Why is the beer from my kegerator foamy and how do I fix it? What are the causes of frothy beer? Can I fix it on my own? Many external things can impact the efficiency of your kegerator, and you can fix most of them. Before planning to replace your kegerator, you will have to know the exact cause. Incorrect temperature, a wrong pouring technique, and beer line issues can make your beer foamy. We will cover all the possible causes in the following, and also, we will know how to fix them.
Why Does My Kegerator Produce Foamy Beer?
Wrong Pouring Technique
Many do not follow proper pouring techniques and get a foamy beer. Allow your kegerator to cool down completely, and then pour your beer. It might take around seventy-two hours for your large keg to cool down, and you will have to wait with patience if you want the best results. If you use too cold or dirty glasses that might lead to foam formation, and when you will avoid tilting the glass while pouring, you might experience the same issue.
Incorrect Temperature
In most cases, incorrect beer temperature causes foamy beer. If the beer is too warm or cold, it will affect the CO2 pressure, leading to foam buildup. You can experience temperature issues due to a bad thermostat, a warm keg, or exposed beer lines. When the temperature is closer to fifty degrees, your beer will be foamy, and also, a warm kegerator will cause excessive foam. You might experience the same issue when the lines that carry beer get heat exposure.
Improper CO2 Pressure
If you use excessive CO2 pressure, it will fill too much CO2 into the beer and result in excessive foam. Similarly, if you use too little CO2 pressure, it will make your beer flat. Hence, you will have to ensure that CO2 pressure is correct based on the beer type.
Incorrectly Seated Keg Coupler
If the position of the keg coupler is incorrect, air might enter the beer line causing a burping effect to your beer. When you open the tap, the burp will shake up the beer and allow the CO2 to escape faster, causing foam formation. You can have the same problem when the beer lines have holes. Holes will allow the air to enter in and cause foam formation.
Issues with the Beer Line
In addition to holes, other issues in beer lines can cause foamy beer. If the beer line is dirty and grimy, it will cause foam in the beer, and very long beer lines can also cause the same problem. Long lines might cause temperature fluctuation issues, and your beer will be foamy. Moreover, the diameter of beer lines can cause foaming issues. If you use wide and thin lines, they might cause frothy beer.
Damaged Probe Washer
A probe washer inside the probe can impact your beer look, and when it is missing or damaged, you will have a foamy beer every time.
These are the possible causes of foamy beer in your keg. Once you know the exact cause, it will be easier to fix the issue.
How to Fix It
Check the Temperature
Temperature is the most common cause of foamy beer, and you will have to make sure that the temperature is between 5 and 7 degrees Celsius based on the beer type. You will have to consider the liquid temperature instead of the internal or external temperature of the keg. You can check the temperature of the liquid by placing a glass of water in the kegerator with a thermometer in it. Allow the glass to cool down and check the temperature. It is worth mentioning that temperature causes foamy beer in around ninety percent of cases, and you can fix this issue immediately.
Check CO2 Pressure
You will have to check the CO2 regulator to ensure that the CO2 pressure is correct. The setup will be easy, and you will have to make sure that the pressure is accurate to avoid any inconvenience. The proper setting for beer is from 10 to 14 PSI. But when the beer is foamy, you can reduce it to 6 PSI and notice the difference. If your beer is not overly frothy, you can return gradually to 10 to 14 PSI. You will have to change the PSI setting based on the requirements of your beer. However, CO2 pressure is not always responsible for foamy beer, and you will have to consider other issues before making any changes to the CO2 regulator.
Check Beer Lines
Clean beer lines or replace them if required to avoid foam formation. Beer lines are less expensive, and you can replace them regularly to have an impressive pour rate. Besides, you will have to ensure that you have installed beer lines accurately. You will have to use a proper length between four and five feet since very long and thin lines can cause foam and other issues. In addition to the line length, you will have to check the diameter, and 3/16″ lines will be fine. Also, you will have to ensure that the line is above the keg top to avoid getting the air into the line. Next, you will have to check the coupler installation. The size and setup need to be proper to prevent air from entering inside.
Check Your Pouring Way
You will have to pour your beer correctly to avoid foamy beer. Place the mouth of your glass below the faucet mouth and make sure that you are not touching the mouth. While holding the glass, you will have to follow a 45-degree angle and open the tap in a single smooth motion and once your glass fills up to sixty percent, bring it to the upright position.
Wrapping It Up
Now you know why your keg produces foamy bear and how to fix all the possible issues. You will have to start with the temperature since the temperature is the most responsible for frothy beer. However, if none of these prove effective, you will have to check the kegerator.
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