2 Newbie Keg Questions

[SevenFields]

I have my first two beers in kegs, carbing right now. Set it Forget it method.
This weekend will be two weeks, so I plan on tapping them on Saturday.

1. Before I hook up my beer line to the kegs, do I need to purge the keg before I pull my 1st pint? If so this should be the only time I need to do this right?

2. I have noticed that after my pressure has stablized, if I want to turn the pressure down, I need to flip the pressure relief valve on top of the regulator to bring the pressure to zero, then turn it back up to my desire pressure.
Is this normal?

I appreciate any answers to my silly questions. Thank you

 

[Clonefarmer]

I have my first two beers in kegs, carbing right now. Set it Forget it method.
This weekend will be two weeks, so I plan on tapping them on Saturday.

1. Before I hook up my beer line to the kegs, do I need to purge the keg before I pull my 1st pint? If so this should be the only time I need to do this right?

2. I have noticed that after my pressure has stablized, if I want to turn the pressure down, I need to flip the pressure relief valve on top of the regulator to bring the pressure to zero, then turn it back up to my desire pressure.
Is this normal?

I appreciate any answers to my silly questions. Thank you

1. No need to purge them of CO2 unless there is excess pressure causing problems. I do usually pour out the first pint of beer if there is excess yeast or trub in it.

2. I Do the same to turn down pressure but usually don't have to turn the pressure all the way down. Just back the pressure off a bit and flip the relief a little at a time

 

[Yooper]

You have the regulator set now to the serving pressure, if you're doing the "set it and forget it" method, so it'll be fine.

 

[chuggs]

When ready to pull your first pint...

If you're conditioning pressure is "balanced" (ie...the same as serving pressure) you may not need to do anything. Here are some points to consider...they'll all be self-critiqueing when you pour your first pint.

1) Where there residual sugars that fermented and you keg pressure is actually higher than your regulator set pressure?
2) Did you let your beer clarify in secondary before kegging? Did you add priming sugar or just force carbonate?

Anyway, Whenever I tap a keg...I always bleed off the head pressure on the keg...and reset to serving pressure. I use 12psi for a 10ft length of 3/16" id tubing. If your serving line is larger in diameter or shorter in length...you might want to experiment by started at 0-psi on the regulator --- open the tap --- and adjust the regulator up gradually until you get the desired pour rate. (Note: if you wind up with a serving pressure lower than 12psi...you'll need to dial up the regulator when storing, so your beer doesn't start losing some carbonation)

You might notice some yeast or flavor differences in that first pour...so sample it yourself...and save the later pours for friends.

Regulators setups can all be just a little different. If you unscrew the set screw...you should reach a point where the pressure will drop even though you didn't pull the relief vavle. Your method requires a little less unscrewing though. The MOST important thing to remember is...the pressure gauge that you're setting/reading on the regulator isn't necessarily what the keg pressure is. For example...if you set 30psi on your regulator...and allow it to equalize with the keg...then you turn down the setting and vent the pressure relief vavle on the regulator...then dial in 12psi...you might be thinking your keg pressure will also be 12psi. Not always!!! IF YOU HAVE A CHECK VALVE...you keg will retain the 30 psi...even though the regulator is now set for 12psi. If you want your keg to be at 12 psi too...you have to pull the relief vavle on the keg. OR...disconnect the gas coupler...and push down on the poppet valve to relieve the excess...then reconnect the gas coupler.

There's one more thing to remember...Some regulators have a shut-off vavle too... I have in the past been dailing up my regulator trying to increase the pour rate...all the while, the shutoff vavle was closed...so nothing was actually going into my keg. You'd think after doing this for 18 years...I'd not make dumb mistakes like that...but it still happens from time to time.

Enjoy!! If you're like most people...you'll NEVER go back to bottling again! Kegs are fantastic!!!

 

[SevenFields]

Great replies. Thanks alot guys. I have the regulator already set at 11psi, and that is what I was going to start with for my serving pressure, so I am just going to hook up my beer line and start pulling some pints.
This kegging thing is already wonderful and I havent even drank a beer from tap yet.
I bottled my first 10 batchs!!!!

 

[IrregularPulse]

Thats the beauty of set it and forget it with a balanced system. If you find a carb level you like with all beers. You set on pressure, calculate your line length based on temperature and never mess with anything again.

 

[SevenFields]

Thats the beauty of set it and forget it with a balanced system. If you find a carb level you like with all beers. You set on pressure, calculate your line length based on temperature and never mess with anything again.

What is the best way to balance your system?
Currently I have the classic Sanyo kegerator with a 2 tap tower.
My beer lines are 8ft long and the temp inside is around 40F.
Does this sound good????