Yesterday I tapped a 1/6 barrel of Fat Tire and a 1/2 barrel of Hoptober. It's pouring decently I suppose but I guess I need some clarification.
My previous keg was a 1/2 barrel of Fat Tire. Using some information I found on this site regarding New Belgium products I set my regulator at about 12 psi and was serving beer right around 38. My pours would be about 1/2 foam on the first pour, 1/4 on the second and perfect on the 3rd- assuming these pours were taken with little time lapse in between. If I waited more than say 20 minutes the foam process would start again.
I am again running right around 12psi to both kegs (primary and secondary regulator) and am having roughly the same issues. Pouring right at 38.
I emailed New Belgium as to their recommendations on both beers, and this is the answer I recieved
Quote:
Hi Al,
Thanks for the email. Here is the information you requested:
PSI 16-20lbs.. Ideal 18lbs
Ideal temp 38-40 degrees F
IGP (gauge pressure) 16-18...17 ideal
Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any other questions.
Cheers!
Tiffany
New Belgium Brewing Company
500 Linden
Ft. Collins, CO 80524
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I tapped the kegs before receiving the email so my regulators are still set at 12psi.
18 seems high to me - but I feel like a jerk doubting the brewery. So this leaves me with several questions:
Is 18 too high? If I do change it how long should I wait to check results?
What are the ill effects of wrong psi settings? I have searched for this but haven't seemed to really grasp the side effects of incorrect psi - obviously if it is way too low it will go flat - but what if it's only 5-6 psi off, such as mine? Will that cause my foam problems? How about 5-6 too high?
I am running 5 ft of beer line (plan on lengthening it later in life, but not for these barrels) and am sitting at just under 1000' elev.
Thanks for any help.