I did it my very first beer, my very first TAP!

[underwaterdan]

Well I feel accomplished. I am drinking my very first homemade beer(of my own) from my very first homemade tap system. I will upload a few pictures in a bit, the project isn't 100% but it is all working, just needs finishing touches! A little too much foam but I am researching that now, I think it might be that the beer is too cold.

 

[MilwaukeeBrewGuy]

Awesome! Can't wait to start my own. Just finishing up putting all of the equipment together. I will be kegging also. Did you do all grain? Looking forward to the pics and more details.

 

[oinyo]

woot!!! grats. I hope to be able to say the same thing in a few weeks when I start to bottle my 3 kegs

 

[underwaterdan]

Awesome! Can't wait to start my own. Just finishing up putting all of the equipment together. I will be kegging also. Did you do all grain? Looking forward to the pics and more details.

Pics will be coming, as soon as I can find the camera - not sure where that is. I did mix kits from Midwest, this one is Big Ben Pale ale, which I have renamed to poquott pale ale, has to do with my brewery name, and I like it. It isn't great, I think because it is still "green" as someone explained to me, but happy to have it.

 

[FxdGrMind]

Congrats!! So I take it you weren't keen on the whole Bottling 5 gal bit, just like me. You are One step ahead of me. Parts are on their way for mine... delivery next week... It's like an expectant father (first timer).. Just can't wait.

Love to see the picts when you get them posted.

Once again, Congrats on the Tap bier

 

[underwaterdan]

Here are some pics, let me know how I did - as you can tell it isn't 100% but it is pouring

 

[drunkatuw]

Ok, I'll bite...where are you storing the kegs?

 

[Haterade]

First time I've seen that. Interesting!

 

[FxdGrMind]

When you sell your place... The guy that buy's it is going to have a SMILE ear to ear... and the wife will not have a clue as to why he is encouraging her to think about buying it! It's the equivalent of a Garden Tub with water jets for the woman.
Nice!

 

[underwaterdan]

Ok, I'll bite...where are you storing the kegs?

In the fridge on the other side of the wall...

It fits 4 cornys and atleast 1 c02 tank

 

[grlz]

thats primo man. nice job.

 

[underwaterdan]

thats primo man. nice job.

Thanks, I can't wait for it to be 100% done but it could be a few weeks, I still need the other taps.

 

[McKBrew]

Sweet. Great job Dan. Looks professional and it has to be cool to have beer coming out of the wall.

 

[Mutilated1]

How'd you keep the beer from pouring out of the glass like that ?

 

[Joos]

Looks good man.How does it taste?

 

[underwaterdan]

How'd you keep the beer from pouring out of the glass like that ?

You just have to turn your monitor - you will see

 

[underwaterdan]

Looks good man.How does it taste?

It tastes better than I thought. I give it a 7/10 for a beer - hopefully it will age to an 8 and leave me some room to improve!

 

[WBC]

Unless your beer is at least 4 weeks old from boiler to faucet, it has room for improvement from aging.

Foam:
At 36F it takes 10 lbs co2 to have 2.5 volumes. If your beer line is not long enough (you need 4 feet @ 3/16 ID) then it will foam when the beer expands coming out of the tap which causes it to foam. If you are using shorter lines and/or 1/4 ID then it will foam like crazy. Look for a CO2 chart for different pressures for different temperatures in the serving fridge. I use 36F because after it gets into a glass it warms slightly and goes up from there.

Chart: http://www.zahmnagel.com/pdf/Beer.pdf

 

[T-rags]

Great job. Where are you going with the project now? Do you plan some sort of built in bar along the wall there? I'm envisioning maybe an L-shaped bar with a dry sink or something to catch the splashes as well as some sort of backsplash on the wall - tile or something. Of course it's fine just the way it is, but we never leave well enough alone do we?

 

[MilwaukeeBrewGuy]

sweet and I love the fact that you don't have to spend a ton for one of those keg towers...

I understand...Man it takes a long time to build up all of the equipment one needs to brew and keg!

 

[Jewrican]

That is bad ass!

 

[underwaterdan]

Foam:
At 36F it takes 10 lbs co2 to have 2.5 volumes. If your beer line is not long enough (you need 4 feet @ 3/16 ID) then it will foam when the beer expands coming out of the tap which causes it to foam.
Chart: http://www.zahmnagel.com/pdf/Beer.pdf

I am using 14 or so feet of 3/16 ID tubing. About 10 of it is coiled in the fridge the rest is the run to the tap. For some reason I have air in the beer line, so I assume that is the problem. By air I mean a break in the beer.

 

[Madman]

WOW, that's gotta be a thick brew!

Seriously, though, great job on the wall taps. That's pretty sweet!

 

[underwaterdan]

Great job. Where are you going with the project now? Do you plan some sort of built in bar along the wall there? I'm envisioning maybe an L-shaped bar with a dry sink or something to catch the splashes as well as some sort of backsplash on the wall - tile or something. Of course it's fine just the way it is, but we never leave well enough alone do we?

Sorry must have missed this the first time through.
I would like to do more, but for now that is it(well I still have to finish that project). We did talk about a L shaped bar, but mounted flush against the wall, not a walk around one. I don't think it will be any time soon. However I am always looking for a new project to spend money on...

 

[sjwelna]

Brilliant! You are giving me ideas for when I buy a house with (hopefully) an unfinished basement I can play with.....

 

[underwaterdan]

Okay so it has been a few months, but I have gotten the rest of my parts(almost) and I have a few pics to post. I am waiting for my secondary reg, so I can have all three taps working. Not sure how I feel about the tap handles yet, they are from an older project, but the perlick faucets are second to none! Okay here are some pics, enjoy...