Using a stout faucet?

[squeakr]

Okay, so I have a brand new stout faucet just sitting by waiting on the keg of Guinness. What I was wondering is, in the meantime, if I remove the restrictor plate would it be like using a Perlick 575 (for the creamer pour)? I have thought about buying one of the 525's or 575's and was leaning towards the 575 as I thought the creamer ability would be nice. Then I got the idea and began wondering if the stout faucet would possibly pour the same as the 575 and I wouldn't have to purchase a new faucet. What are the thoughts on this? Am I way off in my thinking?

Thanks for all thoughts on this matter.

[panthermark]

If you remove the plate, a Stoust faucet will work for CO2 beer. However, if you are running Guinness...and only one tap...your CO2 beer will come out a bit different since you have a nitro tank (I'm assuming you have one).

I have a Perlick 525 hooked up(love it!), and also a brand new Guinness faucet sitting in plastic in the fridge. I doubt if I ever get around to using it.

[squeakr]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I should have been more clear, I plan on removing the restrictor plate (like you mentioned) and this would be used for CO2 beer (need Nitrogen for Guinness and don't have the tank yet and not sure if my distributor will fill my CO2 tank with Beer Mix or not, hence the waiting comment. I also need to finish the Sam Adam's Octoberfest, and then have a 1/2 of Beck's Octoberfest to replace it so will be a while until the Guiness is in place).
In the meantime, I was thinking of replacing the current basic faucet with a Perlick and when I read about the creamer faucet (the 575) I thought that maybe I could do the same with the Stout faucet without the restrictor plate in place. So the question becomes not whether I can use this for non stouts and CO2 beers, but will I be able to get the same pour effects of the 575 or will it be just like a normal pour (no difference at all) and would it be a worthwhile move or nothing but futility?

[panthermark]

I went back and forth (525 vs 575)....and from what I have read on the 575's....the creamer effect is WAY overrated. If you want to make foam.....barely open up the tap on the 525 (or any tap). Plus the little holes that create the turbulance for the foam seems like a good place for yeast and junk to hide IMO.

I've never hooked up my Guinness faucet, so I've never tried to see what happens with the "back" push on CO2 beer.

I see it as two seperate issues.

1. A Perlick 525 or 575 is better than the "stock" faucets. They are 100% stainless steel and have less moving parts. If you did not already have the Guinness...I would upgrade to the Perlick over stock.

2. Since you already have a Guinness tap, I don't think I would spend money on a Perlick. You can run both CO2 and nitro beers through your Guinness tap, but you can only run CO2 beers through a Perlick.

I have both Perlicks and a Guinness taps because I have a dual tap system, and I'm only getting Guinness equipment when I can find it for cheap on E-Bay.

As far as the pour....I don't know if any of them pour better than the other......as that is really a function of temp, psi, and hose length....but by design, the Perlicks don't "stick".

[gizmofish]

Panthermark:

NOOB here: I have a question about the Perlick 525 faucet.

I have a 2nd pour beer temp of 36°. 13 PSI, & 5' of 3/16 beer line. When I use the standard faucet that came with my conversion kit, I get perfect pours. When I switch to my 525 its all foam (creamy). Do you think a longer beer line is the answer? The Perlick appears to have a much less restrictive flow path.

TIA

[panthermark]

Panthermark:

NOOB here: I have a question about the Perlick 525 faucet.

I have a 2nd pour beer temp of 36°. 13 PSI, & 5' of 3/16 beer line. When I use the standard faucet that came with my conversion kit, I get perfect pours. When I switch to my 525 its all foam (creamy). Do you think a longer beer line is the answer? The Perlick appears to have a much less restrictive flow path.

TIA

I started out with 7 foot line from day one....so that is worth a try...but it sounds like you have the right set-up for your current set-up.

However, are you keeping your Perlick in the fridge before you switch to it? If you are getting good pours, then switch to a warmer faucet, you will get foam.

[gizmofish]

I started out with 7 foot line from day one....so that is worth a try...but it sounds like you have the right set-up for your current set-up.

However, are you keeping your Perlick in the fridge before you switch to it? If you are getting good pours, then switch to a warmer faucet, you will get foam.

I got the Perlick last week and was between kegs when I installed it. Got the keg (Boulevard Pale Ale) and tapped it the next evening. Started getting foamy pours all evening. The next day, just to see, I put on the old faucet and let it cool and got great pours. Last night I switched back to the Perlick and got foam. Looking in the back of the Perlick, It looks like the ball isn't quite centered and it's difficult to get the beer flow to stop w/o wiggling the handle. I think I have an O ring problem with this brand new faucet.

[Acmemfg]

I had a similar issue...but fixing it was simple. After hooking the 525 faucets up (2 of them) I noticed one was leaking EVER so little wheh I pushed the handle back. 30 seconds and a quick crank clockwise with the Channel Locks took care of it. Now both faucets pour better than any I have ever used before; I will install a 3rd Perlick soon.