Common Draught Beer Problems
Wild Beer - Description: Beer, when drawn, is all foam and not enough liquid beer.
Causes:
-
Beer drawn improperly.
-
Creeping regulator
-
Applied pressure is set too high.
-
Hot spots in the line.
-
Use of non-insulated beer line.
-
Beer runs are too long for proper
cooling.
-
Tapped into a warm keg.
-
Cooler malfunctioning.
-
Kinks, dents, twists or other
obstructions in the line.
-
Faucets are bad, dirty or worn
condition.
Cloudy Beer - Description: Beer in the
glass appears hazy. Not clear.
Causes:
-
Frozen or nearly frozen beer.
-
Old beer.
-
Beer that has been un-refrigerated
for long periods of time.
-
Dirty glass.
-
Dirty faucet.
-
Un-refrigerated foods placed on top
of the cold keg.
-
Contaminated air source.
Flat Beer - Description: Foamy head
disappears quickly. Beer lacks usual zestful brewery fresh flavor.
Causes:
-
Dirty glass (not beer clean).
-
Sluggish regulator.
-
Applied pressure too low.
-
CO2 is turned off when not in use.
-
Contaminated air source (associated
with compressed air).
-
Beer too cold.
-
Loose tap or vent connections.
False Head - Description: Large
soap-like bubbles, head dissolves very quickly.
Causes:
-
Applied pressure required does not
correspond to the beer temperature.
-
Small beer line into a large faucet
shank.
-
Beer lines warmer than beer in the
keg.
-
Dry glasses.
-
Improper pour.
Unpalatable Beer - Description: Off taste.
Causes:
-
Dirty or old beer lines.
-
Dirty faucet.
