Draught Beer Quality Manual

[LouieMacGoo]

One of the things that many of people that get into kegging find themselves struggling with is keeping your system properly maintained and keeping things flowing issue free. This manual is geared more toward the business side but has a lot of great information that can be used to maintain your home draught system.




http://www.draughtquality.org/wp-conten ... _Final.pdf

[Beer-lord]

The places I frequent say they clean their taps at least once a week. I believe 2 out of the 3 with no doubt but one I have questions about.
I'm not sure I'd like that job.

I've not read anything but the table of contents but that is one detailed bit of kegformation for sure!

[RickBeer]

System Maintenance and Cleaning, beginning on page 51, is why I have no expectation of ever switching to kegging. Drawing 24 beers a month I'd be wasting more beer than I'd want to.

[Beer-lord]

Rick, I clean my lines out with each keg change and it literally takes me less than 10 minutes to do so. I'll gladly trade that for how long it would take me to wash, sanitize, fill and cap 50 bottles with each batch. So, 5-10 to keg my beer and 10 minutes to clean the lines and maybe 5 minutes to clean the keg. I'll take kegging over bottling any day and I've done both.
I probably don't draw many more beers than you do in a month but with friends, it is possible and I have usually have 3 kegs to chose from. I believe that article is less for home brewers and more for tap rooms and above.

Now if you want to talk about money, that's another con against kegging that can be discussed.

[RickBeer]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

[jimjohson]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

Can't speak for anyone else, but I clean mine every time the keg gets empty.(only got 1 tap)

[Beer-lord]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

Some kegs last me 2 months, others 3 weeks but as long as there is beer in them and they are kept cold, they are fine. Plus, I have anti-microbial lines so, if you believe what is said by the manufacturers, "For the first time ever, you can protect the quality of your beer with zero extra effort. Introducing the first antimicrobial, PVC-free beverage tubing. State-of-the-art silver-barrier draft lines promise peace of mind—and markedly better beer" then there's no worry.

I actually have the Accuflex Bev-Seal Ultra Barrier Tubing which is not the exact same thing but close. It definitely does a better job than regular tubing.

[Inkleg]

I'll clean the lines when the keg kicks. Have a RIS that I kegged last June, haven't cleaned the lines yet. I'll spray some Star San in the picnic tap from time to time.

[Rebel_B]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

I clean lines at the same time I clean a newly emptied keg, then I sanitize the beer line & faucet before hooking up a new keg. Usually between 1-3 weeks.

[Kealia]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

I clean lines at the same time I clean a newly emptied keg, then I sanitize the beer line & faucet before hooking up a new keg. Usually between 1-3 weeks.

Same deal here but my kegs typically sit 2-3 months before kicking. I flush with cleaner, hot water, then StarSan and it takes about 10 minutes.
It's not uncommon for me to go a week or longer between pulls either.

[jimjohson]

So how long do your lines sit without cleaning?

I clean lines at the same time I clean a newly emptied keg, then I sanitize the beer line & faucet before hooking up a new keg. Usually between 1-3 weeks.

Same deal here but my kegs typically sit 2-3 months before kicking. I flush with cleaner, hot water, then StarSan and it takes about 10 minutes.
It's not uncommon for me to go a week or longer between pulls either.

must be nice...mine last 4 days, if I'm lucky.

[Kealia]

I've never been a huge drinker. I'm typically a 1 beer per night guy and that's not every night. If I have people over or spend the day barbecuing that could be a few, but it's not often.

[FedoraDave]

I'm fairly new to kegging, but I also clean and sanitize the line whenever the keg kicks. Paul is correct when he says it doesn't take very long, especially if you're cleaning and sanitizing the now-empty keg anyway. A little pressure, draw some off the keg, rinse with water, and repeat with sanitizer. No worries, and, as noted, much easier than washing, sanitizing, filling and capping two cases of bottles.

[Rebel_B]

I'm fairly new to kegging, but I also clean and sanitize the line whenever the keg kicks. Paul is correct when he says it doesn't take very long, especially if you're cleaning and sanitizing the now-empty keg anyway. A little pressure, draw some off the keg, rinse with water, and repeat with sanitizer. No worries, and, as noted, much easier than washing, sanitizing, filling and capping two cases of bottles.

True! I never shied away from bottling, but the keg maintenance is way faster than bottling!

[Gymrat]

Rick, I clean my lines out with each keg change and it literally takes me less than 10 minutes to do so. I'll gladly trade that for how long it would take me to wash, sanitize, fill and cap 50 bottles with each batch. So, 5-10 to keg my beer and 10 minutes to clean the lines and maybe 5 minutes to clean the keg. I'll take kegging over bottling any day and I've done both.
I probably don't draw many more beers than you do in a month but with friends, it is possible and I have usually have 3 kegs to chose from. I believe that article is less for home brewers and more for tap rooms and above.

Now if you want to talk about money, that's another con against kegging that can be discussed.

I am not finding much expense other than buying kegs. Me first CO2 bottle took over a year and a half to go dry and it was around $20 to exchange it.