flat beer in beer lines?

[RootvonRoot]

SO.... the beer in my kegs is carbed nicely BUT when I start beer from my picnic taps the beer that is already in the line is flat, then after it runs a second the beer that was in the keg comes through and has nice carbonation. Is that normal for the beer already trapped in the line (that sits for a while) to be flat? I thought that the beer in the line would stay under pressure and temperature thusly keeping the same carb as the beer in the keg

to answer a question ... both the beer and the lines are in my keezer at the proper temp...

any feedback on the flat beer in the lines?

i'm using 3/8'in lines and they are about 6 ft long

 

[android]

i'm not sure exactly what happens, but when i used picnic taps, i would get a shot of foam toward the beginning of opening the tap. whatever is happening, it isn't a problem, there's all of these weird nuances with keg carbonation.

 

[RootvonRoot]

I think it's a problem because I don't want to waste the beer in the lines if I don't have to

 

[lamarguy]

The beer in the line warms up and the CO2 begins to come out of solution. The beer in the line certainly isn't flat but it does have less dissolved carbonation than in the keg.

It's the same problem in a kegerator if the lines aren't kept cold.

 

[RootvonRoot]

problem is the lines, tapper, and keg are all enclosed by my keezer - it's not a temp issue... any other ideas?

 

[Homercidal]

I have two taps on my kegerator. Right next to each other. The wit I had would also lose a bit of CO2 out of solution and so a small amount would foam up before the "fresh" stuff would come out. The Saison I have right next to it does not appear to do this. Same model faucet, same CO2 tank, same pressure, etc. They are both served by the same CO2 line (I've had leak issues before so I'm currently only attaching the gas line when it needs a top-off.)

 

[lamarguy]

problem is the lines, tapper, and keg are all enclosed by my keezer - it's not a temp issue... any other ideas?

A "fun" experiment you should try this evening:

1. Pull an ounce of the "flat beer" and measure its temperature.
2. Quickly pull a few more ounces and measure its temperature.

The lines are at the top (warmest part of the fridge) while the beer is being pulled from the bottom (coldest part of the fridge). Good luck Holmes!

 

[RootvonRoot]

i'll look into it

 

[RootvonRoot]

AND report back ...

 

[android]

I think it's a problem because I don't want to waste the beer in the lines if I don't have to

does this small amount of beer that comes out first really affect the overall carbonation of the resulting beer that much?

 

[kmk1012]

why let it set in the lines long enough to go flat anyways? I believe the answer is to just drink faster, just kidding. My keg setup does the same thing on occasion-the temp at the top is almost 5 degrees warmer than the bottom-sometimes more/sometimes less.

 

[mattd2]

does this small amount of beer that comes out first really affect the overall carbonation of the resulting beer that much?

Is your line really 3/8"? if so what pressure are you serving at as I have found this to be a problem more at lower pressures under about 8 PSI.

If it is actually 3/16" line, as most of us have, I would agree with android - is 1 oz out of 16 really affecting the carb that mcuh?

 

[RootvonRoot]

it's 3/16" ... my bad - seems like about a glass of beer or just a little under that pours with less carb than i had hoped - i hate to pitch that much brew every time i go into the basement to pour a glass

i keep the kegs at 11-13 lbs or so then bleed about half that or more to pour me a beer or fill a growler then just pressurize it back up to 11-13 lbs

 

[mattd2]

Firstly if it was me, I would get my system ballanced so that there is no need to bled the pressure off to serve. All that should be required is a longer beverage line.
I don't understand why a glass (wait how big are your glasses?) would be under carbed as you should have under 2 oz of in the line & dip tube, have you tried just pouring 2 oz then pouring a glass to confirm that it is actually the beer in the lines.
Another thought is are your glasses warm? as this could possibly cause some co2 to be realease as it would cause the beer to warm up a bit, then then next pour the glass is at the same temp as the beer so its fine.... thats a plausable reason right guys?

 

[SweetSounds]

There's just a tiny bit over 1 ounce if beer in 6' of 3/16" line...

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=volume+of+a+cylinder+.1875+inches+diameter%2C+72+inches+long

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=1.988+cubic+inches+to+fluid+ounces