At what temperature do you set your kegerator for serving?

[SourHopHead]

In the garage also and about 40ish.

 

[Fingers]

Currently at 33º but that's because I'm lagering in the keezer I'm drinking from. Typically around 40º. I have an 8' line right now but I'll be putting in 10' lines when I get my taps set up properly. The pressure is typically around 12psi.

 

[gonzo brewer]

37 degrees, 8 foot lines (3/16"), 12-15 psi

 

[Jodeus]

This is a very interesting thread.
I just started using a Haier Kegerator, the one that holds 2 1/6 kegs.
Everything I've read on other boards said that the temperature HAS to be 38 in the pour.
You guys seem to have it much higher. My question is if the beer is in the 45+ temperature range how do you not get a glass full of foam? Is it all in the PSI setting?
I currently have two kegs setup, liquid temperature is around 39-40 degrees and at 11psi i was getting a lot of foam. I've since dropped the temperature and increased the psi, but haven't tried a pour yet. So theoretically if i liked a nice warm 50 degree beer, i just need to change the psi on the regulator and it should work?

Beer lines are 5', i do not have any mods on the kegerator.
Thanks so much.

-Jody

 

[MoRoToRiUm]

I have the same problem-I am getting longer beer lines. Everywhere I read it seems to be a good fix (also planning on adding fa/blower setup so my tower stays cooler).

 

[damrass]

So theoretically if i liked a nice warm 50 degree beer, i just need to change the psi on the regulator and it should work?

The two factors that affect foam is the speed at which the beer exits the tap and the temperature the beer is at.

Regulator PSI and line length affect the speed of the beer exiting (so lower PSI and/or longer lines will reduce foam). Temperature directly affects CO2 solubility (so lower temps will better prevent the CO2 from coming out of the solution, i.e. beer).

 

[BrewBrain]

This is a very interesting thread.
I just started using a Haier Kegerator, the one that holds 2 1/6 kegs.
Everything I've read on other boards said that the temperature HAS to be 38 in the pour.
You guys seem to have it much higher. My question is if the beer is in the 45+ temperature range how do you not get a glass full of foam? Is it all in the PSI setting?
I currently have two kegs setup, liquid temperature is around 39-40 degrees and at 11psi i was getting a lot of foam. I've since dropped the temperature and increased the psi, but haven't tried a pour yet. So theoretically if i liked a nice warm 50 degree beer, i just need to change the psi on the regulator and it should work?

Beer lines are 5', i do not have any mods on the kegerator.
Thanks so much.

-Jody

The problem with increasing temperature is carbonation. As temperature increases, the pressure must increase to keep the same level of carbonation.

Example: If you currently are at 40* and 11psi, you've got about 2.4 volumes of CO2, which is right about the sweet spot for a pale/amber ale. If you bump up the temp to 50*, you'll need roughly 16psi to keep the same 2.4 volumes of CO2. 16psi at your current line length probably equals foam bomb. Lower psi would mean insufficient carbonation, depending on style. Somebody who hasn't been testing beers all night please correct me if I'm wrong

I ~think~ you could get away with serving at 16psi if you purge and then re-set your pressure to 11psi or possibly lower to push the beer into your glass. Pain in the arse probably, but I think that would work.

So far I'm fine with 5' lines at 42* and 13ish psi, but I've only got one beer fully carbonated. I should have more datapoints over the weekend when three more beers should be carbed up. The one I have going now is horrible and it's a stout, which is the major style I have the least amount of experience with, so it's hard for me to tell if the carbonation is sufficient. I'll have two proven recipes ready this weekend, so I'll know for sure if I have to order longer lines by Sunday.

 

[HVBrewtality]

i never specified my pressure or lines so:

45*, 5 ft lines, 11-12 psi

 

[brewjunky]

i set mine to 34 with a 4 degree differential

 

[B-Dub]

6 foot lines (3/16") at 44 and 13-14 psi.

I was at 36 for the last year, but I think having the temp up higher allows the flavors to come through better right out of the tap.

Question: For you guys that have 10' lines. 3/16" line right?

 

[Slinggalin]

Me 3 spout Kegger is set @ 39 degrees :rockin:

Nothin like frosty brew

 

[kinison_fan]

around 45 +-, 10-12 psi, 5 ft lines

 

[BrewBrain]

I ended up going with 42*. Pours nice 'n' tasty

Four beers flowing steadily

 

[broski-brewski]

6 foot lines (3/16") at 44 and 13-14 psi.

I was at 36 for the last year, but I think having the temp up higher allows the flavors to come through better right out of the tap.

Question: For you guys that have 10' lines. 3/16" line right?

I'm going to be cutting my lines to size tonight. Using the excel sheet beer line length calculator and plugging in all the variables, with 3/16" line, I'm getting lengths much shorter than 10' for my desired temp/vol combo (in the 4 to 5' range). So if I may reiterate B-Dub's question... For the guys with 10' lines are you using 3/16" or 1/4" lines?

 

[StunnedMonkey]

I'm going to be cutting my lines to size tonight. Using the excel sheet beer line length calculator and plugging in all the variables, with 3/16" line, I'm getting lengths much shorter than 10' for my desired temp/vol combo (in the 4 to 5' range). So if I may reiterate B-Dub's question... For the guys with 10' lines are you using 3/16" or 1/4" lines?

I use 3/16 at 10 ft, 38 degrees, 10 psi. That's what works for me anyway.

FWIW, I plugged my info into some of those line-length calculators, and they usually said I should be using 4 ft lines. I started with 6 foot lines (foam foam foam) and eventually replaced with 10 ft. Now it's all good.

An aside, it's cheaper and easier to trim lines that are too long than it is to replace lines that are too short. I'd start with longer than you believe you need.

 

[broski-brewski]

I use 3/16 at 10 ft, 38 degrees, 10 psi. That's what works for me anyway.

FWIW, I plugged my info into some of those line-length calculators, and they usually said I should be using 4 ft lines. I started with 6 foot lines (foam foam foam) and eventually replaced with 10 ft. Now it's all good.

An aside, it's cheaper and easier to trim lines that are too long than it is to replace lines that are too short. I'd start with longer than you believe you need.

Thanks SM, your response is exactly what I was looking for. I've got plenty of line and I'll be starting with 10'.

 

[Chriso]

40-45F, depending on the weather outside since my 'rator is in the garage and I don't have a controller on it...

Same here, but on the front porch. I try to keep it between 40-45˚, but it usually stays at about 38˚, no matter how much I tinker with the dial.

 

[mmb]

40* w/ 5' lines 3/16" @ 12 PSI with a 2.5 foot rise from top of keg to faucet

 

[stevea1210]

I've had my kegarator up and running for a month now. I have 5' lines at 45 with 10-12 psi. I am having no foaming issues on a seettled keg. After yanking them around abit, it gets foamy, but settles down in an hour or so. At this point, I don't have a need to go with longer lines.

 

[Anbrew]

balmy 35F here. I find it ages and clears better at these temps, also need less PSI to carb. I DO prefer to drink my beer at much warmer temps, but by the time I really start drinking it it's at these temps anyway.

 

[3MindsBeer]

With mine, pending the brew style, I kept the darker porters and stouts, to a temp nearly 39, and for the lighter brews, I think at about 42. I found taking out the icer shelf, it lowers the temp a bit easier pending your setting, but again, that is for a one kegger.

 

[RogueGoose85]

Great old thread...I was in panic mode because i couldn't seem to get my kegerator down below 40, (also felt more comfortable with it around 43 or so, so it didn't work too hard)..but it looks like i just have to tinker with the psi setting.

HBT, you are full of good threads.. too many get lost!

 

[istr810m]

I had mine set to 34 +/-1 with an extra thermometer inside as confirmation. I don't know if it is the tower or what...but, it pours a glass out at 39-40. And right now in the heat of the deep south, it feels too warm. I feel like I can grab a seltzer out of the family fridge and it is colder. But when I put the thermometer inside the glass after I pour it, it reads 39-40. Can't wait for winter!

I just bumped it down to 30 +/-1. You think it may freeze?

 

[natefrog255]

I tapped my first keg in my converted kegerator this weekend and had a ton of foam issues. I think the issue is coming down to the beer being too warm and/or too short of beer line (7'). The beer just seemed to be coming out way too fast and was ending up with 50-75% foam.

But the odd thing was my temp sensor was set at 30, my air temp was 36-38, but then I eventually I tested the beer and it was in the high 40s. So I guess I need to really put the air blast on. I haven't been that impressed with the JC Analog temp controller.

I'm going to untap the keg tonight, swap out the beer line to 10', re-tap, let cool 24 hours and see if that helps.

 

[YNOT2K]

38 degrees for me.

 

[matthammill]

Going to be building a kegerator soon just wondering what the difference in the five foot line is to the 10 foot line what is the advantage of a 10 foot line?

 

[natefrog255]

I'd go with the longer line as you can always cut it down. I built a kegerator last spring, got a 7' line, and had nothing but foam. I swapped in a 10' line and the issues got better. With that said, my other solution I did was get a fan in the kegerator to distribute the cool air to the top, so that have been a part of the solution as well.

 

[b-boy]

Go with the 10 ft lines. I started with shorter lines and ended up replacing them. Also, the fan is important, especially if you're using a chest freezer. Anything that keeps the beer lines cooled will keep foaming to a minimum.

 

[eric19312]

42F / 5 foot lines / 9 PSI / picnic taps inside keezer.

 

[aryoung1980]

40F at 12psi with 6ft lines and a fan to circulate the cold air.


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