Overcarbed = Flat And Foam?

[hughyg]

I just kegged my frat brew. I used the force method. The beer is all foam and flat. Is that an overcarbed keg? I have left the gas off and opened the pressure release valve. Will it go from flat to fizzy? Or will I need to re-carb it. My setup is a corny keg with 2m of 1/16th gas line a Pluto gun and sodastream CO2
cheers
hg

 

[peas_and_corn]

I would guess you have too much beer line. How much is between the keg and the tap?

 

[cdbrown]

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...;showarticle=24

2m - is that the beer line? If that's the gas line - doesn't matter the length. What is 1/16th? Equates to 1.5mm line. Sure it's not 3/16?

What's the pouring rate. If it's slow then the pressure pushing the beer is too low allowing all that gas to come out of solution.

 

[crundle]

Do you have a regulator on the soda stream bottle?

I don't like the force carb method for newbies to kegging, I didi it myself and had a few problems like yours till I learnt to gas it up at serving pressure which takes about 10 days but will give great carbonation and eliminate one variable in getting your keg setup balanced.

If you have it open to vent, try closing the vent every hour or so and pour a beer to see how it is going, as it will go flat eventually but you can find the point where you can put it back onto serving pressure and have a nice pour if you catch it on the way down.

cheers,

Crundle

 

[buttersd70]

What's the pouring rate. If it's slow then the pressure pushing the beer is too low allowing all that gas to come out of solution.

True...however, if this is the case, if you pour half (ish - ie, enough to clear the line) a glass, then immediately pour into a fresh glass, the second one will pour correctly. Also, bubbles will be visible in the line after letting it sit for a few minutes. Just behind the tap, and just in front of the post.

If the above doesn't apply: then yes, it's overcarbed. Or the pouring pressure is too high, and all the carb is knocking out in the glass due to high pressure pour. Or a combination of any of the above.

Most likely it's overcarbed.

 

[hughyg]

OK to clear a few things up. It's 3/16th John guest line. 2 m between keg and gun. BOC regulator on sodastream cylinder. Trying to serve at just under 10psi. Are overcarbed beers ususally flat and excessively foamy?
Cheers
HG

 

[buttersd70]

Are overcarbed beers ususally flat and excessively foamy?

Yep. All the carb pushes out at once, giving a big head, and leaving nothing in the beer itself.

 

[Cocko]

Are overcarbed beers ususally flat and excessively foamy?
Cheers
HG

From my understanding it is generally the sign, yes.

Disconnect gas, open bleed valve for an hour or 2, then shut valve for an hour and serve a beer - do not reconnect gas for this just let the gas in the beer serve it... repeat until right...

2c.

 

[katzke]

I am no expert on foamy beer but I have got my system under control.

I had a bad gauge on my regulator. I kind of felt like it was bad but did not know for sure till I changed regulators and that fixed my problem. The problem was my beer poured way to fast and was foamy. I had to turn the regulator way down to get the beer to pour. Well that was the correct setting even though the gauge said different.

So if you are getting foam look at how fast the beer is coming out. Now that I have a regulator I trust I can set the pressure and the beer pours just fine with a picnic tap all the way open. It takes a bit to fill a glass but that is the way it should be. I did look and I guess the Pluto Gun can pour faster then a picnic tap. With your 2 meters of line you have more then I do so that should balance fine.

So taking what I learned I think I would turn the gas off and back off the regulator so it is at 0. Then vent the keg and let it set for a bit (like 15 minutes if you can wait that long). See if it pours at all. If not then turn the gas on and slowly increase the pressure till the beer pours. If the beer pours then you know you have it over carbed. Depending on how it pours you may need to keep venting it till it pours nice.

One thing about changing the pressure on regulators. Some have check valves in them. Some have a relief thing in them. Some have both and some have neither. You need to figure out what one you have and then you will know how it works when you lower the pressure. One reason why it is important to vent the keg especially when lowering the setting.

 

[usastman]

I have just been carbing my first keg. I had a similar issue with foaming and little carbonation. I thought I had over carbonated.

I found that if I vented the keg and then only had about 5 psi applied - the fist pour was foaming again - but the second pour was fine. I was originally applying about 8-10 psi and this was causing the foaming.

The beer was actually still not carbonated enough - have since carbinated more - have found adjustment in the psi applied - 5- 7 psi pours the beer fine.