could be....any input would be greatly appreciated as i really dont wanna have to try all these ideas if none of them are gonna work....as i said insulating the tower i dont think will do much and i dont think i should need 9 feet of hose inside my kegerator to increase restriction. but with the psi at 12 it is shooting out of the spout and i remember my buddies kegerator it should be a nice constant fast trickle almost....taking about 6-8 seconds to fill a full pint...i will stop rambling and await assistance from the outside world