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Off Flavors In Kegs & Lines
I'm still new to kegging, working out the systems, learning the do's & don'ts.
Would prefer not to learn it all by trial & error.
So, at the party last Saturday, one of the brewers in attendence said that I would have to replace the Root Beer lines, as that flavor could not be eliminated, and would influence the taste of anything going through that line.
True? False? 
Should I also be concerned about the keg? It's borrowed.
I will be running a solution of SuperFlush Line & Tap cleaner through the lines and cold plate.
I have on hand PBW, Bleach, and Oxi-Clean.
Also, other than pickles, are there anything that we would brew & keg that would have a similar affect?
And some how, even though I like spruce beers, I don't think I'll ever brew with pickles.
No Pickle Packin Porter for ya?
I think your friend is right. For the money it costs to change a bevline (about $2.50) it would probably be a good idea. Posssibly a hot PBW soak and rinse would get everything out, but why chance it?
As for the keg, a hot PBW soak and left for a few days will get all the smell out, stainless is nonpermeable unlike the bevline. I usually break down the posts and let them soak overnight in little tupperware containers of pbw, (dont mix them up!) and fill the keg with hot water. Rinse everything off the next day and reassemble. Ihave never noticed off flavors.
While I agree with the fact that bevline is cheap, what is the real validity of the flavor staining issue?
I mean, I run an oatmeal stout or a chocolate porter through beer lines. And I have put Cream Ale on the same bev lines (even in the same day!!!) and I haven't tasted a chocolate Cream Ale.
Unless you've let the rootbeer sit in the lines for a month then maybe...
But hell my beer lines usually have beer in them for ever too...
I think this is just one of those try it and see. A real experiment or data gathering is needed. I would flush and was the line per usual, maybe even twice.
Then put my beer of that line. If it tastes like rootbeer.... you can always change the line, no harm there right?
Thanks guys.
When I bought the stuff for the jockey box, I popped for a 100' coil of bev line. So, no extra expense.
Being cheap, I'll clean & save the root beer lines, might make some more later. Just won't run it through the cold plate/jockey box.
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