For a craft beer enthusiast, there’s nothing like a glass of fresh homebrewed beer. However, homebrewing is not always easy. Not especially if you encounter problems and issues that eventually cause the beer to go bad (and all efforts to be wasted).
What has gone wrong? Surprisingly, even the simplest things or negligence can cause such horrid mistakes. And you thought life would be perfect! But no. Now you have to do some troubleshooting to get the kegerator working properly and keep the draft beer fresh.
To guide you, check out this list of issues, causes, and solutions below. Good luck!
Dispensing Problems Causes:
Improper temperature:
Make sure the keg is stored at a temperature that’s between 36-38° F.
Make sure the temperature is the same all throughout till the point of dispense.
Improper pressure
Keep the CO2 pressure between 12 to 14 lbs.
Issues with the cleaning process
Regularly clean the faucet, beer line, and keg coupler.
Make sure to follow the proper way to clean the kegerator.
Use only the right tools and cleaning ingredients as recommended by the supplier or the manufacturer.
Off-tasting Beer
The dispensed beer has a bitter taste and an unpleasant bite.
Causes:
Dirty beer line or faucet
Regularly clean the faucet and beer line. Do it after finishing off each keg.
Soak the faucet in hot water or suggested cleaning solution and scrub the parts with a brush at least once a month.
Clean the beer line properly, as instructed by the suppliers or manufacturers. Use the suggested cleaning materials or solutions. Rinse it well after cleaning.
Replace the faucet, faucet parts, or beer lines if necessary.
Dirty air line
Replace any contaminated air line.
Clean the air line properly, as instructed by the suppliers or manufacturers. Use the suggested cleaning materials or solutions. Rinse it well after cleaning.
Old beer
Replace old beer with new beer if the taste is already bad and unless you also want to risk it. Get a new keg, if you want to.
Wild/Foamy Beer
This means that upon dispense, there’s too much foam or it’s all-foam and too little to no beer.
Causes:
Warm Beer
Regulate the temperature to 36-38° F.
Excessive or too high CO2 pressure
Steps:
Set the CO2 that goes into the keg lower.
Turn off the tank.
Pull the relief valve (about 3 seconds would be okay).
Turn on the tank after 15 minutes or so.
Dirty, worn and/or clogged faucet
Soak the faucet in hot water or suggested cleaning solution and scrub the parts with a brush at least once a month.
Replace faucet parts or the whole faucet if necessary.
Replace worn washers.
Beer lines issues (kinks, twists, obstructions)
Replace old beer lines.
Refrigerate the whole tubing if a beer line is warm.
The length should be a maximum of 6 ft. to avoid more issues.
Clean the beer line properly, as instructed by the suppliers or manufacturers. Use the suggested cleaning materials or solutions. Rinse it well after cleaning.
False head or improper pour
There should be enough distance between the faucet and the glass to be able to pour properly.
Don’t use dry glassware.
Flat Beer
When poured, the foamy head, which is like a group of large soap bubbles, disappears quickly. There is a lack of quality and freshness in the beer flavor as well.
Causes:
Too cold beer
Regulate the temperature to 36-38° F. That’s the ideal.
Too low CO2 pressure
Check if the tank is on. Make sure that it is.
Check if the tank is empty. Of course, make sure it isn’t.
Check for any obstructions in the air lines. Get rid of the obstruction properly, based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Check if the pounds per square inch (PSI) is too low. If yes, raise it gradually and carefully so as not to cause problems with the sensitive regulator.
Replace worn regulators every 4 to 6 years.
Dirty or greasy glassware
*This may be caused by dirty/greasy hands, lipstick, and fried foods.
Wash glasses thoroughly after use.
Wash glasses thoroughly if they’ve been stored long enough.
Allow glasses to air dry after washing.
Do not dry-wipe but cold-rinse glasses before pouring beverages.
There should be beer-only glasses.
Improper pour
There should be enough distance between the faucet and the glass to be able to pour properly.
Don’t use dry glassware.
Cloudy Beer
The dispensed beer appears hazy and unclear.
Frozen/nearly-frozen beer
Increase and regulate the temperature to 36-38° F.
Unrefrigerated beer (prolonged)
Unless you want to risk it, remove the beer from the keg. There shouldn’t be anything warm in the keg.
Old beer
Replace old beer with new beer if the taste is already bad and unless you also want to risk it. Get a new keg, if you want to.
Regularly clean the faucet, beer line, and keg coupler.
Soak the faucet in hot water or suggested cleaning solution and scrub the parts with a brush at least onc
Clean the beer line and coupler properly, as instructed by the suppliers or manufacturers. Use the suggested cleaning materials or solutions.
Replace the faucet, faucet parts, beer lines, and/or keg coupler if necessary.
Dirty or greasy glassware
*This may be caused by dirty/greasy hands, lipstick, and fried foods.
Wash glasses thoroughly after use.
Wash glasses thoroughly if they’ve been stored long enough.
Allow glasses to air dry after washing.
Do not dry-wipe but cold-rinse glasses before pouring beverages.
There should be beer-only glasses.
Those are just the most common troubleshooting issues. If you have more concerns, we recommend that you visit KegFridge.com. Keg Fridge is a group of professionals that can help you find the best kegerators for sale and create the best homebrews.
