Does a Tower need to be cooled?

[Mitch]

I am looking to mount a tower directly above a kegerator hidden in a built in box. The distance between the tower and kegerator shouldn't be any more than 1 ft. Can I get away with insulating the line without the hassles of an air cooler?

[Scott Zuhse]

If this is installed in this manner you will always dispense a glass of foam each time you pour a beer. Beer has gas and it will expand when heated. The gas in the beer will break out and collect behind the faucet. This foam will end up in your glass while you pour until the cold beer chills the line. Thus, a beer chilled system. Using the cold air from the kege5rator and forcing it up the tower is the most efficient method to dispense.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[jvey]

I never thought beer would be so fussy! A trip down a 1.5 foot hose line will cause foam everytime? How come the beer isn't foamy in the old school keg in the garbage can setup, where the line is always outside in the open air?

I'm just worried now after reading all the post in this forum that the trip from the kegerator to the tower will produce some foam. thoughts here?

[Scott Zuhse]

Not everytime. Just when enough time has passed to allow the area to absorb enough heat to cause gas breakout. If you have a blow out party [^] and the faucet is opened frequently, no problem. If you dispense a glass and decide to take a nap after enjoying [|)], then after waking you dispense another beer - you will probably get a shot of foam. If you can live with a beer chilled system, all the naps to ya!

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[bock]

I likewise want to have a setup similar to the first post where the kegerator is under the full size bar I am planning. I'd rather not make the top of the kegerator part of the bar surface.

What would you suggest for a short run from kegerator through the bartop and a 14" tower w/ 2 taps? I could place the kegerator close to the bottom of the bartop, but would still have a total run of about 16-18".

Do the pre-made kegerators push air up into the tower that is mounted on top? Would this suffice for my scenario if I made a conduit from the kegerator through to the tower in your opinion? I was considering placing a thick metal bar in the middle of the 2 beer tubes to conduct some cold and wrap accordingly from some instructions posted on this website, but not sure how much cold will travel up the tower.

Thanks - love the website and wealth of info.

[Scott Zuhse]

If your kegerator came with a flex tube directing cold air from the evaporator, you are in good shape. If not, you will have to install a small 15 CFM blower and flex tube and force this up into your tower. Bridge the area from the kegerator to the bottom of the bar with the same size I.D PVC as the tower. Wrap the outside of this with insulation and try not to move the kegerator to much after install. Shove the flex tube into the tower as far as it will go without blocking the end to direct cold air to the shank.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute