Beer Forum

Romulus · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 02:11 PM

Hey guys I have a question. I have my frig at 36*, have a 1/6 slim keg of Mich lite, 11psi. It took me a few days to get things settled down to these settings but I can get a normal pour with a 1 inch head. However, regardless of what I do, the first beer of the day is 90% Foam! After the first pour things settle down to a good 1 inch head again. If I wait an hour or so I get more foam but not as bad as the 1st pour of the day. Got any ideas on whats going on?

Hophead · #2 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 03:05 PM

Fridge conversion or kegerator with a tower? If you have a tower (and no tower cooler) your situation is completely normal.

Romulus · #3 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 03:12 PM

yes it is a kegerator. should I insulate the tower?

Hophead · #4 (**permalink**) 10-08-2009, 03:52 PM

Just insulating the tower won't do much. What brand/model kegerator?

In general, when the beer sits in the line inside the "warm" tower the carbonation "breaks out" and that is the foam you're getting. If you're not willing to live with some foam on the first pour (or after it sits for 10-15 minutes), then you'll need to come up with some type of forced air, tower cooler setup. Do some searching on this site, you'll find lots of people that did it and you can even find some people selling kits on ebay. If you're happy with the kegerator otherwise, then you might just want to live with a foamy first pour.

You also need to know the temp of the beer as soon as it comes out of the faucet (tap). Pour a beer, chug it, then pour another one and take the temp of that beer. Report back when you have a reading. That's the number you need to use to determine where to correctly set the CO2 pressure. It's VERY temperature sensitive.

My guess is that if you leave the Mich Lite at 11 PSI for very long, it will start to go a little flat on you.

Romulus · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 03:39 PM

Hophead, thanks for the reply. I am running a Vissani and modified the theromostat to get my 36*. Best I can tell I have 38* beer temp. Are you suggesting a tower cooler in the way of a computer fan blowing across the tower? What psi do you recommend for the Mich Lite?

Hophead · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 04:40 PM

Rigging up a tower cooler involves some type of fan (like a computer fan) forcing cold air from the bottom of the fridge into the tower via a piece of tubing. There are lots of ways to do it.

Just because the fridge temp is 36 doesn't mean the beer temp will be 38. For me to get 38 degree beer, my fridge temp needs to be closer to 33-34.

Not sure about the carbonation level of that beer but 12-13 PSI will be better in the long run than 11 PSI

Romulus · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2009, 05:12 PM

got the point. I get the basic principle of a cooler but cant find a link describing how to build one. Can you point me in the direction of link that explains a good set up? I understand you need a computer fan connected to a cell phone power source. I am a little fuzzy on the air tube. are you blowing air into the tube which is placed up into the tower? Will blowing air across the opening of the tube be enough or is there more to it?

ok, just found what I am looking for...Still wouldnt mind your input on a good set up.

Scott Zuhse · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 09:35 AM

Check out this link to a thread for tower cooling. Scroll up to check out the photos. It does not get any simplier than this. If we gave out awards for "Best McGuyver Kegerator Mod", this would be on the top of my list!

Also, you have to do better than "best that I can tell". Use a calibrated thermometer and if your beer is 38F @ sea level, adjust to 14 PSIG.