Beer Forum

Bud Man · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 02:52 PM

I have a the micro matic conversion kit with a ten pound Co2 tank and a five foot 3/16 the regular line that came with the system, it runs through the front of the door. I have the temp set at 39 for a few hours now and the PSI is running at 9. I have a keg of Bud Light in there and i was told to run it between 8-10(I live in Denver Colorado). Yet all my attempts just result in REALLY foamy beer and it comes out pretty quick. As the instructions indicate in troubleshooting it is wild beer? I tried cleaning the lines and the faucet. My regulator stays at nine. I just ran out of ideas, I am putting the glass of water in tonight after reading all the foam forums. I would appreciate any help. I am sick of foam! Please help, So i can enjoy a good pour!

lunkhead · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 07:21 PM

Check the beer temp with a calibrated thermometer. A.B. recomends their keg beer served at 36-38 deg.

Bud Man · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 07:35 PM

OK i just turned it down i am sitting at about 40 F . I turned down my PSI do you know the recommended PSI for Bud

goodturns · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2007, 10:53 PM

Assuming your temp is ok, it sounds like you should try adjusting your regulator.Five feet of 3/16 vinyl line gives you restiction value of 11 psi (2.2 lbs a ft.). So, this means you need to be at 11psi at a minimum, or the beer will lose it's hydraulic pressure and swirl in the line, causing the beer to foam. It sounds like you need to be a little above 11psi in Denver, so try setting the regulator to 12 psi and working up to 15-16 at the max. If you go too high, the beer will overcarbonate (this would take 8-10 hours) and foam madly. Also, check the timing of the pour, it should take 8-9 seconds for a perfect 16 oz. pour.

Bud Man · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 11:46 AM

Still wild beer...I have the temp at 34 and the PSI now at 12 I put water in the fridge see if it is too cold. And it comes VERY quickly out. Fills a glass very fast with foam a few seconds no 8-9.Since i been jacking the regulator up and down does that screw up the keg? Is there a possibility the CO2 is bad or something. I am thinkin of any possility cause i had the tank a long time with no beer in the lines. Any help much appreciated!
P.S. Now after the foam settles it taste kinda flat...

bang · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodturns

Assuming your temp is ok, it sounds like you should try adjusting your regulator.Five feet of 3/16 vinyl line gives you restiction value of 11 psi (2.2 lbs a ft.). So, this means you need to be at 11psi at a minimum, or the beer will lose it's hydraulic pressure and swirl in the line, causing the beer to foam. It sounds like you need to be a little above 11psi in Denver, so try setting the regulator to 12 psi and working up to 15-16 at the max. If you go too high, the beer will overcarbonate (this would take 8-10 hours) and foam madly. Also, check the timing of the pour, it should take 8-9 seconds for a perfect 16 oz. pour.

Sorry to cut in on your thread Bud man, When you say foam madly would this be a foam that tends to grow? Like I can pour a 1/4 glass and the foam will raise almost to the top at a steady pace before it starts to recede. I wonder if I have over carbonated cause when it was first tapped I did not have that problem.

Bud Man · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 02:56 PM

Mine is all foam. I fill a pitcher and have to wait for it to settle mine is about 90% foam and comes out really quick. i fill a glass and get about 1/4 of it after all the foam settles. I hate it and dont know what to do...

draftman · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2007, 05:07 PM

Hi Bud Man, try shutting your air supply off and pull the safety ring on the side of your keg coupler to release the pressure in the keg. Make sure that your regulator is set at 12 PSI and turn on your air supply. If it's still foamy, remove your keg coupler and make sure that there is no obstruction on the keg seal, ie; a piece was plastic or paper etc. If that area is clean, inspect the keg seal, make sure that there is no cracks or knicks on the black rubber seal. Check that and get back to me. PS what brand is your keg coupler?

goodturns · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2007, 08:18 PM

draftman is on it, check for an obstruction and that your regulator is functioning properly.....also check the faucet... use spanner to take off faucet from shank, break it down to 3 parts, look at interior of faucet and replace any worn, flattened or frayed gaskets.
If there was no beer in the lines for awhile, you should clean the lines well and check for white chalky buildup, this would be mineral deposit (beerstone) and could cause a lot of turbidity , again breaking the co2 out of solution (an acid solution would bust up that up). The CO2 should be fine in storage....34 F is very cold, think about 38 as an ideal. I don't know how long you've used draft beer, so don't be offended, but are you opening the faucet fully for the whole pour? I actually see bartenders do it the all the time and that will cause a terrible pour.....
Bang - it certainly could be overcarbonated. Carbonation is a function of pressure and temp., the colder the liquid, the more easily CO2 goes into solution, so if you have straight CO2 and a very cold frig (32-35 F) and a few too many psi, it will overcarbonate in as little as 12 hours. Every beer will overcarbonate at 18 psi and higher (unless you have mixed gas), most micros will overcarbonate at 16 psi or more