Foaming

[Braindead]

Little advice guys

I have 2 corny kegs connected to a maxi chiller via a python cooling system.
Getting an insane amount of foaming, I can actually hear it spluttering in the lines before it hits the taps.
Did a bit of detective work and it looks like the actual bubbles are starting from the corny keg, I see bubbles in the tube thats attached to the corny disconnect, so they must be passing all the way through and causing the splutter.
Any ideas?

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
What type of tap are you using? I get lots of foaming if the tap isn't fully open from the start of the pour to the end.

 

[Braindead]

The tap is from the brewery installer who I got all my gear from.
I can see the bubbles in the line well before the tap so dont think its a tap issue.
he also fitted a reducer and a flow controller.
Really doing my head in. Just odd theres so many bubbles just after the disconnect.
You think completely depressurising the keg then setting the psi may work?

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
Is there a pinhole anywhere in the line?

 

[Braindead]

Not that I know of, but both taps are the same.
Strange its directly at the outpost.

 

[reddibaggie]

Sounds to me like the co2 isn’t in solution so it’s coming through foam. How did you carbonate the kegs and at what temperature.


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[Braindead]

Shake, rattle and roll force carb with the NEIPA
Primed the Gamma Ray

Both same issue.
Theres a good amount of bubbles in the line next to coupler

 

[Hoddy]

The tap is from the brewery installer who I got all my gear from.
I can see the bubbles in the line well before the tap so dont think its a tap issue.
he also fitted a reducer and a flow controller.
Really doing my head in. Just odd theres so many bubbles just after the disconnect.
You think completely depressurising the keg then setting the psi may work?

I would be inclined to try the full depressurise and leave for a while and then see if you can pour near flat with no bubble problems.


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[chewie]

Are you 100% sure you are connected to the outlet?

 

[Braindead]

Yeah definitely.
Im seriously baffled. Just a mass of foam once I hear it splutter

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
More questions, I'm afraid.
Have you served beer from this keg using the current chiller set-up without getting foaming?
What diameter lines are you using and how long are they?
What is the flow controller that was fitted?
Finally, at what pressure are you serving your beer?
Any chance of some photos?

 

[Braindead]

no worries Col. Not sure about line sizes. Its been hit and miss, last year at my wedding I had a Foam party..lol
Hopefully I may have just sussed it.

 

[Braindead]

It was at 12psi, but just purged most of the co2 from the headspace and knocked it down to 8 psi and just poured an ok beer.

Never like purging headspace as hate losing aroma

 

[Dads_Ale]

It may be worth checking the O ring on the beer out dip tube. If this is damaged ,worn, incorrectly fitted or the wrong size then it may allow the CO2 from the head space to enter the beer line and cause a lot of foaming.
Whilst I have not had this happen with a corny I did have something similar with one of my small kegs where the beer dip tube was not sealing correctly close to the out post inside the keg.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
Great news!
Try 8psi for serving from now on.

 

[Drunkula]

I've served beer at 40 psi by adjusting the flow controller. If you keep the beer at 8psi you might not keep the carbonation level you're after so use a carbonation chart to find out what you want then try adjusting the flow controller. Not too obviously, going too restrictive on the flow controller can make it foam but go from cranking it right down then opening.

The pipes being warmer than beer does cause an outbreak.

 

[Braindead]

Still getting the foaming. Its like min little explosions in the line and I can hear it then a wad of foam comes through. Puzzling, maybe chillers goosed?

 

[Fil]

If you had a dodgy seal somewhere beer would leak out under presure making a mess.

so the gas has to come from the beer.

Assuming the beer isnt severely over conditioned?? in which case a few cycles of vent n sheke may be needed over a day or 2 depending on just how overconditioned it is..

there have been reports of a few ex soda kegs having a tiny hole near the top of the long product out dip tube (2 x in the forums that i have read..) which can result in a foam out.. (easily sorted with a wee wrap of ptfe.. or a well positioned oring)

Otherwise any kinks in the beerline can form nucleation points as can badly cut and inserted beerline in JG fittings.
sometimes cutting beerline with sharp scissors for example can squeeze the tube prior to cutting resulting in a concave (or is it convex??) face which wont sit flush against the tubestop in the fitting again providing nucleation points.

Its a dramatic change in state thats needed to 'shake' out the co2 either a dramatic drop in pressure as found without any form of flow restriction or microline runs. or change in temperature, try pouring into a clean chilled glass??

So ensure all the beerline and the attaching fittings sit under insulation so nothing warms up due to any outside influence..

tho tbh it sounds like a case of overconditioning it only takes one unexpected overnight frost to drop outside sat kegs down to temps that absorb lots of extra co2, especially if maintained at a high serving pressure..

ive found that with kegs sat at close to ambient temp a pre pour vent of the keg is almost essential to normalise the serving pressure to that set for serving as if a keg has absorbed extar co2 due to a cold snap as soon as it warms back up the serving pressure will not be sufficient to maintain the condition and the pressure will rise in the keg until a new equilibrium at a higher pressure is reached..

 

[Braindead]

Tried everything but it stayed the same, 2 weeks in and about 3 quarters of the keg gone its fixed itself and pouring perfect, did the same last times once id drank most of it... very odd

 

[Fil]

where do the kegs sit during conditioning? and if left at a constant co2 pressure on gas, if exposed to external temps an overnight frost and the sudden drop in temp can result in a sudden and severe overconditioning???

which seems to be the only explanation that seems to fit ??? as the beer level in the keg should have little impact on any mechanical obstruction or line issue, but perhaps by the time you have supped 8 or so pints the excess condition has been expelled through the maintenance ventings??

a max/min thermometer hung where kegs condition (if not in a keg fridge) helps you keep an eye on troublesome temp drops and rises..