keg troubleshooting help.

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Martybhoy

Martybhoy

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I'm looking for some keg troubleshooting help...

I have 2 x 5ltr kegs, with the flow control tap. First time I used it, it worked a treat. This time I have a wheat beer with lots of foam, but no fizz - it's pretty flat.

I'm certain I have no leaks. More certain than I was with my first use of the keg.

I kept it at 15psi for 2 weeks, then reduced to 2/3psi for dispensing. My fridge isn't sub-zero, so I don't think it's too cold.

Anyone have any suggestions to why it's flat, but with loads of foam?
 
Assuming that you don't have a leak anywhere and the brew isn't over-carbonated then a few ideas are (in order of what is most probable):

1. If the attenuator isn't fitted then the CO2 in the brew will make a load of foam rather than produce a nice head. (I didn't fit the attenuator for Brew One at a 2psi and it was okay, but it occurred in Brew Two at 5psi so I fitted the attenuator afterwards and subsequent brews have been okay.)

2. If the Dip Tube is sticking to the bottom of the Growler (this happened on Brew One) then the pressure drop will occur at the bottom of the Dip Tube and the Tap will mainly deliver foam - at a slow rate. I have fitted the "U" piece from a Wilco syphon to the end of my Dip Tube to prevent this. (*)

3. If the brew is well carbonated and the dip tube has fallen off then opening up the tap will:
  • Cause the brew inside the Growler to foam.
  • The foam will come out of the tap into the glass.
  • The liquid brew in the foam will fall out.
  • The liquid will be flat because the CO2 has already made all that foam.
4. The Dip Tube may have bent inside the Growler with the end positioned near the surface. It falls into the category of "possible but unlikely".

(*) I have cut two "V" shapes into opposite sides of the "U" section so that I can get as much of the brew as possible out of the Growler.
 
Dutto said:
Assuming that you don't have a leak anywhere and the brew isn't over-carbonated then a few ideas are (in order of what is most probable):

1. If the attenuator isn't fitted then the CO2 in the brew will make a load of foam rather than produce a nice head. (I didn't fit the attenuator for Brew One at a 2psi and it was okay, but it occurred in Brew Two at 5psi so I fitted the attenuator afterwards and subsequent brews have been okay.)

2. If the Dip Tube is sticking to the bottom of the Growler (this happened on Brew One) then the pressure drop will occur at the bottom of the Dip Tube and the Tap will mainly deliver foam - at a slow rate. I have fitted the "U" piece from a Wilco syphon to the end of my Dip Tube to prevent this. (*)

3. If the brew is well carbonated and the dip tube has fallen off then opening up the tap will:
  • Cause the brew inside the Growler to foam.
  • The foam will come out of the tap into the glass.
  • The liquid brew in the foam will fall out.
  • The liquid will be flat because the CO2 has already made all that foam.
4. The Dip Tube may have bent inside the Growler with the end positioned near the surface. It falls into the category of "possible but unlikely".

(*) I have cut two "V" shapes into opposite sides of the "U" section so that I can get as much of the brew as possible out of the Growler.
Click to expand...
Cheers Dutto. I'll check the dip tube tomorrow. It is making a gurgling sound when pouring so a block would seem plausible.

What do you mean by attenuator? I don't think I have one of those .
 
Martybhoy1980 said:
What do you mean by attenuator? I don't think I have one of those .
Click to expand...

If there is a small cylindrical nylon cylinder in the "spares" kit that came with your Tap then that is the attenuator.

If you remove the Tap itself (this is done by unscrewing the knurled knob that lies along the barrel at the back of the Tap itself) (*) you will reveal a cavity in the barrel bit that lies between the Growler and the Tap. The attenuator fits in here (if it isn't already in place).

Here's a couple of photographs that show the "U" shape that I'v attached to the bottom of the Dip-Tube. One is "V" shaped and the other one is "U" shaped so no matter which way it rests on the bottom of the Growler it won't get stuck to the bottom and it will pick up 98% of the brew!

IMG_0878.jpg
IMG_0879.jpg


(*)

The knurled knob is on the bit of the barrel that is nearest the Growler. With the Tap in front of you, the knob needs to be turned ANTI-CLOCKWISE to slack it off and to remove the Tap. (i.e. The knurled knob stays on the barrel NOT on the Tap when it is removed.)
 
If it is one of the small S/S kegs check that the dip tube is an good gas tight fit at the top. Any leak here will cause a lot of foam and it does make a noise.
 
Are you seeing small bubbles forming in the beer line when the beer is flowing, roughly at the point where it leaves the keg?
 
Hi, it's just a 5ltr keg with the tap fitted directly on to a disconnect.

I haven't had a chance to check the dip tube but I'm hoping that's the issue.

I've checked for leaks using soapy water, and my mini CO2 cartridges aren't running out, so I am ruling out a leak.
 
Have you tried storing the tap, disconnect and your glasses in the fridge with the keg? The beer will want to foam the moment it hits something warmer than it was stored in.
 
foxbat said:
Have you tried storing the tap, disconnect and your glasses in the fridge with the keg? The beer will want to foam the moment it hits something warmer than it was stored in.
Click to expand...
I'll give that a try. I also tightened everything this morning with a spanner. There wasn't much play but worth a try.

Incidentally Foxbat, I am attempting your house bitter in a few brews time. I have the grain, but the yeast was out of stock. Looking forward to it.
 
I hope you enjoy the bitter, I certainly did. In fact my next brew in a couple of weeks will be a Sussex style best bitter inspired by a great pint of Darkstar Partridge I had at a beer festival recently.
 

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