Beer Forum

salbo · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:13 AM

Had my kegerator for few months now....been through NUMEROUS sixtels. Mostly microbrews. Currently running bud american ale and mic ultra.. 38F first pour, 13psi, 5 ft hose...both pour at a good rate, 1" head on the ale, VERY LITTLE head and carbonation in the ultra. If you swirl it after awhile you get bubbles and you taste carb on your tougue while drinking..Is it going flat or is it the nature of the beast? I've been drinking too many good beers and this one is throwing me off. My first 1/4 was bud, and I don't remember it being like this...

salbo · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 07:19 AM

If the beer pours with a nice head, but there aren't many bubbles rising in the glass, is my beer undercarbonated? Usually, a blanket of foam (not on the ultra..LOL) stays on the top, but don't see alot of bubbles coming up. Still trying to get used to draft beer. Usually running 12-14 psi at sea level.

KillianBoy · #3 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 05:39 AM

salbo,
Can I ask where you are in keg 3/4, 1/2 or 1/4? and does the beer taste a little weak? Is this the first Michelob Ultra or light beer you've poured?

KB

salbo · #4 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 11:15 AM

It's a sixtel...It is the first "lite" i've had. The bud american lager is pouring with a good head. I'm running off one regulator @ 12-14 psi. (Don't have the bucks for a second regulator yet.) I assume the ultra and bud ale should be run at about the same pressure. I'm real conscience of "flat beer" because of all the posts on here. Believe me I've had MORE than my share of bottled beer, so I really didn't pay attention to the carbonation in the glass. I'm getting a good pour rate, 1" head but I don't see alot of bubbles coming from the bottom of the glass is that OK? Actually it was about 1/3 full when I noticed and it was about 8-10 days old.

TomK · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 12:41 PM

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is supposed to be. In your first post, you said the Mich Ultra had very little head and carbonation. But in your last post, you said that it has a 1" head.

The 14 psi @ 38 degrees is correct for a 2.6 v/v beer (which I believe Michelob Ultra is) at your elevation. So if it's tasting right, I wouldn't worry about it.

KillianBoy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 02:01 PM

salbo,

You wrote,
If you swirl it after awhile you get bubbles and you taste carb on your tougue while drinking..Is it going flat or is it the nature of the beast?

So the beer tasted and looked fine when you first started, then you noticed this when you got to the 1/3 level of the sixtel. So one more question does it taste like beer flavored carbonated water?

About PSI, it's been posted AB products should be the same PSI, so it shouldn't be the PSI. Light beers tend to be a little more finicky then regular beers, without a fan I was able to pour perfect from Amber Bock and GB Marzen, then came the 1/6 Michelob Ultra, poured great at first then below 1/2 started to get like you said, lengthened line and put in fans, the next 1/2 of Michelob Ultra poured near perfect. If you continue to pour light beers you may have get more circulation or set thermostat a little warmer.

KB

salbo · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 12:40 PM

sorry about the confusion...I have a dual tap bud ale on one and the mic ultra on the other...ale pouring great! I noticed less head on the ultra as I got to the end. Just wondering if I was undercarbonating it...It went on the same time as the ale at the same psi..lines, couplers and faucets pretty new and cleaned prior to these to sixtels.....I guess a general question I have, un related to the ultra question ...If i'm getting a good head and pour rate, but don't see alot of bubbles rising in the glass, is this normal? (Talking about mostly lagers and pale ales.)