Ask The Brewmasters

We use the Talos Two Tap countertop draft system for our clients. Direct draw from kegs into the chiller in the unit and then pour from a cobra tap with restrictor valves. We are experiencing excessive foaming at one account. The set up is similar to other accounts: kegs kept warm and 1 bar pressure on the regulator. We are at 1,500m altitude (5,000 ft). The account does not have a cooler or other way to keep the kegs cold, so that isn't an option. The account is using chilled glassware (I know), which is not helping to reduce the excessive foaming, but I can see breakout in the beer line. 

I am not a draft technician and we do not have access to draft technicians where we are. According to our staff, they have tried to increase pressure on the units and it works for a little bit but then the beers get "over carbonated" and foam again. (I am not sure how that works since the temperature averages about 20+ºC, but this is based on their experience) 

Does anyone have any advice on other avenues we could pursue to reduce the foaming?

Thanks

Hi Bryan,

I'm not familiar with the system you are using.  The only thing I can think of is if the foaming beer is happening in both taps I would look at the refrigeration system inside the unit, maybe you are getting some freezing in the beer lines inside the unit, or warm spots in the coils, that are creating the foam breakout.  Can you swap the unit with one you have to see if the problem moves?      If the issue is only on one tap line then I would suspect cracked gaskets or blockage in the line somewhere, especially up inside the tap restrictor assembly.  

If CO2 pressure increase does seem to help reduce the foaming for a while, you may need to look at nitrogen blending systems so you don't overcarbonate the kegs.  Often nitrogen blend systems are used in longer tap lines but I've found in some applications where they've helped on shorter draft lines to help offset other inadequacies within a draft system.  These aren't cheap devices but work well, so I'd exhaust any other ideas before you buy one though.   Micromatic and McDantim are good units to look at.   Good luck

We use the Talos Two Tap countertop draft system for our clients. Direct draw from kegs into the chiller in the unit and then pour from a cobra tap with restrictor valves. We are experiencing excessive foaming at one account. The set up is similar to other accounts: kegs kept warm and 1 bar pressure on the regulator. We are at 1,500m altitude (5,000 ft). The account does not have a cooler or other way to keep the kegs cold, so that isn't an option. The account is using chilled glassware (I know), which is not helping to reduce the excessive foaming, but I can see breakout in the beer line. 

I am not a draft technician and we do not have access to draft technicians where we are. According to our staff, they have tried to increase pressure on the units and it works for a little bit but then the beers get "over carbonated" and foam again. (I am not sure how that works since the temperature averages about 20+ºC, but this is based on their experience) 

Does anyone have any advice on other avenues we could pursue to reduce the foaming?

Thanks

Hi Curtis,

Thanks for your response. We are swapping out the unit to see if the problem persists. 

As to beer gas or even a qualified draft technician, these are not something available in Kigali. It makes it more fun to have to overcome challenges...

Hi Bryan,

I'm not familiar with the system you are using.  The only thing I can think of is if the foaming beer is happening in both taps I would look at the refrigeration system inside the unit, maybe you are getting some freezing in the beer lines inside the unit, or warm spots in the coils, that are creating the foam breakout.  Can you swap the unit with one you have to see if the problem moves?      If the issue is only on one tap line then I would suspect cracked gaskets or blockage in the line somewhere, especially up inside the tap restrictor assembly.  

If CO2 pressure increase does seem to help reduce the foaming for a while, you may need to look at nitrogen blending systems so you don't overcarbonate the kegs.  Often nitrogen blend systems are used in longer tap lines but I've found in some applications where they've helped on shorter draft lines to help offset other inadequacies within a draft system.  These aren't cheap devices but work well, so I'd exhaust any other ideas before you buy one though.   Micromatic and McDantim are good units to look at.   Good luck

We use the Talos Two Tap countertop draft system for our clients. Direct draw from kegs into the chiller in the unit and then pour from a cobra tap with restrictor valves. We are experiencing excessive foaming at one account. The set up is similar to other accounts: kegs kept warm and 1 bar pressure on the regulator. We are at 1,500m altitude (5,000 ft). The account does not have a cooler or other way to keep the kegs cold, so that isn't an option. The account is using chilled glassware (I know), which is not helping to reduce the excessive foaming, but I can see breakout in the beer line. 

I am not a draft technician and we do not have access to draft technicians where we are. According to our staff, they have tried to increase pressure on the units and it works for a little bit but then the beers get "over carbonated" and foam again. (I am not sure how that works since the temperature averages about 20+ºC, but this is based on their experience) 

Does anyone have any advice on other avenues we could pursue to reduce the foaming?

Thanks

Sorry that my signature had my previous location not where I actually am...

Hi Curtis,

Thanks for your response. We are swapping out the unit to see if the problem persists. 

As to beer gas or even a qualified draft technician, these are not something available in Kigali. It makes it more fun to have to overcome challenges...

Hi Bryan,

I'm not familiar with the system you are using.  The only thing I can think of is if the foaming beer is happening in both taps I would look at the refrigeration system inside the unit, maybe you are getting some freezing in the beer lines inside the unit, or warm spots in the coils, that are creating the foam breakout.  Can you swap the unit with one you have to see if the problem moves?      If the issue is only on one tap line then I would suspect cracked gaskets or blockage in the line somewhere, especially up inside the tap restrictor assembly.  

If CO2 pressure increase does seem to help reduce the foaming for a while, you may need to look at nitrogen blending systems so you don't overcarbonate the kegs.  Often nitrogen blend systems are used in longer tap lines but I've found in some applications where they've helped on shorter draft lines to help offset other inadequacies within a draft system.  These aren't cheap devices but work well, so I'd exhaust any other ideas before you buy one though.   Micromatic and McDantim are good units to look at.   Good luck

We use the Talos Two Tap countertop draft system for our clients. Direct draw from kegs into the chiller in the unit and then pour from a cobra tap with restrictor valves. We are experiencing excessive foaming at one account. The set up is similar to other accounts: kegs kept warm and 1 bar pressure on the regulator. We are at 1,500m altitude (5,000 ft). The account does not have a cooler or other way to keep the kegs cold, so that isn't an option. The account is using chilled glassware (I know), which is not helping to reduce the excessive foaming, but I can see breakout in the beer line. 

I am not a draft technician and we do not have access to draft technicians where we are. According to our staff, they have tried to increase pressure on the units and it works for a little bit but then the beers get "over carbonated" and foam again. (I am not sure how that works since the temperature averages about 20+ºC, but this is based on their experience) 

Does anyone have any advice on other avenues we could pursue to reduce the foaming?

Thanks

Sorry that my signature had my previous location not where I actually am...

Hi Curtis,

Thanks for your response. We are swapping out the unit to see if the problem persists. 

As to beer gas or even a qualified draft technician, these are not something available in Kigali. It makes it more fun to have to overcome challenges...

Hi Bryan,

I'm not familiar with the system you are using.  The only thing I can think of is if the foaming beer is happening in both taps I would look at the refrigeration system inside the unit, maybe you are getting some freezing in the beer lines inside the unit, or warm spots in the coils, that are creating the foam breakout.  Can you swap the unit with one you have to see if the problem moves?      If the issue is only on one tap line then I would suspect cracked gaskets or blockage in the line somewhere, especially up inside the tap restrictor assembly.  

If CO2 pressure increase does seem to help reduce the foaming for a while, you may need to look at nitrogen blending systems so you don't overcarbonate the kegs.  Often nitrogen blend systems are used in longer tap lines but I've found in some applications where they've helped on shorter draft lines to help offset other inadequacies within a draft system.  These aren't cheap devices but work well, so I'd exhaust any other ideas before you buy one though.   Micromatic and McDantim are good units to look at.   Good luck

We use the Talos Two Tap countertop draft system for our clients. Direct draw from kegs into the chiller in the unit and then pour from a cobra tap with restrictor valves. We are experiencing excessive foaming at one account. The set up is similar to other accounts: kegs kept warm and 1 bar pressure on the regulator. We are at 1,500m altitude (5,000 ft). The account does not have a cooler or other way to keep the kegs cold, so that isn't an option. The account is using chilled glassware (I know), which is not helping to reduce the excessive foaming, but I can see breakout in the beer line. 

I am not a draft technician and we do not have access to draft technicians where we are. According to our staff, they have tried to increase pressure on the units and it works for a little bit but then the beers get "over carbonated" and foam again. (I am not sure how that works since the temperature averages about 20+ºC, but this is based on their experience) 

Does anyone have any advice on other avenues we could pursue to reduce the foaming?

Thanks