Black Specs in Beer

[markstamp]

I recently bought a keggerator off a friend and I have 1 keg attached to it. Half Barrel. I have noticed that there are little black specs maybe 5-6 per beer. I have never cleaned the lines and I don't think the person I bought it from ever cleaned it. So I am wonder what I should clean and with what. I have seen different products from oxiclean to BLC.

Can someone explain what cleans what. Do i have to clean the Tap itself? Just the Lines?

Thanks

 

[azscoob]

Were it me I would just replace the beer lines, clean the tap and coupler with BLC and relube the seals on both and reassemble, beer line is like 50-80cents per foot and not knowing how that line was treated, its safe to just replace it.

 

[markstamp]

So how do I clean the Tap and Coupler just dunk it in a bowl with BLC? What do i use to relube the seals with?

Also Where can i purchase BLC only online?

 

[azscoob]

local homebrew store should carry BLC, I use food safe keg lube on the seals in my couplers and faucets.

this should help in cleaning the coupler

dismantling the faucet depends on what type you have, but it should be dismantled and cleaned well and reassembled after lubricating the seals and pivot points

 

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Another possibility is that the black specks are caramelized sugar, usually gets removed in primary/secondary before you bottle, but could be settling out in your keg and getting sucked up with the first few pulls.




...course, I've never kegged so take this with a spoonful or two of salt

 

[markstamp]

its actually a keg i purchased, not a homebrew

 

[IrregularPulse]

I'm gonna guess those are little black specs of either mold from the beer lines or some kind of finish from a cheap chrome faucet flaking off. Definitely buy new line. I like Micromatic 3/16ID Beer line. If you plan on just keeping commercial beer, buy a line cleaning kit. It's comes with a squeeze bottle and the right connectors to squeeze cleaner and sanitizer through your beer lines. every time to switch a new beer to the tap, or every 2-3 kegs if you stick with the same beer.