1st keg - very fine head

[doublej]

So i have just kegged my first beer - the beer taste great but the head is different than any of my bottled beer. It is very small bubbles and almost frothy - reminds me of the topping on lemon meringue pie. is this normal for keg beer?

fridge is set at 37
5 ft of line
PSI is set at 12
center of keg is 28 in from faucet (perlick 525)

could it be that im not balanced and im getting a foamy pour?

 

[heferly]

Seems a little short on the line..does the beer feel/taste carbed?

 

[scottland]

5 feet is short for 12psi. 5ft is too short for me with 8psi. I'd buy 10feet of line, and see if it's better.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Tiny bubbles, creamy head = proper carbonation.... at least that's what the head brewer at BJ's said to me when I worked there.

 

[doublej]

it tastes carbed, just has a head that is almost like guinness....

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Oh, that's not what I meant by "properly carbed." I meant like in the proper increase of CO2 volumes, not going over and having to fluxuate above and below the level of carbonation you want.

Another inidicator is nice solid streams of bubbles making their way from the bottom of the glass to the top, without wavering and wiggling all over the place.

 

[doublej]

there are a few bubbles rising, but they are very tiny and small in number...not at all like if i had poured a beer from a bottle, or was drinking draft at a bar. am i possibly not as carbed as i think?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

How long has it been set to 12 PSI?

 

[BrewAlchemy]

How many days have you been carbonating? And were your PSI set any different prior 12psi.

 

[doublej]

i have been at a constant 12 psi for 6 days now

 

[tmurph6]

6 days is not nearly long enough. 2 weeks minimum, 3 weeks ideally. There's a sticky explaining keg carbing.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

6 days is not nearly long enough. 2 weeks minimum, 3 weeks ideally. There's a sticky explaining keg carbing.

This

 

[Rolly]

In my opinion a merengue-like frothy & rocky head is waaaay better than one with big bubbles. It usually has better retention as well. Reminds me of pouring a bottle of Orval.