First tap problems

[boneman]

I just bought a Summit dual tapper kegerator and tapped my first keg since college days (many years ago). Sure enough I'm having problems. I tapped a 1/6 keg of Killians with temp approx. 38-40 and pushing 12 psi. First I'm getting mostly foam which eventually settles into about a half glass of what seems a little flat tasting beer. Second I am getting some leaking from the top of the keg where the tapper engages with the keg which is causing me to have to put a towel up near the area. I'm certain I followed the instructions exactly. Any ideas on either problem.

[Scott Zuhse]

First, untap keg, remove fitting from top of coupler and check for a beer washer under fitting attached to tubing. Second, be certain that your temperature is exact. Preferably 38 degrees F and set pressure to 16 PSIG. Killian's is a higher carbonated product at 2.75 volumes and requires higher pressure than other ales and lagers.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[boneman]

Thanks for the quick reply. Is the leaking at the top contributing to the foaming?

[Scott Zuhse]

Possibly. May be multiple issues.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[boneman]

I untapped the keg, there is a beer washer in place as you described. The leaking isn't coming from the top of the coupler but from the bottom of the coupler where is engages with the keg valve. After retapping its still leaking but not as much. Bad keg? I lowered the temp to 38 and upped the pressure to 16 psi and got a better draw but still more foam than I think should be there (about 1/3 to 1/2 the glass).

[Stefan]

I also have a summit - although not the dual tap. Since the tower is not cooled, the gas will separate from the beer in the non-cooled portion of the beer line (in the tower). When you dispense the beer, that foam comes out first. But after few seconds, the beer should be coming out clear. That's when I stop and dump the foam. Then I re-pour the beer and this time it's all beer. But pouring beer on top of foam just increases the foam which is why I dump it. You could wait until the foam goes down instead of dumping it, but all that foam is the carbonation that should be in the beer. So it will taste flat. That's why I think my method works best. People will say that dumping the foam is a waste of beer (since 25% of foam is beer). But I say why do I want beer without the carbonation.

So, just pour off the intial foam (only after a few seconds of the initial pour - don't fill the glass). Then pour the real beer. This has worked for me based on my experience - I am no expert.

Stefan

[boneman]

Stefan,
Thanks, makes sense. I'll give it a shot.