Have I done the right thing?

[FedoraDave]

I just took a look at Kealia's thread about warm carbing a keg and the relative pressures, and while I don't have any answers for him (and the whole thing sort of baffles me), it raised a really big question in my own head about what I've done recently. Here's the sitch:

I brewed a lager last month. I kegged it two weeks ago. Had the pressure up to about 35 psi and rocked the keg for 15 minutes, then dropped it to 12 psi and it's been sitting at 12, in the keezer, since then.

Should I keep the line to the keg open during this extended lager time? I was kind of expecting to just leave it there, in the cold, with the pressure on at 12 psi for three or four months, and then, when I'm done lagering it, just connect the beer line and start drawing lager.

I figured the beer would only be capable of absorbing X amount of carbonation, and I also figured the pressure would sort of stabilize, but now I wonder if it'll be too much over that long a period of time. I'd hate to have a mellow lager turned into a Vesuvius when I open the tap.

Thoughts?

[John Sand]

I'm newer at it than you Dave. If you set it at serving pressure you should be fine. Many brewers and all bars leave a keg hooked up for a month to serve with no ill effects. Or you could just disconnect the gas. I'm worried about leaks in my first batch, so I give it a little gas each day, then disconnect.

[Inkleg]

You can do it either way. I know some who turn the gas off once it's carbed and just add pressure when the pours slow. I normally just leave the valve open on mine.

[ScrewyBrewer]

Once you're sure there are no leaks in your Co2 supply line, leaving the valve open is no worse than closing it. I've found that 12 psi gives me good carbonation for most of my beers except for wheats, I like them carbonated to around 14 psi.

I'll admit I'm still baffled by that fact that in order to get a perfect pour I still have to drop the serving pressure down to 5 psi. I've even replaced my Co2 regulator with a new one, changed serving hose sizes and lengths more times than I can remember too. I've given up all hope of ever getting my lines balanced where my serving and carbonating pressures are the same. Even after replacing my serving line with FOXX SuperFlex 3/16" id X 7/16" od tubing cut to 24" long.

It's just one of those things, that while not perfect, for me carbonating at 12 psi and serving at 5 psi gives a good pour. While getting a good pour trying to tweak the serving line length again seems like extra work that hasn't resolved this issue even after several years of trying.

[Gymrat]

I might be misunderstanding your post Dave. But just in case I am not, if you put 12lbs on, then disconnect the pressure line, 12lbs won't stay there. The pressure will drop as it is absorbed into the beer.

[John Sand]

Well, right after posting, I went upstairs to give my keg a little burst of gas. And I put the gas on the "out" connection (not wearing my glasses). Immediately goopy beer flowed into the line. Well, I raised the pressure to push it back, then switched to the in side. Then worried while I researched the problem. Of course, I'm not the first. So I took the hose off the disconnect, disassembled the parts, rinsed everything, and resolved to put my glasses on before thinking I can read.

[RickBeer]

Well, right after posting, I went upstairs to give my keg a little burst of gas. And I put the gas on the "out" connection (not wearing my glasses). Immediately goopy beer flowed into the line. Well, I raised the pressure to push it back, then switched to the in side. Then worried while I researched the problem. Of course, I'm not the first. So I took the hose off the disconnect, disassembled the parts, rinsed everything, and resolved to put my glasses on before thinking I can read.

[FedoraDave]

I might be misunderstanding your post Dave. But just in case I am not, if you put 12lbs on, then disconnect the pressure line, 12lbs won't stay there. The pressure will drop as it is absorbed into the beer.

To be clear, Roger, I left the gas line connected, with the valve open, at 12 psi. It's been that way for two weeks. Jeff has answered my question pretty well. Leaving the valve open at serving pressure will not cause issues in the long run. Since this is a lager, I intend to let it sit there, with the gas line open, at 12 psi, until baseball season opens, and then I'm going to draw one and see what I've got. This is a long-term beer I'm workin' on.

Vince, have you spoken to your LHBS about these issues? It just doesn't seem right that you should be having such problems, and you've mentioned that they've been very helpful in many other ways. I know my LHBS is always available with expert advice, and I've gone to them often with questions.

[braukasper]

Dave during my illnesses last year I did not drink. Had a lager that was under pressure for a year in the beer frig at 10 PSI. The brew stay nice & carbbed. The taste was surprising good for it's age.

[FedoraDave]

Dave during my illnesses last year I did not drink. Had a lager that was under pressure for a year in the beer frig at 10 PSI. The brew stay nice & carbbed. The taste was surprising good for it's age.

This is very good to know, and I thank you for sharing it. I feel much better about what I've got going on. I know I'm not going to wait nearly that long to drink this, and actually, once I start tapping that keg, it'll probably go pretty quickly.

[ScrewyBrewer]

Vince, have you spoken to your LHBS about these issues? It just doesn't seem right that you should be having such problems, and you've mentioned that they've been very helpful in many other ways. I know my LHBS is always available with expert advice, and I've gone to them often with questions.

Dave I've given up all hope for now, because I bought two different sets of regulator/gauges from two different LHBS and nothings changed. At one point I was considering buying a Co2 gauge that attaches to the gas-in post of the Cornie keg, in order to read the pressure right at the keg.

[FrozenInTime]

Well, right after posting, I went upstairs to give my keg a little burst of gas. And I put the gas on the "out" connection (not wearing my glasses). Immediately goopy beer flowed into the line. Well, I raised the pressure to push it back, then switched to the in side. Then worried while I researched the problem. Of course, I'm not the first. So I took the hose off the disconnect, disassembled the parts, rinsed everything, and resolved to put my glasses on before thinking I can read.

I've done this, it's a normal reaction. I always (er, try to remember it) make sure I put the hose on the in side. Connecting to the out side (dip tube down in the beer), it will always try to relieve pressure into an unpressurized line. Cleaning as you did should prevent any infections on beer dried in the pressure line. I should say I've actually done it more than once....

[FrozenInTime]

I intend to let it sit there, with the gas line open, at 12 psi, until baseball season opens, and then I'm going to draw one and see what I've got. This is a long-term beer I'm workin' on.

Leaving it open all the time pressurized, I would make darn sure there is no leaks. A minute, undetectable leak can empty your tank in a few weeks, keep an eye on it. IF your not using your tank to pressurize other kegs, can you just close the tank valve? It would still remain pressurized but would not let the tank empty if there is a small leak.

[Gymrat]

One thing I would do different, you should only apply 30 to 35 psi and shake and roll if you are in a hurry to carbonate the beer. When you do that the results are unpredictable. Worse case scenario is you end up with more pressure in the keg than you want for serving and it forces beer into your gas line. If you are planning on having the keg on pressure for a while anyway put it on your serving pressure and leave it. That way your carbonation will be perfect in 7 to 10 days and it will stay there.

[Kealia]

You've got your answers....so I'm just here to address Vince.

What happened? I thought after you changed lines to 3/16 ID at 10 feet you posted that it was all good.