Fruit Flys in Taps?

[ruger988]

I don't (at least didn't think) I had any sort of fruit fly problem in the house, but the last couple weeks it seems like the first pint I pull from each tap on my keezer I get a fruit fly in my beer. Anybody else had this issue? Come up with any solutions?

 

[day_trippr]

I didn't wait for the first fly to be back-stroking in my beer, I bought a set of caps that look like these when I bought my first set of Perls...

Cheers!

 

[harry_the_face]

You must be in eastern Oregon because we are having huge fruit fly issues the last couple of days. I have my kegerator in the garage and last year had a problem with ear wigs in my beer took me a few pours to realize that they were living in the end of the tap. I got the covers that day_trippr posted and no problems since.

 

[thaworm69]

I would think a small fan would work as well. It will keep them out of your taps until you can clear them out. I have made fruit fly traps as well which seem to work pretty good. (I had some bottles that didn't get rinsed I was saving for bottling and ended up with a bunch of them) I took a jar with a metal lid (salsa jar ect) and poked a small hole in it only big enough for the flies to get in, and found this recipe online. Equal parts vinegar and beer, or fruit rind ect.. (something they like) 1 tsp sugar, and a few drops of dawn dishsoap. The trick is to make them want whats in the jar more than your precious homebrew! They crawl in the hole and can't get out. The dishsoap I believe disorients them? It worked well for me and had them cleared up in a few days.

 

[ruger988]

Cool, thanks guys. Probably just gonna get a few of the litle tap condoms and call it a day!

 

[raysmithtx]

A package of cheap balloons work and are disposable. I had some plugs but they get kind of nasty over time. Ok, balloons are not as classy looking but effective none the less.


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[day_trippr]

The covers are washable. I blast mine out with hot water every handful of days or so, takes a minute.

The brush style plugs, otoh, I wouldn't use because those aren't going to be as easy to clean.
Plus they drip...

Cheers!

 

[30Bones]

I spray my caps with star san after it's been a week or so since my last pour. Simple, easy and fast. Sometimes if I remember I will toss them in the dishwasher

 

[Stealthcruiser]

They can't drink that much..........

 

[GHBWNY]

A package of cheap balloons work and are disposable. I had some plugs but they get kind of nasty over time. Ok, balloons are not as classy looking but effective none the less.


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Beer Balloon. The new growler.

 

[GHBWNY]

I don't (at least didn't think) I had any sort of fruit fly problem in the house, but the last couple weeks it seems like the first pint I pull from each tap on my keezer I get a fruit fly in my beer. Anybody else had this issue? Come up with any solutions?

Have you ever looked in the bottom of a tequila bottle?

 

[samuryan]

had a fruit fly swarm in my house the past week! North lake tahoe. Unbelievable, seem to be thinning by the day though

 

[HumulusHead]

I always have fruit fly problems. I am also terrible at doing the dishes. But oh well.

I used to set fruit fly traps to try and get rid if them, here is an interesting trap I found on yahoo answers years ago:

1) place half an orange in the oven, cut side up.

2) crack the door to the oven

3) wait over night

4) quietly sneak up to the oven and slam the door closed

5) turn oven on



Thought it was hilarious


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[day_trippr]

Gotta ask: you cook food in that oven? Or just the fruit flies?

Cheers!

 

[HumulusHead]

Just fruit flies


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[Homercidal]

We got em bad here right now too. The wonder is that I haven't seen any in my spouts so far this year. I usually shoot an ounce or two into a small glass before I pour a full glass just to get the warm foamy first shot out of the way, so a fruit fly is likely going to end up in that glass.

I made a fly trap for the kitchen that was a small mason jar with some beer in it. Placed a piece of plastic wrap on top and screwed on a ring to hold it. Then punch holes with a toothpick and set it down near where they congregate.

It doesn't get rid of them all, but it helps. I've heard of pouring hot water down the drains cause they like to hang out there to drink. Also they may hang out in your plant's soil.

 

[jrm21086]

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[passedpawn]

My 4 taps are outdoors, in Florida. If I can solve this problem, you can!