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question for experienced keggers
I kegged a couple gallons of beer last night. Hooked up the co2 at 35 lbs and shook like hell for about 10 minutes, then put it in fridge at 50 degrees. Took the keg out today and purged the keg, hooked up co2 at about 3 lbs and there was a lot of foam. Also noticed that air bubbles were coming into tap line from out post when tap wasn't depressed. So two things, is there a possible leak in my seals letting air into keg and into line or is it co2 goig into line from outpost. AND, why so much foam with only 2 pds of pressure?
DC
Before turning down your CO2 to serving pressure, disconnect your CO2, purge the keg then reconnect your CO2 at serving pressure. The bubbles in your line is just CO2 comming out of solution because the pressure in your keg has not equalized yet.
You are also operating at the extremes for pressure. Quick carbing at 35psi is a little high, and serving at 3psi is kinda low. Bevline length and tap height-keg height play somewhat into the equation, but a typical system w/ 4-6' of bevline should be served at 8-12 psi, too low of a serving pressure also leads to foaming. You really just need to mess with it trial and error until you find your system's balance.
I just have a 3 foot hose with tap on one end and connector for keg on the other. I'll try again tonight. 
DC
deafcone wrote:
Hooked up the co2 at 35 lbs and shook like hell for about 10 minutes, then put it in fridge at 50 degrees. Took the keg out today and purged the keg, hooked up co2 at about 3 lbs and there was a lot of foam. Also noticed that air bubbles were coming into tap line from out post when tap wasn't depressed. So two things, is there a possible leak in my seals letting air into keg and into line or is it co2 goig into line from outpost. AND, why so much foam with only 2 pds of pressure?
You charged the keg at 35 PSI? That is high. I go between 28-30. At the brewery I volunteer at (well, I work there now), the brewmaster charges the 15.5 kegs at 28 PSI for 24 hours, then checks it the next day, and sets it down to 10-12 before putting it online.
If the beer is really foaming up, it sounds like it might be a little over carbonated. Relieve some pressure.
I highly doubt air is getting into the keg. You will hear the CO2 coming out if there are any leaks. So I would say to charge the keg between 28-30, roll it around on the floor for 10-20 minutes, set the pressure to 10 or 12 PSI, and try it then. Of course you can also let it go overnight at 28 PSI, then lower the pressure, and try it the next day. I have not done that yet, but many other brewers have.
cubx wrote:
deafcone wrote:
Hooked up the co2 at 35 lbs and shook like hell for about 10 minutes, then put it in fridge at 50 degrees. Took the keg out today and purged the keg, hooked up co2 at about 3 lbs and there was a lot of foam. Also noticed that air bubbles were coming into tap line from out post when tap wasn't depressed. So two things, is there a possible leak in my seals letting air into keg and into line or is it co2 goig into line from outpost. AND, why so much foam with only 2 pds of pressure?
You charged the keg at 35 PSI? That is high. I go between 28-30. At the brewery I volunteer at (well, I work there now), the brewmaster charges the 15.5 kegs at 28 PSI for 24 hours, then checks it the next day, and sets it down to 10-12 before putting it online.
If the beer is really foaming up, it sounds like it might be a little over carbonated. Relieve some pressure.
I highly doubt air is getting into the keg. You will hear the CO2 coming out if there are any leaks. So I would say to charge the keg between 28-30, roll it around on the floor for 10-20 minutes, set the pressure to 10 or 12 PSI, and try it then. Of course you can also let it go overnight at 28 PSI, then lower the pressure, and try it the next day. I have not done that yet, but many other brewers have.
I've done it at 30 before. A web site I looked at a couple days agao suggested up to 35 is ok. When I turned the serving pressure to 5 psi there were no bubbles in the line but still a big head, not as bad though. I'll just let it sit a few days in fridge, and try again. No hurry.
DC
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