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I just got my coffin style keezer all set up. I did the calculations to get a "balanced" system at a normal 12 PSI of pressure. This gave me 7 feet of 1/4" hose. Apparently my math was a little wrong, or something, because it seems like it still comes out a bit fast and can cause a bit of foaming.

From what I can tell, there are the following solutions

  1. Run longer line
  2. run a "choker" line near the shank
  3. Find an inline restrictor

I really don't want to run longer lines, one that actually would be expensive since I have 4 taps, and it is already getting a little cluttered with the length of hosing I have

I could do a choker line, I just need to find the right fittings. I would have to ask if I ran a choker line right before it gets to my tailpiece (which is for 1/4" tubing, but I think with some heat I could make it fit snug) would that cause foaming as it would go from 1/4" down to 3/16 then back up technically for the tail piece which is 1/4?

Lastly, it would be nice to be able to just add an in-line resistor of some sort. Has anyone had any luck with these? Has anyone found them anywhere?

Thanks for your help!

Justin Rassier
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  • I would suggest that inserting anything that reduces the line bore inline would cause the beer to foam from the sudden acceleration of the beer with the smaller diameter. – mdma Apr 10 '13 at 19:56

2 Answers2

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I think you are fighting the 1/4" line. It is going to flow the beer way too fast at that psi and distance to ever get a good pour. In my experience, trying to get a system exactly balanced on line length and elevation never seems to result in a good pour.

In my kegerator, I run all taps with 10ft of 3/16 line. Most of my beers are run around 10psi and they pour great. I have had a Hefeweizen on tap at about 18psi and it poured fast, but it wasn't overly foamy.

Pete
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  • I might give the 3/16 line a try, but since there is an elevation, the calculation only gives me 2.5 feet or so to bring me down to 0 PSI at the faucet. 3 feet of 3/16 isn't something that is too expensive to give a shot. – Justin Rassier Apr 11 '13 at 20:55
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Beer hose is normally 3/16" for short runs. IIRC, tailpieces are also 3/16", but if yours is 1/4" that's not a problem, since it's just before the faucet. Making the hose wider is usually ok - the beer simply moves slower which is good to stop it foaming too much in the glass.

I wouldn't take any of those solutions. I'd swap out all the 1/4" for 3/16". 1/4" line has a restriction of 0.85 psi per foot, while 3/16" has a restriction of 3 psi per foot, so you will reduce the length required considerably.

See also

mdma
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  • That is potentially an option as well, but as it is a coffin style keezer (has the faucets up on top) with the vertical lift and the 3/16" hose, I may be getting close to the length that I have available. I suppose I can do the calculation again and see, but I was hoping a nice easy in-line resistor would do the trick. – Justin Rassier Apr 10 '13 at 18:38
  • I'm not sure I understand you. With the 3/16" line, you will need less than half the length of hose compared to 1/4". – mdma Apr 10 '13 at 19:17
  • You are correct, but the distance from my keg to my tail piece (taking into consideration the vertical lift) is greater than what my calculations show I need. If I put the minimum distance between my kegs and the tail piece, I don't think 12 PSI would be enough to push beer out of the faucet. – Justin Rassier Apr 10 '13 at 20:33
  • What's the distance from your kegs to the faucet, and the elevation? – mdma Apr 10 '13 at 21:45
  • My calculation shows that with elevation, I should only be using about 2.5 feet of. This is about the minimum distance I have from my keg to the tail piece. It may be worth an experiment to see if I can stretch it up to 3 feet and still be fine. – Justin Rassier Apr 11 '13 at 21:20
  • Why not give the actual elevation so we can check your calculation? I'm pretty sure there's a mistake. From 12 psi, 2.5 feet of 3/16 hose reduces the pressure by 3x2.5 = 7.5 psi, so down to 5.5 psi - that implies your kegs are 11 feet below the taps, which is surely not right? – mdma Apr 12 '13 at 06:34
  • According to the BYO article http://byo.com/india-pale-ale/item/164-balancing-your-draft-system-advanced-brewing

    Elevation = 3 feet = 3/2 = 1.5 PSI Shank = 1 PSI faucet = 2 PSI

    4.5 PSI resistance without the line. I want to end at 1 PSI at the faucet out so 11 PSI - 4.5 = 6.5 PSI of hose line to ballance

    6.5/3 = 2.1 feet of 3/16" hosing. I rounded up to 2.5. That being said, I am guessing the resistance of the shank and faucet are a little over estimated. I think I am going to start with about 4 feet of 3/16" line and cut it down if too much resistance.

     – Justin Rassier Apr 18 '13 at 13:56
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    You'll definitely need longer hose - in my experience that these calculations result in a pour that is too vigorous coming out the tap, and IIRC I didn't take 3 psi for the shank/faucet, but added extra hose length for that, and it was still too short. – mdma Apr 18 '13 at 16:38
  • Thanks. Do you think 4 ft of 3/16 hose would be a good place to start? That still is almost a foot more than the calculation says even if I don't add the resistance of the shank or faucet. – Justin Rassier Apr 18 '13 at 16:52
  • 6ft is the usual starting point for 2.4vols. – mdma Apr 18 '13 at 20:20