Tapping A KEG

[mikeduzer]

When you are tapping a new keg, do you have to purge all of the existing CO2 (or something like that) already inside of a new keg? Because whenever I hook up a new keg to my kegerator it will be foamy for about a good quarter of the keg. I have the regulator set at about 10 psi and have about 5 feet of beer line. Could it also be that most of the time when I tap a new keg it is usually for a party, and we just don’t let it sit long enough? (I usually tap it 2 hours before the heavy drinking begins)

[stronk]

It could be that it's warm when you first tap it, meaning that CO2 would come out of solution more easily, making the beer foamy.

[Nate]

I am having the same problem. At first I thought it was because of the temp, but now I think the beer line is too short. I have put in several kegs and tried different things to get it to stop. As I get about halfway through the keg the foam problem stops.

What kind of beer are you using. I've been told that domestic beers are higher carbonated and may need longer line so that the pressure goes down before it hits the spout. Let me know if you have found any new info

[gifty74]

I was having the same problems you guys were having. I did find the cure. It sounds like you have most of the other things in place, like size of line and pressure, so you should be ok there. When you get the keg it gets shaken up a lot on the way home. My first two kegs I tapped shortly after I brought them home, and had major foam for the first 1/4 of it or so. The last several I brought home, put them in the fridge, and let them sit there for several hours. Most I bring home and let sit overnight. This allows the beer to settle back down, and allows the temp of the beer equalize to the temp of the lines, coupler, tap, etc. Try letting it sit overnight before tapping it (by tapping I mean before putting the coupler on), I'll bet that will solve your problem.

[Nate]

I thought about the keg having to settle and I let it set over night before I tapped it. The new keg has been in for 6 days and is still foaming half of a glass each pour. I am willing to bet once I get about halfway through the keg it will stop foaming as much, like the last one did.

Even if it has too much pressure and has to settle, why would the last half of the keg be right, but the first half not? Shouldn't it be the entire keg?

[erod61]

I have the best results with 8' of line and a pressure of between 4 and 6 lbs. I tap my kegs right away and seldom have to draw more than a pitcher or two before it settles down. Give it a try. Erod.

[fretlessman71]

Wow! A whole bunch of newbies all on one thread! Welcome everyone!

[danno]

first thing I'd do is check with your vendor and find out at what pressure you are getting your kegs. I see comments like "10 psi and 5 ft beer line", which is a standard setup, but I'm betting that commercial kegs are coming at a considerably higher pressure than that, which makes your 5 foot beer line too short.