Tap-A-Draft - What's the trick?

[ASantiago]

I'm a new user of TAD. Before my purchase, I read the forums. And when bottling, I followed the guidelines that seem more common. Yet, my first beer in TAD sits flat in the bottle. This is what I did:

1. Primed as I do with normal bottling (3/4 cup corn sugar)
2. Filled the bottle up to about 1 inch below the neck
3. Waited 3 weeks
4. Put the bottle in the refrigerator for two days before tapping
5. Tapped with one CO2 cartridge (beer was definitely carbonated from 3 weeks of conditioning)
6. Waited 24 hours and put in another CO2 cartridge

At first, the beer was nicely carbonated. As I drank it, it became less and less (over a couple of days) until it became just flat out flat (pun intended).

Last night, I plugged in another CO2 cartridge and I'm waiting until tonight to check it out.

Did I not do the process right? I figured with the amount of priming I did the beer would be very carbonated for a while.

Any advice? And how long can I *really* expect the beer to last carbonated? It seems like the more headspace there is as I drink, the more the beer would degas, no?

 

[HVBrewtality]

I haven't used TAD in years, but I seem to remember using a different amount of sugar for the TAD vs bottling.

But, seems to me more likely there is a leak somewhere. For it to be carbonated and then slowly, over time, not... that sounds like a leak.

 

[ASantiago]

I haven't used TAD in years, but I seem to remember using a different amount of sugar for the TAD vs bottling.

But, seems to me more likely there is a leak somewhere. For it to be carbonated and then slowly, over time, not... that sounds like a leak.

The instructions I've seen recommend priming with *less* sugar than normal. But from what I've read here, priming normally works better.

 

[ChshreCat]

Well, it depends on how much you drank. As you dispense beer, the CO2 cart will empty itself into the headspace to keep the pressure up. Once that's gone, as pressure drops, CO2 will come out of the beer, making it less and less carbonated. If your CO2 carts emptied and you hadn't replaced them, then the beer will eventually go flat as you drink it. Was it starting to pour slow?

 

[ASantiago]

Well, it depends on how much you drank. As you dispense beer, the CO2 cart will empty itself into the headspace to keep the pressure up. Once that's gone, as pressure drops, CO2 will come out of the beer, making it less and less carbonated. If your CO2 carts emptied and you hadn't replaced them, then the beer will eventually go flat as you drink it. Was it starting to pour slow?

It's been dispensing a little slow, but not that much. Or maybe I just don't notice because it's my first time.

I completely understand and agree with your statement regarding the CO2 cartridge(s) emptying themselves into the headspace. So, letting that go will result in CO2 from the beer itself getting out if there isn't enough pressure there already. I've been suspecting exactly that.

So, should I be adjusting my expectations? - Carbonation will not last as long as we think, certainly not more than a few days (at most) with two cartridges, and to keep the carbonation as well as the pressure, it really will take more than just 2 cartridges if one plans on drinking the beer over more than a couple of days. Does this sound about right? Consistent with everyone's experience?

 

[usmclar1]

I dunno man. I rig those Miller/Coors homedrafts to work with homebrew after having similar problems w/ my TAD and to be honest, I think they work better. I just have to use one 16 oz cartridge and it "keeps my beer fresh for up to 30 days!" like the commercial boasts.

Before you add the cartridge (after you've let cool) do you re-open the bottle to relieve some of the natural carbing? When I do that I have less C02 expel from the valve when I add the cartridge and I think that helps some.

 

[ASantiago]

Before you add the cartridge (after you've let cool) do you re-open the bottle to relieve some of the natural carbing? When I do that I have less C02 expel from the valve when I add the cartridge and I think that helps some.

I'm not following you. When exactly do you mean? I put the bottle to cool down before I tap it. Then I tap it and add the CO2 cart. When I open the bottle to tap it, whatever CO2 hasn't been absorbed goes out.

 

[usmclar1]

Nevermind, you're on the right track. Question answered itself.

 

[ChshreCat]

I don't come close to getting through a bottle on two CO2 carts. Always takes at least 4.

 

[ASantiago]

I don't come close to getting through a bottle on two CO2 carts. Always takes at least 4.

How long does it normally take you to finish a TAD bottle?

 

[ChshreCat]

Couple weeks? I'll usually only have one a night out of it. I like to mix things up and rarely drink the same beer twice in a row.

 

[ericd]

Yeah sounds like a leak, if it's new I'd ask for a replacement.

 

[ASantiago]

Couple weeks? I'll usually only have one a night out of it. I like to mix things up and rarely drink the same beer twice in a row.

4 cartridges over a couple of weeks. Ok, I can see that happening if the beer starts letting CO2 loose into the empty space.

 

[ASantiago]

Yeah sounds like a leak, if it's new I'd ask for a replacement.

I thought about that and it's certainly a possibility, but the beer went flat on me with it still covering the valve. So I figured maybe if there is a leak, beer would be leaking out too.

But it could be a CO2 leak problem so the pressure isn't maintained....

I'll contact Midwest about it.