Foamy chaos!

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

So, I poured the first glass of my first beer today. I let it sit at 30 psi for about 52 hours, then turned it down to 10psi and bled off the excess pressure. But for some reason my beer is coming out like 90% foam. I'm using a picnic tap on about 5 feet of beer line.I don't think there is any leaks I think its just a forcecarb mishap. Any ideas?(the line is as cold as the beer so its not a hot line pulling the co2 out)

 

[Hammy71]

It's over carbed and is releasing CO2 since you vented it. Keep releasing the pressure and consider this a lesson learned, it will calm down eventually. Slow and steady wins the race. I carb over a 2-3 week period at the recommended pressure and never a problem. A party tap will cause some foaming, look into this...

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/cure-your-short-hose-troubles-100151/

 

[BoxofRain]

You may also want to go with a longer beer line.

 

[Yooper]

As was said, it's over carbed, probably by a LOT unless you had the beer at room temperature when it was at 30 psi.

Turn the gas off to the tank, and bleed the pressure through the pressure relief valve everytime you walk by.

Don't set it at 30 psi anymore, but if you do- don't ever do it more than 24-36 hours!

Longer lines will help, too, unless you plan on purging the headspace and serving the beer at 2 psi all the time.

 

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

Well it got a little better, went from about 95% foam to 70% after one day with no pressure and bleeding it every chance I get. But today the carb level hasn't improved at all(still around 70% foam) I notice the beer isn't foam in the line its clear. It seems to foam as soon as it hits the picnic tap(or perhaps exits, this is the first time I've used the tap so idk if its 100% functional) is this because of its introduction to air/atmospheric pressure or could it be my tap?
Also, I've been turning on the gas to pour a beer then shutting it off when I'm done.(10psi) does this have anything to do with my foam or is it just coincidence?

 

[BoxofRain]

I don't think turning it off will do anything except keep it from dropping below 10 psi once you hit equilibrium. Is there a good flow of air either way? It's not sputtering, is it? Also what is the inner dimension of your beer line?

 

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

it is indeed sputtering at the beginning of the pour, but I assumed that was the beer left in the line exiting and having some adverse effect. I bought my tap at the LHBS, it looks like 3/16 or 1/4inch clear(vinyl?) line
I'm pretty confident in my keg re-construction after cleaning so I don't believe my tubes are reversed like in that thread(tho I'll check after I'm finished with the days BS)

 

[Thundercougarfalconbird]

SOOO, I squeezed the tap all the way and am up to about 40% foam now =D
it just comes out so freaking fast, will getting say a 12ft line slow that down?(perhaps Im just used to the trickle of a handpump)

 

[BoxofRain]

SOOO, I squeezed the tap all the way and am up to about 40% foam now =D
it just comes out so freaking fast, will getting say a 12ft line slow that down?(perhaps Im just used to the trickle of a handpump)

A long line will slow it down. You need to find a balance between hose length and psi. Start with 12 and cut your way down until you get a perfect pour.