Pouring Froth

[oscar]

Hi guys,
Long time browser on here but now first post, i have a problem with too much head in my glass when I pour a beer. I only brew the same flavour which is a coopers european lager and as a general rule I chill it in fridge for 24hrs then gas it for 24 hrs at 30psi with no problems until my current keg which pours mainly froth.
My pouring pressure is 7psi, I have done nothing different this time, can anyone offer any help.

Regards
Glenn

 

[Bribie G]

What sort of tap do you have and do you dismantle / clean and lube it regularly? There may be a build up of 'beer stone' happening, causing nucleation points, or maybe pulling on the handle isn't opening the 'orifice' completely, giving turbulence and foam?

 

[Pennywise]

If your 100% sure on method then I'd also suggest pulling the tap apart and giving it a good clean. Like BribieG said might have some beer stone or a stuck part somewhere, might also have a bit of hop debri in there, cheeky little buggers they are

 

[oscar]

If your 100% sure on method then I'd also suggest pulling the tap apart and giving it a good clean. Like BribieG said might have some beer stone or a stuck part somewhere, might also have a bit of hop debri in there, cheeky little buggers they are



Thanks for the advice, 1 thing it also does is it surges froth between pure beer, do you still think this could be because of a dirty tap, oh and by the way it is a tap with an adjustable flow lever on the side, mounted on the outside of my fridge.

 

[Pennywise]

1 thing it also does is it surges froth between pure beer

It froths/leaks between pours? What brand is the tap?

 

[oscar]

It froths/leaks between pours? What brand is the tap?

Not sure of brand of tap, but yer while pouring a beer it will surge froth then beer then froth but has only just started doing it.
I will try to take some pics tomorrow and upload.

 

[Pennywise]

Mmmmm, I'm no expert but I would suspect some gunk in the tap, something that's flapping around with the current of the beer flowing out. Depending on the age and material of the tap could even be some plating that's come loose. Post up some piccies/vid and someone will be able to sort you out

 

[cdbrown]

I get the froth surge sometimes. Take a look at the beer line and you might find some bubbles which have come out of solution. Temperature differential between the beer in the keg and the beer in the lines cause this.

 

[amiddler]

Thanks for the advice, 1 thing it also does is it surges froth between pure beer, do you still think this could be because of a dirty tap, oh and by the way it is a tap with an adjustable flow lever on the side, mounted on the outside of my fridge.

Does it look like this? Not the only tap with lever but as above, will run better with regular cleaning.

Drew

 

[under]

Im going with the temp difference between the beer in the keg and lines.

I also wouldn't rule out over carbonation as the cause too.

 

[kierent]

I don't want to hijack this thread at all, but I'm having all sorts of problems too with foamy pour. I have a 2 litre jug and I fill it with foam, there's about 5mm of clear beer on the bottom. Oscar, have you looked in your beer lines inside the fridge?

When I look, there is pretty much a constant stream of bubbles coming out of the liquid connector into the beer line. The beer is only very lightly carbonated, and I don't shake to carbonate- I put it on pressure cold for a few days like oscar. In my case there is no temperature differential (I don't think) as the keg and lines are all inside the fridge. I've recently replaced all the seals in my kegs, maybe the disconnect is the problem? But they're only about a year old.

It has pretty much happened with my last 3 or 4 kegs but after pouring maybe 10L of the keg it starts to settle down... which is way too long. Any suggestions?

 

[kierent]

It occurred to me that it will be easier for people to help if I have photos and more detail. So photos are attached.
I carbonated this keg at 32psi for a couple of days. after that time it was still quite flat so I left it for a few more and it's good, but still very low on the carbonation, which I like. But it definately doesn't seem to be over carbonated.
Previous kegs I've done the quick carbonation method, shaking it for a minute at 50psi. It's been foamy too which is why I thought I'd try the patient method. If anything I'd say this is the foamiest keg I've had.
I've cleaned the taps recently, though I might try that again. The taps are also pretty new. I've had this setup for probably 1 1/2 years, and in that time maybe done 8 or so kegs. The first ones were fine but the last 4 have all been foamy for a good deal of the keg.
I serve at 8psi.
As you can see in the pics, my lines are full of gas. I've tried straightening out the lines and letting all the gas go to the top, but as I do it more gas just constantly seeps out of the keg. If need be I can try and get a video of this, but it's just constant bubbles coming out.
My lines are 2m long from keg to tap, the coil goes upwards.
Any other info needed?

 

[oscar]

It occurred to me that it will be easier for people to help if I have photos and more detail. So photos are attached.
I carbonated this keg at 32psi for a couple of days. after that time it was still quite flat so I left it for a few more and it's good, but still very low on the carbonation, which I like. But it definately doesn't seem to be over carbonated.
Previous kegs I've done the quick carbonation method, shaking it for a minute at 50psi. It's been foamy too which is why I thought I'd try the patient method. If anything I'd say this is the foamiest keg I've had.
I've cleaned the taps recently, though I might try that again. The taps are also pretty new. I've had this setup for probably 1 1/2 years, and in that time maybe done 8 or so kegs. The first ones were fine but the last 4 have all been foamy for a good deal of the keg.
I serve at 8psi.
As you can see in the pics, my lines are full of gas. I've tried straightening out the lines and letting all the gas go to the top, but as I do it more gas just constantly seeps out of the keg. If need be I can try and get a video of this, but it's just constant bubbles coming out.
My lines are 2m long from keg to tap, the coil goes upwards.
Any other info needed?

Is all good kierent,it may seem we both have same problem.
I have only been kegging for about 2 months after bottling for about 3 years,so my gear is relatively new, and been fairly new to kegging my methods are pretty much the same so I dont screw it up, so to get this froth is out of character for my style of brewing.
Hope to answer the problem soon.

 

[michaelcocks]

It occurred to me that it will be easier for people to help if I have photos and more detail. So photos are attached.
I carbonated this keg at 32psi for a couple of days. after that time it was still quite flat so I left it for a few more and it's good, but still very low on the carbonation, which I like. But it definately doesn't seem to be over carbonated.
Previous kegs I've done the quick carbonation method, shaking it for a minute at 50psi. It's been foamy too which is why I thought I'd try the patient method. If anything I'd say this is the foamiest keg I've had.
I've cleaned the taps recently, though I might try that again. The taps are also pretty new. I've had this setup for probably 1 1/2 years, and in that time maybe done 8 or so kegs. The first ones were fine but the last 4 have all been foamy for a good deal of the keg.
I serve at 8psi.
As you can see in the pics, my lines are full of gas. I've tried straightening out the lines and letting all the gas go to the top, but as I do it more gas just constantly seeps out of the keg. If need be I can try and get a video of this, but it's just constant bubbles coming out.
My lines are 2m long from keg to tap, the coil goes upwards.
Any other info needed?

Why does your beer out line have big co2 "bubbles" along it

Shouldn't the entire length pf th line be beer colored ?

Have you released the pressure in the keg before setting you serving pressure ?

 

[glaab]

try making your beer line run uphill [only] from the keg to the tap

 

[DangerousDave]

I don't want to hijack this thread at all, but I'm having all sorts of problems too with foamy pour. I have a 2 litre jug and I fill it with foam, there's about 5mm of clear beer on the bottom. Oscar, have you looked in your beer lines inside the fridge?

When I look, there is pretty much a constant stream of bubbles coming out of the liquid connector into the beer line. The beer is only very lightly carbonated, and I don't shake to carbonate- I put it on pressure cold for a few days like oscar. In my case there is no temperature differential (I don't think) as the keg and lines are all inside the fridge. I've recently replaced all the seals in my kegs, maybe the disconnect is the problem? But they're only about a year old.

It has pretty much happened with my last 3 or 4 kegs but after pouring maybe 10L of the keg it starts to settle down... which is way too long. Any suggestions?

ok what your decribing is exactly the problem i had when i first kegged same method of carbing, same foam all through lines, everything. after massive amounts of reading and throwing myself around i came upon this conclusion

my beer was overcarbed, yes thats right i hear you saying 'but it dosnt taste overcarbed' but i found out that when you get fairly overcarbed it can actually taste flat (dont ask me why as i have no idea)

whats happening is youve got so much carbonation that when youve turned the gas down to serving pressure, as beer is leaving the keg there is not enough pressure to keep the C02 in suspention and its instantly unabsorbing and creating a line full of foam

what i did was turn off the gas and burp the keg (release pressure through the pressure release valve) every so often for about 24 hours i then forced carbed using the method ill explain in a second(because i was impatiant) but you could also slow carb back up to serving pressure which will force the c02 back into suspension.

after i did this it was pouring fine.

from then on ive used 1 of 2 methods

1.LEAVE IT ALONE (slow carb) this is the best method set your pressure to serving and leave it for like a week its slower i know but you will get a perfect gassing from this, you will never overcarb and IMHO the carbonation is less 'harsh' on the pallet

2. if you absolutely must drink it right now use the ross method turn it up to around 300 kpa and turn the keg on its side with the gas post closest to the floor then rock it back and forth like a nutter for about 40 secs, turn the gass off at the bottle, now keep rocking it and watch the pressure dial it will fall fairly quickly and you want it to settle around 140 kpa it probably wont off 40 secs of rocking (easier to add carb then take it away) but then do it again for another 5 secs and repeat in 5 sec intervals untill it settles around 140 and you have a perfect gassing.

i hope this helps you as it did me and stoped my keg from entering orbit

happy kegging

(typed but not read as im very drunk right now :lol: )

 

[Ian Gommers]

Had the same problem on one of my kegs a while back, turned out the dip tube seal was leaking, allowing gas in the headspace to seep into the line. New seal sorted it out. Cheers.

 

[kierent]

Thanks guys. Michael, it might be the not burping my keg that's the problem I think. But then the reply by Dave looks good to, so I'm going to try that, then burp.
Cheers!

 

[michaelcocks]

Thanks guys. Michael, it might be the not burping my keg that's the problem I think. But then the reply by Dave looks good to, so I'm going to try that, then burp.
Cheers!

Unless you carb at serving pressure you do need to burp keg

Best advice I was ever given it just carb at serving pressure and be patient .. No problems ever since.

If you beer is all foam and flat you have likely over carbed ( I know it's weird isn't it ?)

 

[zabond]

if it is just happening one one keg I'd bet as thirsty said pickup tube seal,release gas remove out post and check small "o" ring or just give it a wobble to see if its a bit loose