I have read through a ton of threads asking the same question....why so much foam?! Unfortunately, I read them and tried a few different things and can't get rid of the foamy beer!
For equipment I am using a Summit kegerator (490 Built In) without any modified lines or anything...just what came in the box. It is brand new. I have a 1/2 barrel of Yuengling Lager that I purchased a few days ago. I transported the keg approximately 5 hrs but without ice. All I can say is that the keg felt cool during the trip and the beer doesn't taste sour.
As for temp, I have the kegerator set almost to the coldest setting and getting beer that tastes about the same temp as a bottle from my fridge. I would be guessing to name an exact temp (I will be sure to check) but its not frozen, but sure is cold so I would guess close to the 36-38 target. I have a fresh 5# CO2 tank set at 10psi.
As for agitation, the keg sat out in the cold (Ohio winter) garage to settle after the trip, and was then loaded into the kegerator where it sat for about 3 hrs before tapping. All foam. I figured I was impatient so I let it sit overnight and had a slightly better result...this time half a pitcher of foam. I went through quite a few pitchers where I was able to get the pour limited to a few inches of thick creamy foam at the top, but I have ZERO luck with a pint glass. The first seconds of the pour into the pitcher are all foam but then the beer clears and fills normally. It is fine for the pitcher, but I can't fill a glass b/c by the time the beer runs clear, the glass is full!
It seems as if the glass is filling too fast and the foam builds so quickly, but the beer appears to be "falling" out of the faucet properly and doesn't seem like its shooting out at all. I read some people using 12-14psi, but without knowing anything about kegerators, I would think it would pour even faster and give me more foam??? (Remember, only using 8-10psi)
Please help (and be kind) to the newbie[
] I won't be insulted if you suggest even the most simple checks...I really am completely new to this.
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John
Cincy, OH