Pb pressure ,carbonation

[Hazelwood Brewery]

You’re not safe from extremists even on a friendly Homebrew forum.

 

[Buffers brewery]

Don’t think there’s a quick fix. I remember when I first started using a PB, first thing I did was fit a pressure gauge (0-15 psi but I would recommend 0-30 psi). When pouring I discovered at high pressures around 8-9 psi, and a slow pour (just opening the tap a smidge) lots of froth! With the tap opened fully much less froth.
Another thing I discovered is the HB valve connection in the lid (used to connect CO2 to pressurise the PB) are like very beautiful women.....high maintenance and they always disappoint. I ended up fitting proper pressure relief valves rated at 15 psi. The rubber band needs to be disabled which you could do by fitting a hose clamp around . Alternatively you could replace the complete HB valve with a corny post, my preferred option.
All a bit of a faff and requiring a bit more investment and DIY skills. But you’ll be able to monitor your pressure, test for leaks (requires another gadget) and achieve 15 psi carbonation pressure after priming with sugar solution.
There is some truth in what @Drunkula says about cornys being the best option but I think the high initial outlay puts people off when starting out. I have 3 heavily modified King Kegs that are now reliable and suit by brewing styles. Others, like @Hazelwood Brewery get their unmodified King Kegs to behave. Others have a bad experience and brand them as the devil’s creation

 

[Pablosaurus]

PB rules:

1) Open the tap the tiniest amount for the first few pints, and have patience with the pour. Then you'll get a decent balance between head and actual beer.

2) Don't expect a fizzy pint. Ain't gonna happen!

3) Listen to @Hazelwood. I think he's a PB, reincarnated.

4) See rule #3.

 

[Cheyne_brewer]

The big issue with PBs is the large headspace. You’ll find the CO2 sat up there with only a small amount dissolved in the beer. Consequently you get good serving pressure and head formation but little carbonation. As others have said, this is fine for ales but not for more carbonated styles like lagers or American style beers.

 

[jeg3]

I use PBs exclusively for pale ales and bitters, which is mostly what I brew. I carbonate to 1.5 vols, which is usually 50g sugar to a 22l brew.

It always carbs up, and I usually get quite a bit of foam in the first 10 pints or so, but they always pour and taste just as I like them with very little fizz. They retain a good head but are not fizzy. I have experimented with higher carbing rates, but get too much foam, or are too fizzy for my liking.

If I had a few hundred quid to spare I could get a corny setup but then I'd need to find space for it all and a keezer or kegerator (no chance). Two KKS sit nicely on the worktop in my utility.

It's horses for courses. I'm perfectly happy with two KKs for now even though they seem to polarise opinion.

 

[Edison]

Fair warning, this may or may not work, its just a theory but I would be interested to know if it helps.
Proper keg taps (faucets e.g. Perlic's) aren't ever supposed to be used part-opened, they are either closed or fully open. Having the valve part open causes turbulence and causes the dissolved CO2 to come out and you end up with froth and flat beer. The inside of Perlic's are nicely polished metal, compare that with the sharp plastic edges of a basic PB tap and things aren't going to be any better.
If you're going to be having a few pints anyway, you could try pouring beer into a large jug and add a short length of tube to the tap to reach the bottom of the jug so you aren't frothing the surface up. Maybe try opening the valve right open and right off again quickly (not easy with those taps i know) and it may just help.

 

[Edison]

Oh, and get some corny kegs on the shopping list, you won't regret it!

 

[Buffers brewery]

Just a thought if you want fizzy beers and don’t want to go down corny route, use your PB as a bulk priming vessel, put a squirt of gas in, attach a bottling wand with an integral valve thingy at the tip to the tap (securely) and bottle using PET bottles. Works for me

 

[Dads_Ale]

You need to serve at a very low pressure once carbonated as all your dissolved C02 (fizz) is going into the head.

 

[CD]

I’m so pleased I only like draught beer. If forced to drink bottled beer of any sort, I have to pour it into a large jug first to get rid of some of the fizz. How all those actors in ‘Murder in Paradise’ swig it straight from the bottle without belching and farting is a mystery to me.

 

[Tim Wilkes]

I’m so pleased I only like draught beer. If forced to drink bottled beer of any sort, I have to pour it into a large jug first to get rid of some of the fizz. How all those actors in ‘Murder in Paradise’ swig it straight from the bottle without belching and farting is a mystery to me.

You only get to see the edited version!

 

[Polcho]

Even if you can't get a gas supply you can use corny kegs primed with sugar to fully deliver an entire keg

Would this work well? How would I work out how much sugar to use?