Tap direct on keg?

[whoaru99]

Have a quad-style carbing up for 3.0v (24 psi @ 50F). Plan to see how 50F works for serving temp too.

Want to use tap direct on corny. I presume the only way that will work is cut the pressure way back for serving (then back up to keep the carb), or buy a flow-control faucet?

(BTW, not too interested in a bunch of extra tubing)

 

[AlexKay]

This thread (and there are a few others around) talks about the Picnic Tap 2.1. It is not perfect. Mine work great at ~12 psi, and get a little too foamy above 15. But it beats the heck out of a long line.

 

[sibelman]

24 PSI & 50°F? This could be a challenge for any serving rig. Are you sure you don't want to bottle this bad boy, @whoaru99?

 

[AlexKay]

24 PSI & 50°F? This could be a challenge for any serving rig. Are you sure you don't want to bottle this bad boy, @whoaru99?

If you do, EZ-Caps will handle the pressure.

 

[whoaru99]

Rather not bottle. Got rid of all my bottles except for maybe 20-24 Duvel bottles, and they might be gone too.

I do have about a dozen swing tops but I usually use those for wine. But kegged the last batch of wine too. Only used the swing tops to transport a liter or two now and then.

 

[OleBrewing]

i have used a control flow faucet and turned the valve down low. it was a slow pour but worked. this was beer at 35deg and 10-12psi.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Kegland sells flow control disconnects and a hand faucet. They also have a way to rig a mini Nukatap on a keg with a flow control disconnect. I haven't tried these things, but their flow control disconnects work fine with regular taps.

 

[sibelman]

Rather not bottle

Okay, and best of luck. Even with flow control, this might work best if your serving pressure is low once the beer is carbed up warm-and-high. But I've never deliberately carbed that high. A slightly over-carbed beer at room temp was foamy AF poured through the Picnic Tap 2.0.

 

[whoaru99]

Rather than get a flow control faucet I ordered one of the Kegland Duotight flow control disconnects mentioned by @Clint Yeastwood (and some 4mm EVABarrier beer line).

Yeah, I know; said I didn't want a coil of beer tubing. But sounds like that may have to be back up plan if I get sick of swapping gas hoses (have a 2-regulator manifold) or adjusting pressure on a single regulator.

 

[whoaru99]

Oh, backed down to 2.8v too.

 

[sibelman]

Oh, backed down to 2.8v too.

I wish you the best of luck with your quad. A glass of mostly foam is annoying, but will usually settle down after not too long.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I am between three and four volumes on one beer, and the flow control disconnects seem to do a great job of distributing the CO2 properly between foam and carbonation. Takes considerable twiddling to get the flow right.

 

[wetmk]

This thread (and there are a few others around) talks about the Picnic Tap 2.1. It is not perfect. Mine work great at ~12 psi, and get a little too foamy above 15. But it beats the heck out of a long line.

I have 4 of these. A.K. is right. They aren't perfect. Pour is definatley slower than I prefer. I'm used to that now though. And I prefer them over a bunch of long lines. Rarely use them above 15psi. YMMV.

 

[Beermeister32]

I’ve used this setup for years. I used to run 10 psi, I’m liking 9 psi these days. No foam issues.

 

[whoaru99]

Haven't had foam issues myself at lower pressures. 21 to 24 psi is new territory (for me).

 

[whoaru99]

I gave it a try with the plain old non-flow control faucet right on the keg. Got a good pour first time out, albeit with the pressure turned down way low perhaps to like 2-3 psi. Not sure how accurate the gauge is down that low. But, regardless, as long as I can tolerate messing with the serving vs. storage pressure it certainly is doable to get a good pour without mega foam.

Am going to leave it sit a bit longer though, to the end of the month as I'd planned. The sample/test pint-ish pour isn't going to last long. It's not St. Bernardus ABT (have not had Westvleteren 12 to say) but it's of the general style and good such that I personally deem it a success. None will be wasted.