Perplexing problem with carbonation

[PJT340]

Hey now, I am stumped on this. I am a experienced brewer. I have a batch that has been sitting on CO2 for 3 weeks now (38deg @ 16psi) and will not carbonate!! The only difference is I used silicone based anti-foam agent in the boil. Could this be the problem. thx

 

[plazola86]

I've overfilled the keg before and the CO2 didn't have enough head room for it to absorb into the beer.

 

[jerbrew]

What they said ^^. The time it takes for CO2 to dissolve into solution is proportional to the surface area. If you fill to where the keg starts to curve you loose surface area really quick and it will take longer to carb. Other thoughts are that maybe you have a valve closed? Is there any carbonation or just very low? The anti-foaming agent is siloxane based and won't even go into solution. So, if anything, it would sit on the bottom and wouldn't cause any problems with CO2 solubility. Not to mention, if it was a problem, people wouldn't be using it, like myself.

 

[raysmithtx]

One time I put the wrong type of spring on the CO2 keg connector. It was too strong and the CO2 connector on the gas line wasn't strong enough to open the poppet. Obviously it never carbed up.

I use a de-foaming agent on every one of my brews. It is not causing the problem.

 

[PJT340]

Thx . I'm using cornys. Their is definitely 16psi in the headspace of the keg. I can bleed it off.

 

[GPP33]

Beer can be temperamental. I’ve had some stay flat at my usual 12psi serving pressure and some turn into foam bombs. My carb routine lately has been 50PSI for 25 hours, 30 PSI for 24 hours, then down to 12 PSI. Seems to be working well.

The other thing is your gage would be bad. Does beer come out at a normal rate? Surface area matters but i’ve Filled mine to where beer comes out of the relief valve and they still carbed up. It sounds like you’ve drawn off a few pints already so you have plenty of head space.

 

[PJT340]

Beer can be temperamental. I’ve had some stay flat at my usual 12psi serving pressure and some turn into foam bombs. My carb routine lately has been 50PSI for 25 hours, 30 PSI for 24 hours, then down to 12 PSI. Seems to be working well.

The other thing is your gage would be bad. Does beer come out at a normal rate? Surface area matters but i’ve Filled mine to where beer comes out of the relief valve and they still carbed up. It sounds like you’ve drawn off a few pints already so you have plenty of head space.

Yes. Gauge is working. Just hacer never encountered this in all my years