Foam 2 pour 1

[paul]

What am I doing here? Curious mind I guess. Am staying at a hotel where the bartender complains that there's too much waste. He regularly pours two glasses of foam before the third comes out nice. Thanks to your site, I've deduced that they have glycol system and that there's a decent distance between the taps and the cooling room. He feels like there is a bad compressor. Reading your site, I'd guess either that they've got the system slightly overpressurized w/co2 or that a regulator is bad and letting too much pressure ac****ulate until some pressure is relieved from the first two glasses of foamy flow. What do the experts say?

pfm

[Scott Zuhse]

Paul, we need to know a lot more about the system such as if it is a glycol system, temperature of the glycol, is the compressor running while you take a temperature, is the circulation pump working correctly, beer temperature, medium being used to pressurize kegs (100% CO2, blend gas in a cylinder, on-site blender, pumps, etc.), actual pressure at keg, pressure leaks, heat at tower end of system, conduit condition, and a few other items[?][?][?]

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Patrick]

Foam 3 pour 1 at a site I manage, the beer guy who "worked" on the glycol system replaced alot of things($1800 worth),flushed the lines,new glycol, added a gas blend. Quality issues came back immediatly and we still have 3 to 1 , Called him back to look at system, and we now need a new 1/2hp pump w/ 12 gallon glycol resvoir($2800) for the system to work correctly. We are a "low volume" site with 3 beers on tap, and for this amount I could have purchased a under counter 3keg cooler and solved it. Suggestions?

[Scott Zuhse]

First, do you know who installed your system the first time around? Is the dispensing tower an actual "glycol" tower? How long of a run are the lines from the walk-in cooler to the tower?

When you indicated blend gas, was this mixed gas in a cylinder or did the technician install a gas blender? What is the temperature of the existing glycol system, beer in kegs, pressure against the kegs, types of beers?

This is a start. In order to assist you, we need to know as much as possible about the variables of the system and that may tell us if you should even continue with your existing tech.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Patrick]

Scott Thanks for reply, I will find out all info and talk to you later in the week I appreciate the help!

[Paul Thomas]

I'm from a volunteer fire company. we dont use a lot of beer and a keg will last two to three months. we have a big problem with foaming the temp is 36-38 deg f. we've tried to run all ranges of pressures from 15psi to 2psi still does the same thing we have about a 20'run from the cooler to the tap with a glycol system and only use co2. could this be from over carb? should we put in a mixer with 60/40 co2/nitrogen to stop this and make the beer last longer? also would the nitrogen hurt birch beer we have running off the same co2? maybe if I can get this working right We will drink more!!

[Scott Zuhse]

Not certain we would want to contribute to the overindulgence of our volunteers[}].Just the same, it would be nice to not have to worry about waste while enjoying draught beer with the right carbonation.

A gas blender (60% CO2 / 40%Nitrogen) will allow you to push the keg with around 22 PSIG compensating for temperature fluctuations as well as maintaining the specified carbonation of the beer. Since you will be utilizing a higher pressure, you may require alteration to the system's line restriction.

Other issues to consider would be the glycol system itself. Is the glycol bath mixture correct? Bath temperature ideal? Pump working OK? Condensor clean? Adequate dispense tower for glycol system?

How about your pressure system? Is it intact with accurate regulators and with no leaks.

Is the system clean? Evaluate your system thoroughly and get back to us. We focus on quality and eliminating waste.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Paul Thomas]

I have done some checking on the system. We are using coors light we have 20'of 3/8" stiff plastic trunk line running from a three keg cooler (1 keg is birch beer) to just under the bar. Then it switches to 1/4" clear vinyl which goes 16" up the colume to the tap. keg temp is 38deg beer at the tap is 38deg I'm running 14psi on the reg I put a second reg to reduce pressure to 4psi for birch beer.I do not have any 3/16th vinyl line in the system at all.I think I need some to produce back pressure and control the flow. Is this where my problem is? If so how to fix? Or can you tell me someone who might be able to service/repair this for me. somerville new jersey 08876 area

[Scott Zuhse]

Paul, I will email this to our Northeast office. They should be in contact with you soon.

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[Paul Thomas]

scott, thank you for your help I got in contact with your northeast division they were great people. They hooked me up with an installer in my area it took him 1.5 hours and only $100.00 bucks I waste that every month in foam!! things are great no more wasted beer. I have only good things to say about your company and will spread the word.

[Scott Zuhse]

Great news!

Scott Zuhse, Instructor Micro Matic Dispense Institute

[kelly]

quote:Originally posted by Paul Thomas

scott, thank you for your help I got in contact with your northeast division they were great people. They hooked me up with an installer in my area it took him 1.5 hours and only $100.00 bucks I waste that every month in foam!! things are great no more wasted beer. I have only good things to say about your company and will spread the word.

[kelly]

Paul

I am glad everything worked out for you and the installer I suggest helped you out.
If you ever need assistance feel free to give me a call in the northeast office.
Thanks

Kelly Christine