Tired of getting a pint of foam instead of a delicious cold beer? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, watching our precious pints disappear into a sea of froth. But fear not, dear reader, because we’ve got some tips to help you tackle this heady problem.
Common Causes & Solutions
There are a ton of reasons why your beer might be too foamy. But we’ve made a list of the most common causes of overly-foamy beers and have a few tips on how to avoid them!
Keg and/or Cooler is Too Warm: Be sure to keep your keg between 8 – 10ᴼC. Your cooler should be kept between 2-4ᴼC.
Frozen Cooler: A frozen cooler can cause a build-up of particles inside the beer lines, which is bad news for good beer. If this happens, be sure to increase the temperature by a few degrees.
Twisted/Kinked Beer Line: Unfortunately, a kinked beer line is beyond saving and will continue to cause problems. To solve this issue, be sure to replace or cut out the affected section.
Wrong-Sized Beer Line: The diameter of the beer line plays a big role. If you have a line that goes from a smaller diameter to a larger diameter, it may cause a pressure drop. This pressure drop causes CO2 to escape from the beer leading to what is known as a ‘Break out’.
Coupler and Tap Faults: Faulty couplers can allow gas to cross over to the beer side, causing spitting taps. Dirty or partially blocked taps or nozzles can also interrupt the smooth flow of beer, leading to excess foam. Make sure to service both the coupler and tap regularly to prevent any issues.
Dirty System: A build-up of yeast, proteins, and bacteria in the beer lines can create nucleation points, leading to foaming. Be sure to regularly clean your system using a beer line cleaner and rinse thoroughly.
Spoiled Beer: Lastly, beer can spoil if stored at too high of a temperature or if it’s been sitting around for too long. Store your kegs below 10 degrees and use them within two weeks of tapping to ensure the best quality beer.
And there you have it! With these tips and tricks, you can say goodbye to foamy pints and hello to a perfectly poured beer. So the next time your pint is looking more like a milkshake than a beer, don’t panic. Just remember that a little bit of troubleshooting can go a long way in getting the perfect pour. Cheers!
Sláinte!
