New to the hobby

[Ambassador Spock]

Hello everyone, I picked up a beer-making starter kit from my local homebrew shop on a whim a few weeks back. I probably should have joined these forums sooner as I just returned from holiday to see my first batch looking like this Hopefully I haven't ruined the beer (Cream Stout) I was really looking forward to trying!, but if I have I guess I'll just have to clean everything out and try again!

 

[Clint]

It'll probably be ok ad long as you sanitised everything to start with.
The tap is leaking because it is closed past 90 degrees...less is more!

 

[Ambassador Spock]

It'll probably be ok ad long as you sanitised everything to start with.
The tap is leaking because it is closed past 90 degrees...less is more!

Do you mean I over-tightened the tap? Should I loosen it a bit now or just let it sit and not tighten it as much next time?

 

[Polcho]

The tap needs to look like the photo.

Otherwise the hole that the beer passes through will be partially exposed, leaking under pressure.

 

[jof]

The beer will be fine. The leak is caused by the pressure build up in the barrel forcing it out of the tap. But it's not enough pressure to blow the pressure relief valve(rubber band) in the top cap.

I see a small leak at the actual tap spout, but is the main leak coming from where the tap screws into the pressure barrel body?

The latter can be tricky to fix, as you don't want to over tighten the tap, but it must be tight enough to contain the pressure.
It could even be the washer between the tap & barrel.

I found these pressure barrels are best suited to low carbonaton real ales.

 

[The Baron]

Welcome to the forum.
As said you have pushed the tap too far round it should be at 90 degrees to be closed fully

 

[Slid]

Leaking beer around the place is a standard mistake for everyone. Like most mistakes, the more times you make them, the less often you will make them in the future. Ask, for instance, Rod Stewart.

 

[Clint]

Yeah,he's got shares in Strepsils allegedly.