Lots of head... Any advice

[Jago]

Hi everyone
Spent the sat night with my mates drinking my first ever brew.
It was from the wilkos golden ale kit. While I will not do a review as it being my first, I took no readings and have nothing to compare it to. So I couldn't give it a measured view. What I will say it that I had nothing but good comments and we did not resort to the backup shop brought beer in case it was crap.
While the taste was very nice and I was very happy as a first attempt, there was a lot of head.
It's in a barrel. Not bottled. In fact the wilko barrel to go with the ale. Even with me Being very careful it almost half head, after a min this settles and it a good looking pint.

Is this normal, is there anything I need to do to get just a little head or should I just be patient.

In a good turn it has conviced two of my mates to start brewing themselves

 

[OnlyFerment]

Pretty much normal I would say. I just took a sample of the same beer from a Wilko barrel tonight and in a half pint glass I had about 2" of beer and the rest head. This was after only 2 weeks in the barrel so not ready yet but tasting good all the same.A fresh barrel seems to start off with far too much head which gradually decreases as you drink the beer until the pressure runs out with about a gallon left in the barrel.

Dave

 

[chrig]

If you can fit it in the fridge or a big tub of ice water then that would help quite a lot!

I found adding a bit of hose to the tap helped, but getting the right size is difficult

 

[Jago]

As long as it not just me, it had 3 weeks in the barrel.
We did come up with a solution kinda. You drink one while you have anther settling. Good idea for parties, but not really everyday

 

[31bb3]

Could be slightly over carbonated that's why you get more head need try using a little less priming sugar next time

 

[Jago]

Just read the hose advice sounds like a good a plan, have got the space for a fridge, we'll not until live finished building my shed

 

[GavH]

Or you could try a different tap? I think the Brewgas Sparkler Tap is supposed to be good at adjusting the flow and I've read about people using Dalex taps, although I think that needs some modifications made?

 

[Sly Fox]

There definitely is a knack to pouring a pint from these kegs when they have a lot of carbonation - trick is to to it really slowly, then it won't foam up. I've never tried alternative taps, but maybe that's worth trying, it does get annoying pouring pints really slow when you have lots of friends round.

 

[morethanworts]

A nice long tap, or at least a tube down into the bottom of the glass really helps, as suggested:

 

[Fil]

the knack is in judging the pressure with the first crack and opening up JUST WIDE ENOUGH fast and shutting off fast, the things that induce co2 release into foam are Change, and a big change has more of an effect, so pouring thru a slight crack in the tap makes matters worse due to the narrow exit.. easier said than done tho.. so lever taps work the best being rapid to full open ..

over conditioning will make it worse too, without temp control and chilling the keg its difficult to maintain hi conditioned beer and is better suited to beers rather than more conditioned lagers which imo are best put in bottles as the higher condition is easier to contain and a bottle slips in the fridge easily to chill and promote co2 retention..

 

[Maffa]

My home brew shop specialist suggested releasing gas from the top, unscrew slowly, release a bit and tighten up again.

It did work, but you find you have to put more co2 back in sooner than you would do.

 

[Mr Lovebucket]

I read this thread title in completely the wrong context.

 

[Maffa]

I read this thread title in completely the wrong context.

Cant believe I missed it first time round!

 

[Jago]

Attached tube to keg and it's a lot better tried opening quick an closing like advised but made a mess lol, guess this is gonna take pratice
: cheers for the advice

 

[Aleman]

I read this thread title in completely the wrong context.

I didn't . . . and nearly replied

"Don't get married!!" . . .my finger was hovering over the submit button

 

[bigboots]

Lots of head :party: .........................................Where's the problem???????????

 

[phettebs]

"Lots of head....any advice?"

Yeah, count yourself lucky! :clap:

 

[Jago]

Are we still talking about beer cos I wouldn't my moans taken out of context. Wife would kill me

 

[NickW]

 

[Moley]

Are we still talking about beer cos I wouldn't my moans taken out of context. Wife would kill me

With a title like that, on this forum, the chances of staying on topic are approximately zero.

Hopefully not until the original question has been answered though.

And I'm in full agreement with Tony:

"Don't get married!!"