Kegs taste odd once they get low

[Nmccracken12]

Ok they are not home brew, but I am trying to get this keezer under control before venturing into that. I have two problems, one I think I know the answer to.

The first problem is my beer always pours foam for the first few seconds, a few ounces. Then it pours absolute perfect beers. I am almost certain this has to do with the beer lines not being cool enough. I am working to fix that, however if you have another reason it would do this please let me know.

Secondly, ALL (3) kegs that were in my keezer started to taste, I want to say flat, but I am not sure if that would be correct, when they got low. They just taste odd. No where near as good as they should. Any ideas on why this is? I was keeping the beer extremely cold like down to 32f in the keezer but I have bumped it up to 37f on the low and 41f on the high end. When the keezer was down to 32f I froze beer in the line of one of the kegs. Maybe the kegs froze? I am not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am ready to start home brewing! Thanks in advance!

 

[zach976]

I'm no help, because I've had the same problem. I had a hefeweizen that the flavor seemed to change. I adjusted the carbonation level a few times and it seemed to go from flat to half a glass of foam with no happy medium. I keep my kegerator really cold too.

 

[Nmccracken12]

Hopefully someone will have the answer. My third keg is about empty and I ordered 3 more earlier today. I am hoping not to have this problem again.

 

[raysmithtx]

Even if I set my kegerator to 38 degrees the kegs will freeze when they get really low. Taste gets off when the kegs are partially frozen (slushy) the the pours get slow and eventually stop. I have ordered two more fans to circulate the air to try to solve the problem. I have two kegerators (both GE) and they both have the same problem.

I have the temp probe in a gallon of water which does NOT freeze. The kegs don't freeze until they get to a point with less than half a gallon left in them.

I have checked the temp sensors with my thermapen and that's not the problem. I have a separate stc1000 in each kegerator.

I should receive the new fans in a few days and will post back after I get them installed.

My theory is that the coldest air is naturally settling at the bottom causing the problem. Another related problem is that not all of the kegs are the same temp with about a 10 degree difference between the coldest and the warmest one.

This is a long reply to say that I think a more vigorous circulation of the air inside should solve the problem.

 

[zachattack]

If they're tasting "flat" it could certainly be oxidation. It can sometimes take a while to become noticeable, so perhaps that's why it doesn't become apparent until the beer is aged a bit. Are you being careful not to introduce air when you rack, and are you purging the keg thoroughly after filling it?

 

[Nmccracken12]

As of now my beer is kegs from different micro breweries. What you are mentioning would involve home brew, correct?

 

[zachattack]

Yup. Nevermind! Should have read your post better.

 

[Xpertskir]

I think the better question is why on earth are you keeping your beer so cold. If you are buying beer from a microbrewery I'm assuming you want to taste it, no?

At least try the temp higher to see if some of your issues go away.

I keep my keezer at ~48 FWIW

 

[Nmccracken12]

The best answer I can give you is the wife likes her beer cold and it is easier to pour my beer and wait a minute to drink it then to listen to her complain, but if that is the potential problem then she will have to get over it. Working on circulation also. I have one fan in the keezer but will add a second to see if that helps also.

 

[Nmccracken12]

Also, do you have any problems with foamy beer keeping your keezer at 48f?

 

[Xpertskir]

That's a good excuse..LOL..

No issues. I have 5 ft serving lines and typically serve at 10-12 PSI.

Do you have a tower?


These are the variables

Liquid line length
Serving pressure
Temperature
Obstructions in the faucet or line


Beyond that, not a lot could be going on.

It's possible that you are keeping the beer so cold that you are basically making an eisbock, which is why the end of the keg tastes weird.

 

[Nmccracken12]

I would say it is very possible. I have 5ft lines that i regulate at 10 psi. I am going to change my temp to a low of 40 and high of 45. I am hoping this fixes it. It is not a tower, it is a keezer with a collar. Also, I will be cleaning the lines after this last keg is out which will be this week.

 

[Nmccracken12]

Here is a pic.

 

[day_trippr]

10 psi @ 48F would put the volumes of CO2 right at 2. That's pretty low for most beers...

Cheers!

 

[Xpertskir]

10 psi @ 48F would put the volumes of CO2 right at 2. That's pretty low for most beers...

Cheers!

You are right.

I serve at 10-12. They are already carbed when they hit that pressure.

I adjust as I need to, but in general I dont see a huge drop off in carb level as I drink the keg

 

[drewmedic23]

You could get a longer line. I can't do the calculations right now but check out this page for your line balancing
http://www.brewersfriend.com/2009/0...our-kegged-beer-co2-line-length-and-pressure/
I just extended my leg lines from 5ft to 8ft and solved the same problem.

As for the kegs freezing...Are the metal kegs touching the cooling lines in the fridge?

 

[Nmccracken12]

I will look into longer lines. If I turn my pressure up higher than say 10psi on my current set up it pumps beer out way too fast. What would be a good temp, pressure to atleast try with the current set up to make it ideal for the beer in the keezer? Yes, I think... The kegs are sitting directly on the bottom of the freezer. I have a chunk of ice that has formed on the bottom of the freezer in one of the corners also, if that helps tell you anything??

 

[drewmedic23]

ell pressure is referring to the pressure of your beer....so volumes of co2 at x temperature will give you a psi. That is the pressure that you figure out how much like you need based on tubing ID and tap hight. If you just up your serving pressure the beer is just going to come out faster and not really help the foaming issue.
Try unplugging your fridge and letting it air/dry out. That will get rid of any ice and help with the freezing

 

[Nmccracken12]

Ok I got it. So, I am not great at math, but I can tell you everything I know about the system and if someone has the time and patience to work with me on figuring that out I would be very grateful. I have 3/16" ID tubing they are 5 feet long. I would say the center of the keg to the faucet is at the most 3 ft. My temperature recently (using a meat thermometer) LOL.. was around 35f beer in the glass. I have since bumped the keezer up a few degrees. My pressure sits between 10 and 12 on my regulator. I have had to play with it a lot trying to figure out the foam issue. I have just typical beers in the keezer, pale ales and IPA's. I am going to build a 2x4 brace to sit on the bottom to put the kegs on to get them off of the freezer floor, and I am going to work more on the circulation in the keezer. The foam does not bother me as much as the beer starting to taste off, flat... My beer lines just kind of drop where they drop in the keezer, should they sit above the kegs and not drop below them? I have read someone saying that one time. I have 3 more kegs ordered and I am getting ready to put them in. I have bought some BLC to clean the lines and some brushes for the faucets in case that was the problem with the taste, but considering this entire system is a month old I am doubting that is the issue. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[brandonhagen1]

Make sure your lines are cold and ten foot worked best for me it will slow the pour

 

[drewmedic23]

Just found this cool gadget
http://www.calczilla.com/brewing/keg-line-balancing/

 

[day_trippr]

So, that "cool gadget" says I could shorten all my 3/16" PVC beer lines down to 3 feet with 12 psi on the kegs and get a good pour.

Riiiiight.

Here is a link to the only beer line length calculator worth using, imo...

Cheers!

 

[drewmedic23]

Yea something doesn't add up with that. Well it looked cool