Kegging Problems

[DuffMan]

Hello,
Im new to the forum and I was hoping someone can help me out. I'm new to kegging and I'm having several problems. I'm using a five gallon Cornelius reconditioned keg with a five pound CO2 tank and double gauge regulator. I am using a carbonation stone to carbonate. The trouble is that the beer comes out of my picnic tap extremely fast, filling a glass in a couple of seconds. It appears over carbonated at first but does not stay carbonated for more than about 4-5 minutes. When the head shrinks down to about an inch it looks really good but again the actuall beer has little carbonation. I carbonated as the directions said, slowly increasing the pressure to about 15psi. When I attempt to reduce the pressure beer flows up the gas line. The keg has a spot in the lid for a pressure relief valve, but I've been told it is not one that works. I'm dying! If anyone can help me out that would be awsome!

[edramshaw]

When carbonating homebrew, the liquid needs to be cold so that the co2 will absorb into the beer. If you do a google search for Zahm and Nagel Carbonation chart you will find a valuable research for force carbonating beer. This will allow you to cross reference temperature and pressure to find the volumes of co2 that it will produce. Most beers are between 2.3-2.4 with wheat beers being a little higher and things line some stouts and such being lower. 38 degrees and 12 lbs at sea level will give you a good start. Also you need to make sure you have about 5' of 3/16" ID tubing between the keg and the picnic faucet. This amount of tubing will offer enough restriction to slow the flow to an acceptable. Lastly you want to keep the corny can cold while serving too or the gas you put int the beer will not keep in the solution and cause foamy, flat beer.