Too cold???

[beerbaitammo]

At what point is beer getting too cold? what will happen if it does start to ice? Im just learning, im tapping my first keg this morning for my new kegerator. The unit is a frige conversion and im not sure if it could even freeze the keg. I have it set on the coldest setting and its reading 33.5 degrees. Is this good or bad? Thanks for any info.

[Scott Zuhse]

Beer begins to freeze on average around 29F. This is where the solids begin to separate from the liquid. Not good since this solid is calcium oxalate. Better known as beer stone. If a system is too cold, you can actually accelerate the build up of beer stone in your system.

Depending on the alcohol content and type of beer, it will begin to freeze solid around 25F or so. This, obviously, causes problems. A concern of brewers with serving beer too cold has always been that the flavor can be masked (33.5F).

Additionally, these cold temperatures will not allow for much froth on top of the beer in the glass. The gas in the beer, which normally releases as you pour in the form of froth / foam, stays in the beer and the glass is filled to the brim. This does not look very appealing and you drink a lot of gas. Not so bad if you can belch your ABC's! Target 38F - great temperature for enjoying your beer.

[beerbaitammo]

Thanks for the info im enjoying my new kegerator and it all seems to be working fine. I purchased a shiner bock half a barrel and love it, i have it set at about 8 lbs on the Co2 regulator and the temp is 38 to 40 range. I have not made any modifications to my new kit, only prob is the old lady wants bud light.

[Scott Zuhse]

Shiner Bock cannot possibly be that low in gas content. If this is a 2.5 vol beer, at 8 PSIG you will end up with flat beer. Hopefully you did not pour off too much foam where the gas content is now so low that it does pour clear at 8. You should be at 14 PSIG with a 2.5 v/v beer.

[beerbaitammo]

I poured off about 3 glasses of foam while I was figuring out where I needed to be. I called the brewery and they said I needed to be at 20 to 25 at 40 degrees. When I was at twenty all I had was foam, then I moved it up alittle and same prob. I read somewhere on here that 8 was working for someone so I tried. Im pouring whith about 3/4 head with a frosted mug. Is this wrong? The beer taste pretty good to me . Could I just be getting a few good pours then later they might turn flat. I am a rookie and im learning all I can so thanks for all the info.

[beerbaitammo]

I changed my regulator to 14, tightened up my hose clamps, poured one and had about an inch and a half of head. I will check it tomorrow when I can get a few pours out of it and not waste it.

[Scott Zuhse]

Call the brewery guy back and ask him what the gas content of Shiner Bock is in volumes. If he does not know, thank him for his time and hang up. At 20 to 25 (ludicrous high pressure and spread), you will end up with champagne.

If he does know and it is around 2.5 v/v, set your pressure at 15 for 40 F. This is not my rule. This is based on the law of gas equilibrium where temperature has a huge impact.