18 lbs too high?

[geneavallon]

I drink buzzard bay pilsner, i have tried to get the co2 volume from them with no luck,on the new keg I got a keg few days ago I checked the pressure in the keg before tapping, they filled it at 18 pds,so I set my prussure at 18 lbs, 37deg. fills a 16 oz glass in 8 sec, pours great, nice head, taste great, just seems high, used the same gauge to check the keg thats on the reglator
gene

[edramshaw]

I commend your resourcefulness! Checking the barrel will show you the pressure in the keg at the time of checking but there are several variables including the precise temperature of the liquid upon checking. Any change in temperature or disturbance in the liquid may cause some CO2 to become removed from the liquid thereby giving you a false sense of what should be in there. I don't have my chart in front of me but I would say that you should probably leave the gauge at about 14lbs (Pilsners are a little more carbonated then say English beers) at most. If you leave it at 18 it may pour ok for a few days but will eventually become over carbonated. Hope this helps.

[geneavallon]

its been 4 days now at 18 pds. and it pours and taste great, if I drop it to 14 pds I think the co2 will come out of solution and give me foam for days, and will have shorten the beer line, my chart shows 3.18 co2 volume,
gene

[edramshaw]

If it pours right and it tastes right then go for it! I guess to answer your question then the average volumes of co2 for a Bohemian Pilsner is 2.3-2.5 vol/co2.