Trouble with the 1st keg...

[YuenglingFan]

I have read through a ton of threads asking the same question....why so much foam?! Unfortunately, I read them and tried a few different things and can't get rid of the foamy beer!

For equipment I am using a Summit kegerator (490 Built In) without any modified lines or anything...just what came in the box. It is brand new. I have a 1/2 barrel of Yuengling Lager that I purchased a few days ago. I transported the keg approximately 5 hrs but without ice. All I can say is that the keg felt cool during the trip and the beer doesn't taste sour.

As for temp, I have the kegerator set almost to the coldest setting and getting beer that tastes about the same temp as a bottle from my fridge. I would be guessing to name an exact temp (I will be sure to check) but its not frozen, but sure is cold so I would guess close to the 36-38 target. I have a fresh 5# CO2 tank set at 10psi.

As for agitation, the keg sat out in the cold (Ohio winter) garage to settle after the trip, and was then loaded into the kegerator where it sat for about 3 hrs before tapping. All foam. I figured I was impatient so I let it sit overnight and had a slightly better result...this time half a pitcher of foam. I went through quite a few pitchers where I was able to get the pour limited to a few inches of thick creamy foam at the top, but I have ZERO luck with a pint glass. The first seconds of the pour into the pitcher are all foam but then the beer clears and fills normally. It is fine for the pitcher, but I can't fill a glass b/c by the time the beer runs clear, the glass is full!

It seems as if the glass is filling too fast and the foam builds so quickly, but the beer appears to be "falling" out of the faucet properly and doesn't seem like its shooting out at all. I read some people using 12-14psi, but without knowing anything about kegerators, I would think it would pour even faster and give me more foam??? (Remember, only using 8-10psi)

Please help (and be kind) to the newbie[] I won't be insulted if you suggest even the most simple checks...I really am completely new to this.

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John
Cincy, OH

[YuenglingFan]

As I read more threads, I realized I didn't tell you guys much of anything that would help figure this out so here is my best shot:

Liquid Temp: Primatively measured at 36deg F (using instant read thermometer in a freshly poured glass of beer)

Beer Line: Labeled "Taproid" 3/16" -- 5 ft long

CO2 Line: 4ft long, no labels but guessing 3/8" by comparison and std sizes

Pressure: Increased to 14psi per recommendations on other threads (was 8-10psi)

The increase in pressure seemed to produce a better glass, but the first pour after sitting overnight is almost all foam?!

I also noticed an 8" long bubble in the line just above the keg...once I poured a glass, I looked again and saw the same area with little foamy bubbles in the line.

Hope this helps figure it out...now for some advice!




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John
Cincy, OH

[topgun3208]

I see you are a yuengling fan too. I had one keg of yuengling and I have to admit too, serious foam problems, but bars dispense it w/o problems. it seems your lines are the right size and length, psi is now set correctly, you might want to get a small alcohol thermometer and put it in a cup of water and keep it inside the fridge for temp. monitoring. when you pull the tap, pull it quickly for dispensing and close it quickly as I found out will introduce foaming if not done correctly. do you hold the glass at the right angle? there are a lot of variables and you will find out that foam is the biggest problem in this forum. my sam adams keg is foaming like a b@$*h now, o well. good luck

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[YuenglingFan]

After changing the psi, it all got a LOT better. I finally enjoyed a nicely poured pint! The only prob now is the first glass is practically all foam. I pulled the tap quickly but the beer is always foamy for the first second or so, then runs clear. I have been pouring till I see it run clear, dump the foam, and then continue to pour perfect glasses, one after another. The weird thing is if we wait about half an hour to an hour, the initial pour is all foamy again. Is this pretty normal?

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John
Cincy, OH

[topgun3208]

the thing that I have been doing for awhile now is to pour a glass and let it settle for a few seconds and top it off. if im pouring pitchers I dont have the problem as if im pouring into a glass. as long as I know I have a fairly full keg, enough co2, working regulator, psi set right, temp is correct and im blowing a bit of foam, I do as I mentioned above and not worry about it.

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[YuenglingFan]

okay cool...thanks a lot! I can finally enjoy the yuengling!

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John
Cincy, OH

[topgun3208]

as I mentioned in the above post bout the sam adams, this f'n keg is driving me nutz with the foam. changed out the co2 tank, was getting low. raised and lowered the psi and still mostly all foam. will be glad when it blows

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[USMC - Retired]

Topgun, did you check the ball in your regulator to be sure it's moving freely?

Semper Fi,
The Gunns

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

[topgun3208]

I have gotten into the habit of checking it when I change out kegs. I knocked over the cup of h20 with the thermometer friday when changing out a co2 tank and had to take everything apart to clean up and it was moving ok. I purchased two more couplers over the holidays a "G" and "S" type to accomodate craft and imported beers. will be getting Heineken next I think. the next sam adams will be the summer ale, but thats a few months away. hope u had a great new years USMC, as ol gunney sez, ooohrahh

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[USMC - Retired]

Oooh Rah Topgun, had a great new years just the Mrs and me! Tommarow though were gonna have a housefull for the Sugar Bowl. Got a big pot of chili cookin and a keg of Amber Bock in the kegerator, should be a great time! GO GEORGIA!!!!!

Semper Fi,
The Gunns

"Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

[BigStein]

YFan, if you see foam after beer sitting in the line for a 1/2 hour or so it is usually a pretty good indication that the beer sitting in the tower is warmer than that coming out of the keg. Seems the only way to solve this is with a blower (blows the cold air up into the tower), the "dumping of foam" technique you employ, or the TopGun way. TG, strange you are having so much foaming with the Sams, I have run 2 kegs of summer and an Octoberfest of theirs and had no real problems.

[topgun3208]

never had probs with SA before, glad this keg is winding down. seriously considering sixtels for next purchase, can put two of them in unit and will be able to taste diff. beers. I change my mind quite often when it comes to suds lol.

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"

[CoreyD]

I solved a lot of my foam problems by making sure that the beer line was larger then the ID of the shank. Most of these systems seem to come with 3/16" line to a 3/16" or 1/4" ID shank. They say to use the 3/16" line on kegerators but I have had more luck with a larger line. I also have found that some of my CO2 gauges were inaccurate. I have 6 regulators that I bought over the years and I have replaced half of the low pressure gauges for being off by as much as 30%. If all of that fails, there are restrictors that can be placed in the shank behind the faucet. I use those on my portable system with the 50' coils and no matter how shaken or warm the keg there is no foam after the first glass.

[topgun3208]

I dont know whats going on, but it seems like a lot of people with foaming issues lately. it beats the heck out of me whats going on with my system and I thought I pretty much had it figured out, glad this keg is winding down, I can lift up on it now

"If I had to live my life over, I'd live over a saloon"