Beer isn't carbonating.

[BainbridgeBrewer]

So I'm stumped right now and am reaching out to see if anyone has any suggestions. I've been using my keggerator system for over 10 kegs so far. My usual procedure is to keg the beer, purge, put into fridge for 24 hours to chill, hook up CO2 @ 30 PSI for 24 - 48 hours, then set to about 12 PSI until ready. This has worked since I started kegging. Almost a month ago I kegged a Red Ale and started my normal process. I went out a week and a half later to pull a pint, absolutely flat. I checked the pressure in the keg and it was normal, I checked for leaks and found none, the pressure in the keg is recharged quickly when I check the pressure relief valve, and the temperature was in the high 30's. No clue. So I crank it back up to 30 PSI and let it sit two days. Drop down to serving pressure and am still getting flat beer. I let it sit another week and a half at 12 PSI and am still pulling absolutely flat beer. I've checked all the connections, nothing has changed in my system since the last 10 kegs. What gives? Any ideas? One month is way too long for this to carbonate!

 

[NWMOBrewer]

Have you tried the shake method, do it very lightly at first just to see if it can get a little carbonation into your beer.

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

No I've never used the shaking method to carb. The modified set and forget method has worked every time in the past. Part of me wants to think the LHBS swapped me a bunk tank of CO2 this last time and all that's in there is compressed air. But that seems hard to imagine.

 

[day_trippr]

No I've never used the shaking method to carb. The modified set and forget method has worked every time in the past. Part of me wants to think the LHBS swapped me a bunk tank of CO2 this last time and all that's in there is compressed air. But that seems hard to imagine.

I would think after a month under pressurized air you'd be able to taste the cardboard flavor from across the room

I don't have a diagnosis, everything you've posted says that beer should be nicely carbed by now. About the only thing I could suggest is to transfer the beer into another keg and see if anything happens...

Cheers!

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

I would think after a month under pressurized air you'd be able to taste the cardboard flavor from across the room

I think that's the only thing keeping that just a theory. It still tastes like great flat beer!

I may try that and transfer to another keg to see if that helps. I just kegged another beer this week and have it hooked up too. I'm getting pretty thirsty though, these things better get moving.

 

[BainbridgeBrewer]

I don't have a diagnosis, everything you've posted says that beer should be nicely carbed by now. About the only thing I could suggest is to transfer the beer into another keg and see if anything happens...

Cheers!

It was the keg. I had another keg set up to carb right next to the flat keg. It has carbonated perfectly in a week or so. I transfered the flat beer to another keg I had sitting empty and wallah, the beginnings of carbonation has already begun! Time to clean all the poppets and maybe change out the ball lock fitting on that gas side hose.