Despensing at a Distance

[Hunter80904]

I've searced the fourm for this info and didn't see it anywhere. I apologize if this s a duplicate post.

I'm dispensing beer from my ground level garage up to my bar directly above the fridge... I'd estimate I'm pushing the beer up about 12 feet from the top of the keg to the fawcett at the bar. I'm using 3/16 id hose all the way formt he keg to the fawcett. I am pushing about 14 PSI to move the beer up the line... My problem is that the beer is foamy... I clean my lines and fawcett after each keg. I am not cooling the line between the fridge and fawcett so I expect some foam as the line comes to temp for each inital pour. My queston is this... Should I be using a larger ID line and then choking it down at the fawcett? Any suggestion on how to make this work better appreciated... Cooling the lines is a possibility but something I'd rather not have to deal with...

Thanks all...

Jack

[mark_ksz]

You need to cool that line. That is your problem. If a uncooled 12inch tower results in one foamy beer then I wouldn't want to imagine how much you would have to poor off to get a good beer on a 12ft run.... Wasting beer that's a party foul my friend.

[Scott Zuhse]

You are attempting to chill the line with the beer. If you do not mind the cost of this practise, then you would be fine less a lot of foam until the beer from the keg cools the line. This often is referred to as the most expensive dispensing system available. A beer chilled system!

You should change your line. If your beer temperature at the keg is 38F and you have a 2.6 v/v product, then continue to dispense at 14 PSIG. Your gravity from the bottom of the keg to the faucet would be approx. 14' This results in seven pounds of resistance. Throw in another pound for hardware and you are now at eight. If you can handle a gallon a minute flow rate, you will still need six more pounds in beer line that is approx. 12 feet long.

A combination of 11' of 5/16 ID vinyl attached to one foot of 3/16" ID vinyl will get you close. Maybe slightly slower than 128 oz. / min. Get a big bucket! You will need it for all of the foam until you can maintain temperature between the keg and the faucet.

[millermike]

Try insulating the line with a round foam padding. Its cheap and I think you can get it at a Home Depot or similar. That will keep the line chilled. I have that done at my outside bar outside Chicago and the beer is cold even with a longer run.

[Scott Zuhse]

This will still result in a beer chilled system! But again, if you can afford to dump all of the initial foam, go for it.