Almost there (initial foam)

[Tito]

New to the forum and I've learned almost everything to get a perfect pour. I just need a little help to get the rest of the way. I get foam for the first 2 seconds of the first pour. If I let it run out that long and then put the glass under I then get a perfect pour. If there is steady drinking going on every pour is good. It only foams after it sits.

The system is pieced together from a Micromatic system and a Taprite system. Here is the setup.

Old Fridge
Ranco temp controller set air temp at 33 deg F
set to + 2 deg (fridge turns on @ 35 deg
glass of water on bottom of fridge temp is 33 deg
second glass of beer temp is 37-38 deg
glasses are kept inside fridge (beer temp)

Beer is 1/4 barrel of bud light 2.6
Pressure set @ 12-13 psi
Altitude 800ft
large co2 tank on original fill (don't believe there is a leak)
dual regulator
5/16 ID gas line
Micromatic tap
5-6 ft of 3/16 ID black beer line
faucet on side of fridge on shank

I cleaned everything before this 1/4 barrel. hand pump cleaning kit. took apart the tap cleaned the lines and took apart the facet. The faucet was pretty gross. I don't know how clean the black beer line is obviously.

My next step is to get 10 ft of clear beer line, bump up the psi because I think the keg might be out gassing but can't tell with the black line.

This is the last thing I know of to do. Is this going to do it or have I overlooked something? Hopefully you gents can help.

Don't get me wrong, It's working really good, just going for perfect, or am I already there.

Thanks,

Tito

I don't think a fan would fix the problem but I now it would be better. I will put one in (I have old computer fans).

[pvs6]

Sounds like you're close and maybe can fine tune to perfection. What you are describing as a foam issue is caused when the Temp. environment outside the keg is warmer than the environment inside. Your outside consist of two components; the beer line and the faucet shank assembly. One or both could be warm enough to cause the foam. The faucet sits outside in room temp. so it has a tendency to be warmer. But temp. can be lowered through the shank picking up the cold from inside the frig. and transferring it to the faucet. Tito you did a great job of detailing the system, but I think you should add 3 more spects. 1) length of line, 2) how far your shank extends into frig. 3) what you are looking for in a perfect pour, as regards to head? 1 inch, 1/2 inch, 1/4 ? Since you said the next pour is perfect what's the head height and the first foams so what's that head height? Does you faucet sweat all the time, if not does it sweat after the 2nd pour which you found to be perfect? The farther your shank extends into your frig. the more cool it can collect to transfer to your faucet up to a point. In a frig. there is a fair amount of distance between top and bottom, giving plenty of room for the law that hot air raises and cold sinks. If the top is 3-5 degrees warmer than the bottom then the beer line which is on the top half can be warmer than the beer in keg which is in the bottom half and will cause foam. Tito I think you're the one who created this setup and if so can not only construct a project but enjoys doing so. If I'm right than permit me to suggests some future projects. For $20. or less add a fan in side to move the air and level out the top to bottom temp. diff. For $15. w/ shipping included from here use 10' of beer line if you don't have it already. I don't pour Lite beer since I don't have to worry about my girlish figure but those that do report that the longer line and slower pour as a result improves the foam issue. If your shank doesn't extend at bare least 2" into frig. switch it for a longer one. If you've got the room for it I'd think 4" would be best but that's just a guess since I have a tower. The home built people will tell you what length works best and why if you ask them and would be an interesting thread. A thought if you're keeping your glass inside it requires your to open the door to retrieve it for that 1st foamy pour, could the rush of warm room temp. air into the frig. be causing warmer beer lines? Why not use the household frig. for glassware. I as a thinker think that as you suggest that you might be at peak performance now but that is no reason to not try to improve it anyway cause if you don't how would you know what peak performance is?

[Tito]

Thanks for the response pvs6.

Your right I did construct the project and had a good time doing so.

Beer line is 5'-6"
The shank must com in a couple inches, I'll check tonight. The faucet always has a little sweat on it.

The first glass will be half foam if I fill it all the way.
Second glass has .75-1 inch and tastes oh so good.

the warm faucet makes sense to what is going on. Sounds like I may have to like I may have to live with some of that.

The Ranco sensor is located high in the fridge so the upper air is between 33-35 deg F

So you don't think the keg is out gassing after all?

Tito

[Gordy]

If you get a blast of foam 2 seconds into your pour I would say it is outgassing and the blast is from the gas at the high point of the beer line.

[Tito]

I should be able to see this out gassing with clear line right?

[Gordy]

Yep, it won't be overly visible unless you do the "flashlight test" described elsewhere in the forum. If you notice a gas bubble at the high point of the beer line BEFORE your first pour, outgassing is the issue.

[Tito]

Shank is between 3-4".

I could paint a fan right at it blowing up from the bottom.

[pvs6]

Shank is between 3-4".

I could paint a fan right at it blowing up from the bottom.

That would be a cheap experiment with a twofold outcome, it would not only aid to cool the shank and therefore the faucet but would move air in the box to level out the temp. good luck maybe that will be all it takes. With lite beer alot of people report that they push around 15 psi @ 38 F. so 10' of beer line works for them to slow the pour at that pressure and since you're getting new clear line anyway go long because you can always shorten it if you want but you can't added what you don't have and that's another cheap experiment too.

[Tito]

Added the 10' of clear beer line. It is pouring pretty slow but I now have 14 psi on the keg and I'm not wasting any beer. Max head is 2 inch but is usually one inch. I may trim it back to pick up the pace a little. It comes out of the faucet kind of funny but I assume that is because it is going slow.

Puts a smile on my face when the first glass comes out good and all the ones to follow.

Thanks