First time kegging. Head retention question

Wingfan13 · Jul 30, 2011

First time kegging. I use the set it and forget it method and set my PSI to around 11. I put two kegs in. I had one 5 gallon brew in a corny and one 2.5 gallon brew in a corny. It has been 2 full weeks and both beers taste fully carbed (or close) but neither retain head.

The head is fine when the beer first comes out but quickly disappears. Any idea what the issue is ? Not enough time ?

RugenBrau · Jul 30, 2011

I add flaked or torrified wheat (about 1 lb)

douglasbarbin · Jul 30, 2011

I think the issue probably has more to do with your recipe than the kegging process. Certain grains are better than others at retaining head. In my experience, if you are brewing with only extract, your beer will have no head retention to speak of. Tell us a little bit about your brew process. Do you steep or mash any specialty grains? Stuff like Carapils?

Wingfan13 · Jul 30, 2011

douglasbarbin said:
I think the issue probably has more to do with your recipe than the kegging process. Certain grains are better than others at retaining head. In my experience, if you are brewing with only extract, your beer will have no head retention to speak of. Tell us a little bit about your brew process. Do you steep or mash any specialty grains? Stuff like Carapils?

One was all grain and the other mini mash. I have brewed the mini mash before and had plenty of head. I mean this looks like uncarbed wort after a few sips.

Wingfan13 · Jul 30, 2011

RugenBrau said:
I add flaked or torrified wheat (about 1 lb)

? Just to get head on a kegged beer ?

douglasbarbin · Jul 30, 2011

^^ It will helped with head retention. So will some specialty grains like Carapils. What do your recipes look like?

Wingfan13 · Jul 30, 2011

This is the 2.5 gallon batch

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/centennial-blonde-simple-4-all-grain-5-10-gall-42841/

Wingfan13 · Jul 30, 2011

I will dig up the other but it is a brown ale.

JuanMoore · Jul 31, 2011

Wingfan13 said:
I mean this looks like uncarbed wort after a few sips.

You said earlier that it tasted well carbed, but was just losing head fast. If the beer is less than ideally carbonated quickly after pouring, it's likely an issue with your line balancing. If it loses the head quickly but stays carbonated it's likely a recipe issue, or something oily got into the beer somehow. How long are your beverage lines and what size are they?

Wingfan13 · Jul 31, 2011

JuanMoore said:
You said earlier that it tasted well carbed, but was just losing head fast. If the beer is less than ideally carbonated quickly after pouring, it's likely an issue with your line balancing. If it's stays carbonated but loses the head quickly it's likely a recipe issue, or something oily got into the beer somehow. How long are your beverage lines and what size are they?

5 feet and 3/16. I have brewed these beers before and bottled with no issues.

JuanMoore · Jul 31, 2011

Wingfan13 said:
5 feet and 3/16. I have brewed these beers before and bottled with no issues.

My best guess is a line balancing issue. The short lines may not be providing sufficient resistance resulting in a large portion of the CO2 getting knocked out of solution during the pour. Try longer lines (like 10') and see if it helps.

How many volumes were you carbing to when you were bottling? If you were using the 5 oz bags of priming sugar that come in a lot of kits, your beers were probably carbed to ~2.8 vol. Assuming you keep your kegerator above freezing, 11 psi will result in lower carbonation levels than that.

Wingfan13 · Jul 31, 2011

JuanMoore said:
My best guess is a line balancing issue. The short lines may not be providing sufficient resistance resulting in a large portion of the CO2 getting knocked out of solution during the pour. Try longer lines (like 10') and see if it helps.

How many volumes were you carbing to when you were bottling? If you were using the 5 oz bags of priming sugar that come in a lot of kits, your beers were probably carbed to ~2.8 vol. Assuming you keep your kegerator above freezing, 11 psi will result in lower carbonation levels than that.

Yeah, I was just using the 5oz priming sugar bags. I have to go check the temp my refrigerator is at and see if maybe I need to adjust there. Thanks for the help and it looks like I will be getting some 10foot lines just to be safe.

RugenBrau · Jul 31, 2011

Wingfan13 said:
? Just to get head on a kegged beer ?

correct

JuanMoore · Jul 31, 2011

Wingfan13 said:
Yeah, I was just using the 5oz priming sugar bags. I have to go check the temp my refrigerator is at and see if maybe I need to adjust there. Thanks for the help and it looks like I will be getting some 10foot lines just to be safe.

How did you decide on 11 psi without knowing the beer temp? I suggest using a chart like this one to find the correct pressure for a given combination of temperature and desired carbonation level.

pauljmccain · Jul 31, 2011

Since no one has said it already, make sure to handwash and beer clean your pint glasses. There is a considerable difference for me when I forget and just pull them out of the washer. If you're already doing this just ignore! Cheers.

Wingfan13 · Jul 31, 2011

JuanMoore said:
How did you decide on 11 psi without knowing the beer temp? I suggest using a chart like this one to find the correct pressure for a given combination of temperature and desired carbonation level.

I trusted the temp range the fridge manual gave me for
Where I had the dial set to. I did use a chart to try to get the right co2 level.

I have. Thermometer in there right now and am going to check it soon to see where I am at.

Wingfan13 · Jul 31, 2011

I'm at 39 degrees. According to that chart I am right where I need ti be. Looks like I will try the 10 foot lines.

MacGruber · Jul 31, 2011

Try adding a pound of oats or wheat to the recipe. I usually do and I get great retention and lacing.

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