First Pour

[SaltyFungus]

My first pour always has a ton of head (nearly half the glass) however consecutive pours after that are perfect. Is this primarily due to the length of my beer line and subsequent buildup from previous pours?

I'm running about 9 1/2 - 10 psi @ 36 degrees of Yuengling lager.

Should I shorten my lines or increase the pressure?

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Semper Fi!
Salty

[Scott Zuhse]

Your pressure is too low. Raise to 12 PSIG. The reason your first pour is foam may be due to a warm tower and since your pressure was low, breakout of the gas in the beer rising to a high point - behind the tower.

[SaltyFungus]

Thanks, great help!

[SaltyFungus]

I have increased my pressure to 12psi and still pouring half to a full glass of foam in the first pour. Second and third pours are perfect with about 1/2 an inch of head. If I wait 15-20 minutes, same story - half to a full glass of foam.

I have also noticed that when I look at the beer line, running from the coupler to the tap, a ton of bubbles are rising to the top of the line. Could this be causing my issue? I have only probably 4-5 foot of beer line.

Any other suggestions?

[BarryG]

What is your altitude? You may have to increase your pressure. How cold is your beer? It may be too warm. Check your beer temp on a 2nd pour with a thermometer. Should be 36-39 degrees!

[SaltyFungus]

What is your altitude? You may have to increase your pressure. How cold is your beer? It may be too warm. Check your beer temp on a 2nd pour with a thermometer. Should be 36-39 degrees!

I am in Buffalo, NY - only 600 feet above sea level. My beer temp on second pour is exactly 38 degrees. Yuengling lager.

[doug ellis]

I am in Buffalo, NY - only 600 feet above sea level. My beer temp on second pour is exactly 38 degrees. Yuengling lager.

Again, Scott or one of our other beer xperts might tell you is pressure 12psi and beer line longer, and if you don't have something cooling your tower you will get foam on your first pour.
I to pump Yungling, and have experienced the same problems.

[Scott Zuhse]

14 PSIG with five to six feet of 3/16" vinyl. Six for slower, five for a little faster flow.

[gokings]

I had the exact same problem and I put a small fan in there blowing at the hole where the beer line goes up to the tower and the beer pours perfect....

[SaltyFungus]

I had the exact same problem and I put a small fan in there blowing at the hole where the beer line goes up to the tower and the beer pours perfect....

I as well am starting to think that it's a warm line issue. It seems that after the line cools down, my beer flows perfect. But within the first couple of pours, I have a ton of head.

Should I insulate the lines or add a blower? If I had a blower, what exactly does the process consist of?

[Scott Zuhse]

Add a blower. Conduct a forum search on this topic. There are tons of posts.

[SaltyFungus]

Add a blower. Conduct a forum search on this topic. There are tons of posts.

Bought a blower, installed the blower and my tower is around the same temperature as the area around the keg. Thought this would solve my problem. My beer temperature is exactly 38 degrees and I have my PSI set to precisely 13 in accordance with this table.

Now I just have a full glass of nice cold foam on my first pour.

How much more frustrating can this get?

I appreciate all the help so far, I've done everything that everyone has suggested and yielded no change. I'm pulling my hair out, any other suggestions?

[Scott Zuhse]

Are you using a calibrated thermometer to determine beer temperature? All bets are off if your temperature you think you have is not what it is.

The "sdcollins" link is broken. Does the PSIG recommendation from this site take in consideration "push pressure"?

Even though you know exactly what your temperature is and your have the correct PSIG, there may be a mechanical flaw causing gas break out. This is doubtful as the problem would occur all the time. Normally the symptoms you have point to warm beer.

[SaltyFungus]

Are you using a calibrated thermometer to determine beer temperature? All bets are off if your temperature you think you have is not what it is.

The "sdcollins" link is broken. Does the PSIG recommendation from this site take in consideration "push pressure"?

Even though you know exactly what your temperature is and your have the correct PSIG, there may be a mechanical flaw causing gas break out. This is doubtful as the problem would occur all the time. Normally the symptoms you have point to warm beer.

You were exactly right! In combination of the blower and newly installed beer line insulation, I now have a perfect pour on the first pour all the time. Looks like the beer was just getting warm in the tower as well as in the lines.

I appreciate all your help and advice. Thanks again!

Semper Fi!