Sanke coupler odor

[brewerguy]

I recently purchased a new all stainless sanke style coupler (not directly from micromatic and i am unsure of the manufacturer) I used it with a 5 gal Pub Keg from Sabco to test a beer i am developing. The beer is a moderately hopped Blonde Ale with a high amount of dry hops. At first taste all was well but as I drank more of the keg ( over about 2 wks.) the pleasant hop aroma was replaced by a plastic ester smell. I disassembled the gas and beer fittings and cleaned the tap with easy clean. A more intense version of the plastic smell seemed to be comming from the plastic fitting on the beer output that retains the check ball. I then soaked the entire tap in BLC solution for about 24 hrs. with no improvement.
Has anyone else had this problem with a new coupler? Any suggestions to remove the odor from the plastic would be appreciated.

Brewerguy

[edramshaw]

Any chance that your a picking up phenols or chloraphenols in the brewing process. Yeast issues and or using city water can cause a plastic like off flavor/aroma that could be the culprit. Other that that you can take out the check ball and retaining clip and see if the situation improves. Just fair warning, removing that ball and clip will cause beer to leak out when tapping/untapping and/or cleaning. It is not much but just beer aware and keep a bucket and rag around to keep it under control.

[brewerguy]

I also bottled some of the same batch with no off flavors so i'm pretty sure its not the brewing process.

I may try removing the clip next time.

Brewerguy

[edramshaw]

Did you use a chlorine based product to sanitize the keg?

[brewerguy]

I do mostly bottling but here's how I clean my kegs.
fill with Powdered Brewery Wash and hot water solution.
Drain and rinse with hot water.
Fill with Beer Line Cleaner and hot water solution.
Drain and rinse with cold water.

It is possible that some thing other than the coupling is to blame but the plastic retainer clip definitely has retained the off smell.

Brewmaster

[edramshaw]

Hmmm. I am not sure. You're cleaning regime is fine. I'm not sure, you may have to wait to tap a new keg and see if it changes. You can replace that ball and clip and see if that helps. You would have to post pictures so we could identify it.

[DodgerFan]

I am having this same problem. Does anyone know where to get a new plastic fitting?

[Draught Prophet]

This is a reoccurring problem with non-MM couplers. There are other threads on this issue on the forum here. Regardless, click here and then on the "replacement parts" tab about 1/4 down the page. Find the check ball and check ball retainer part number and order form MM.
This link is for a D coupler so if you have a different coupler, go back to couples and click on what style you have and then follow the same steps. Most have the same parts when it comes to this (D&S couplers).
Cheers,
Steve

[DodgerFan]

Thanks Steve, I got a new check ball retainer and the problem has been fixed. I will definitelygo with MM next time.