Converted kit to Guinness, beer has metal after taste

[Paul D]

The keg is new, the 75/25 - Nitrogen/CO2 tank is new and just filled, all of the parts are new. The pour looks great and the head on the beer is fine. PSI is 32 and the temp is 36-38F. Everything looks good, it looks and cascades just like at a local bar, but then when you drink the beer it has a bit of a metal after taste. I hope it isnt bad gas... but if it is, is the keg destroyed by keeping it under the pressure of the gas? Also, are there different grades of gas like Food grade? Or could it be because of the new parts and they just need to be broken in? Googling for this sort of problem doesnt really come up with many results and I hope I didnt just blow a couple hundred bucks on nothing...

[Sammy1759]

i am not sure but i think the metal taste comes from not drinking enough. if i let my guinness sit for more than two days i think i taste metal too but if i pour every day i dont seem to taste any metal. i only drink 3 pints a day untill the weekend.

[czwilly]

Raise your temp to 42*. That is the proper serving temp of Guinness. Don't know about that taste. My keg lasted a week and a half. Well exercised, never let rest so maybe try drinking a little more:-)

[Paul D]

Well the keg did sit for about 2 days in the kegerator before it was tapped. (i was waiting on the gas from the local supply company) Ill raise the temp to 42F and see what happens. Thanks.

[Piper]

I hope it isnt bad gas... but if it is, is the keg destroyed by keeping it under the pressure of the gas? Also, are there different grades of gas like Food grade? Or could it be because of the new parts and they just need to be broken in?

In my experience a metal taste can come near the end of the keg. If the keg has been tapped for more than a month I would try cleaning the beer lines. Further, I never had significant problems at 38F, but technically that will allow a little more CO2 absorption into the beer than 42F, which could cause the metal taste in my humble opinion. I have also had problems with inaccurate regulators in the past where I thought I was pushing 32 psi when it was much higher. My micromatic regulator has yielded far better results and my pressure seems to be more consistent for the life of the keg than before.

Cheers.

[Paul D]

Well the keg is not at the end as it was having that after taste when it was first tapped and the beer lines are brand new. It seems to be getting better and the temperature right out of the tap and in the glass is now at about 41.5F consistently. (even though my refrigerator temp is about 38F) I will try lowering the PSI and refridge temp a little and give it another day. I appreciate the advice, Ill give an update after the changes and if all else fails I suppose a new micromatic regulator might do the trick...

[Paul D]

Update 12/03
The beer seems to taste fine after I raised the temperature and lowered the gas pressure to 30psi on my gauge. It was previously a bit colder and the pressure was 34psi. I will also assume that since I tapped it, keeping the keg active may also help. So for anyone who may have this problem in the future everything is ok after those adjustments, thanks for all the replies. I appreciate it!

[Piper]

As a note, you should be around 36.4 psig at 42F to retain 1.2 vols CO2 per volume of beer (which is what I understand as being the correct carbonation level for Guinness). Maybe your lower pressure setting was fine because your beer temp inside the keg was colder than it was at the faucet. Dunno.