[crapsstickman711]

I just bought a Kegerator 2nd hand from somebody on craigslist. So I never received instructions for the CO2 regulator. My question is stemming from a problem I have been having since I tapped my first keg.

I have a 1/2 barrel of Anderson Valley's Summer Solstice on tap. Any time I pour my first beer (or any beer approx. 10 minutes after the last pour) I get A huge amount of head. I tilt the glass to an almost horizontal position to prevent the beer from agitating. I believe I may have the pressure too high. The guy who sold me the Kegerator, told me to keep the pressure "at 9 o'clock" which is about 20 PSI (i believe). I have read in other articles that it should only be back pressured at 3 - 5 PSI. Who is correct?

Mind you this guy had a keg of Bud Light in there... So his accountability in beer knowledge (IMO) is shot... I just want to make sure that if I set the pressure to 3 - 5 PSI it will, A: still dispense the beer, and B: relieve the headiness of the infamous first pour.

Your knowledge is welcome!

[wild]

When dispensing keg draft beer, the goal is to keep the CO2 level prescribed by the brewer. Any change in the CO2 level will alter the taste, pouring characteristics and appearance of the beer. Most breweries in the U.S. recommend a CO2 pressure between 12-14 lbs for Ale and Lager types of draft beers. This CO2 pressure will maintain the level of carbonation specified by the brewery.

If you are unsure what the recommended CO2 pressure is for the beer you are dispensing is, simply inquire with the company you are purchasing your kegs from. If they do not know, they can make a quick call to the beer distributor or brewery to find out this information for you.

If the draft beer is dispensed with too low of a pressure, the CO2 that is dissolved in the beer will “break out” of the beer. Initially this will cause the small bubbles of broken out CO2 to float up the beer hose which will result in foamy beer. And over time the low pressure will result in flat beer. If the draft beer is dispensed with too high of a pressure, over time more CO2 will be absorbed into the beer. Initially, this will not cause any problems, but over time this will result in over-pressurized foamy beer. This seems to be the problem. My advice is to reduce the CO2 pressure to about 12#s and purge the keg a couple of time to even out the pressure between the two.

Good luck,
Wild

[crapsstickman711]

OK, I double checked. The Pressure was at 10 PSI... I must have read it wrong. So, any idea why I would have a foamy beer for every first pour I do? I did notice that there was an air bubble in the line. Not sure that this would cause foamy beer. Any Ideas?

[wild]

Originally Posted by crapsstickman711

I did notice that there was an air bubble in the line. Not sure that this would cause foamy beer. Any Ideas?

Yes it would. Also what is the length and diameter of your out line?

Wild

[crapsstickman711]

Originally Posted by wild

Also what is the length and diameter of your out line?

It's about 5/16" inside diameter and I'd say 5' - 6' in length. How would I purge that air bubble in the line?

[wild]

I usually pinch the tubing at the bubble while pulling a beer.

[crapsstickman711]

Will try that later. Thanks for the help, Wild!