Funny Taste on First Draw

[bkasbohm]

Here's all the background and info:

I've got a basic kegerator set-up, CO2 @ 12pounds, temp @ 35 deg F. The CO2 tank, lines, and keg are all inside the fridge. Only the faucet is outside the fridge.

I got the kit and and installed it immediately, the next day I got the CO2 filled and got a keg of domestic light beer, and hooked everything up. I tapped the keg immediately, and the beer tasted great, and there were no problems. I was in beer utopia.

I then left town the next day for a long weekend, and when I got back, and had a beer, the first draw had a funny smell and taste. Subsequent immediate draws tasted fine. After a 24 hour break, I got the same smell and taste on the first draw. I removed the beer line, and coupler, and faucet, and soaked them for a 1/4 hour. After hooking it back up, I got great tasting beer again.

The next day, I got the same taste on the first draw again. Pour the beer out, and got great tasting beer.

Do the hoses need to be broken in? If so, how long does this last? If not, what is the problem? Thanks to all who reply for your time and cheers!.

[stemikel]

Use a good chemical cleaner like One-Step to thoroughly clean the lines, sankey, and faucet and see if that corrects the problem.

[sfurst]

Depending on the setup, the beer that is sitting in your line between long layoffs could be getting warmer than recommended, which could cause a funny taste in your first beer of the day.

[bkasbohm]

Still having issues with this problem. I believe now that the taste is coming from gas leaking into the lines.

What can I do to fix this? The pressure is about 14 PSI, temp is 35 deg F, and I'm using 5ft of 3/16" line. I raised the pressure until there are no bubbles in the line, but I still have the gassy, metallic taste on the first draw even with no gas bubbles in the line.

Thanks for your replies.

Cheers!

[lunkhead]

If your actual beer temp is 35 deg than 14 psi might be kind of high. May over carbonate giving you the taste you described. I've been running Mic Light thru mine and asked A.B. about recommended temps and co2 pressure. They recommended 36 to 38 deg at 12 to 14 psi. My beer is 35 deg into the glass. I reduced my co2 pressure to 12 psi (from near 14) so that it will maintain the correct co2 volume in the beer. The lower the temp the lower the pressure. Also for the off taste first pour, the beer may be getting warm at the faucet. Is the kegerator in a warm room?