Brewpub draught setup?

[nestafl]

We are in the process of converting from a bar/restaurant to a brewpub... Our setup should be pretty simple but I just wanted to make sure it doesn't turn in to a nightmare. We will run from the bottom of the tanks up 7' to the ceiling( in a cold room), across the ceiling 9' max., then 90 over 5' and drop about 3' to the 10" shanks. We plan to use 100% CO2. My questions are... what do you suggest in line size, shank size, and pressure to push. Also, I know this is a pretty short run but do you think it would be benefitial to have flo jet or shur flo pumps? Thanks for your thoughts!

[ernestbud]

if you are dispensing mostly domestics prob 15-16 psi would be suff you don't have enough of a run to add the extra expense of your pumps. also if possible instead of running the lines up against the ceiling which is the warmest part of your cooler try running them along the wall it would be cooler and rememember to put your 5' choker lins at the back of the shank with 3/16" line that would be my suggestion

[happytappy]

If reading correctly, 24 foot run, 7 foot lift, 3 foot drop. Typical microbrew pouring 1/4 inch shank, 22 foot 5 inches 3/8 poly hose with a 1 foot 7 inch 3/16 choker, I would go to 2 foot with the choker. Pressure would be 10.5 psi on the regulator you will have to adjust up or down depending on dispense temperature (38 ideal) and altitude. Strongly recommend secondary regulators for each line due to variances in CO2 volumes in most brewpub settings. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
Jim

[ernestbud]

at 10.5 lbs your beer will be flat

[cdevs]

At 10.5 psi straight CO2 and 38.5 degF, you beer will maintain 2.4 volumes CO2, which is on the low side for industrial lagers but arguably on the high side for craft beers. Ask your brewer to specify ideal serving temp and carbonation level, expressed as volumes of CO2 in solution, and work from there to balance your line.

[beerboy52]

I have set a brewpub belore and I used the Shur-Flo pumps to great effect. One of the problems you will encounter is that you will have your beer in the bright tank at about 8-10 psi. You obviously do not want to over-pressurize that and so the pumps are the perfect choice. Try this set-up.
1. Run 3/8" line from the tank up to the pump (up on the wall).
2. Run 6ft of 3/16" line back from your shank.
3. Connect the 3/16" line to the pump by adding 3/8" line to fit.
4. The beauty of the pump is that it does all of the work and will not over gas the beer in the tank. The pump will not impart carbonation to the beer because its sole purpose is to drive the pump and does not come in contact with the product.
5. You only need apply enough pressure to the tank to get the product to the pump. Check your natural carbonation pressure and do not apply anymore than that.
6. Use 1/4" bore shanks only. I find that they are closer in opening size to the back of the faucet than 3/16" bore.

Pumps are more expensive, but the beer in the bright tanks is your very special beer. You want to serve it to the customer as close as possible to the way you have made it in your tanks.

Most of the advice below would be correct if you were using kegs (15+/-psi), but you are nor using them. Pumps have a throbbing motion when you pour, but they are getting better and better all of the time. They are capable of pumping beer up 5 and 6 stories while maintaining the basic 15 psi pressure. They will do you right.