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09-09-2006, 06:24 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 22
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Killians Foam Emergency!
Well, after about 5 relatively successful Killians quarter kegs, I am having a rough time with a 1/2 barrel of Killians just in time for my football party!
The setup is a Summit Built-In Kegerator, with standard 5' of 3/16" line (whatever came with the kit). The fridge temp is approx 38deg and I have been playing with the C02 pressure around 10-12#.
I am getting nothing but foam (in a pint glass). If I pour a pitcher, it has a good 6 inches of creamy foam up top. I had issues with the kegerator before on the other kegs, usually having to pour half a glass until I see the beer running clear out of the faucet, at which point I dump that out, and repour a perfect glass. This time, I get the solid foam from the faucet, followed by barely hazy beer (not as clear as before, but not foamy either).
The keg was purchased earlier this week and taken straight home to the fridge, where I left it set for 24hrs, tapped it and left it set for 24hrs more, and just tried to pour the first beer last night.
I wasted 2 pitchers and a few random glasses so far! PLEASE HELP...got people coming over in 8 hrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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John
Cincy, OH
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09-09-2006, 06:30 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 22
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Oh one more thing, I am not sure what to think about the pressure. WIth foamy beer, my beer faq book that came with the kegerator says lower the pressure until the beer "falls" out of the faucet "full circle", but a lot of advice here says raise the pressure! I am confused!
Also, I am noticing bubbles in my beer line that rise from the coupler into the line bend above the keg (the keg is so tall in the kegerator that the line comes up out of the coupler and bends over, loops around the keg, then up to the tower). There are no twists in the line, but for 5' feet of line to fit, it would be impossible to go straight up.
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John
Cincy, OH
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09-09-2006, 06:44 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 22
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Even one more comment....I have noticed I have more foam issues when the keg is new, then over the course of time, I had perfect pours at the end of a keg (usually little over a month later). Does that clue lead to anything, or just coincidence? I really need to fix this soon!
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John
Cincy, OH
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09-09-2006, 10:51 AM
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Member
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: , , USA.
Posts: 22
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update...4 hrs to party, and still foamy beer. Tried increasing pressure to 14psi and reducing temp on thrmostat slightly.
Beers are still foamy but now I have large clear bubbles in the line...no more of the small cream colored ones, just large clear air pockets.
The system is new, and I just cleaned it for the first time after 3 quarter kegs. I cleaned it using the beer line cleaner that came with the kegerator and rinsed it all well. The lines are tight and I am not seeing any variation in the regulator so unless I put something back together incorrectly (which I doubt, was not complicated at all), I am at a loss!
PLEASE, ANY SUGGESTIONS AT ALL (even incorrect ones just to make me feel better) WOULD BE APPRECIATED! I would hate to resort to a trip to buy bottled beer 
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John
Cincy, OH
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09-09-2006, 12:05 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: maryland
Posts: 423
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that is why I have given up on 1/2 kegs for kegerators, there is about a 4 deg. f diff in the keg to the glass. my unit doesnt get 1/2's cold enough, no probs with 1/4's tho
From the land of pleasant living, the Chesapeake bay
Mark
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09-09-2006, 06:57 PM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: , , .
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Based on the time of your post, I may be too late and I hope you were successful for your festivities. If not, check to see if the gasket on the keg coupler that mates to the permanent gasket on the keg is still there. You will need to shut the valve on the CO2 tank and bleed the CO2 from the keg - sucks I know. The same thing happened to me. All was fine with several kegs and for seemingly know reason this new keg was foaming badly. The missing gasket was the problem. After replacing it, no problem.
I also have to pour about a half glass before it runs OK, but this is due to a warm tap. The warm tap causes the cold beer to expand. After the first beer, all is fine. I think your 10-12# is OK. This is where I keep mine, however it does depend on the beer. Bud, Bud Light, etc. vs Redhook, Sam Adams, heavier beers vary on required pressures. I have also noticed what you wrote about the beer pouring better towards the end of the keg. It's how I know it is about to go belly up. Not sure why this is because the pressure is the same.
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by YuenglingFan
Well, after about 5 relatively successful Killians quarter kegs, I am having a rough time with a 1/2 barrel of Killians just in time for my football party!
The setup is a Summit Built-In Kegerator, with standard 5' of 3/16" line (whatever came with the kit). The fridge temp is approx 38deg and I have been playing with the C02 pressure around 10-12#.
I am getting nothing but foam (in a pint glass). If I pour a pitcher, it has a good 6 inches of creamy foam up top. I had issues with the kegerator before on the other kegs, usually having to pour half a glass until I see the beer running clear out of the faucet, at which point I dump that out, and repour a perfect glass. This time, I get the solid foam from the faucet, followed by barely hazy beer (not as clear as before, but not foamy either).
The keg was purchased earlier this week and taken straight home to the fridge, where I left it set for 24hrs, tapped it and left it set for 24hrs more, and just tried to pour the first beer last night.
I wasted 2 pitchers and a few random glasses so far! PLEASE HELP...got people coming over in 8 hrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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John
Cincy, OH
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09-15-2006, 10:54 AM
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: , , .
Posts: 3
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I am having the same exact issues. Really foamy beer when keg is new, but for the last 1/4 of the keg it pours perfect. I too also have small bubbles coming from the coupler and can get them to go away at 18 psi (which is way too high and I only turned it up this high to see what happend). I am now on my second half barrel and it looks like I will have to go get a pump tap from the liquor store for my football party this weekend.... lame.
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09-15-2006, 09:35 PM
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Super Moderator
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,652
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Please realize that if the pressure is incorrect at the start of the keg (low), you will reduce the carbonation in the beer every time you dispense foam. Such that near the end of the keg the beer will pour better. Always wait for the keg t oacclimate to your 38 F kegerator and with Killians, use at least 14 PSIG.
Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute
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