sour taps

Minbari · Mar 4, 2022

so I have tried everything I can think of, but this issue keeps returning.

I have 3 taps on my kegerator and 3 kegs in it. all three of them are exhibiting the same same problem. if single tap goes unused for more than a few days, then the first pull off of it is sour. pull of 4 oz or so and it clears up and tastes fine.

I have tried PBW and beerline clear as well as running starsan and iodofur, so I am fairly sure it is clean, but the sour keeps coming back. does this happen to other people? Is it normal if the tap goes unused for a few days? (batcteria growth in the tap)

any tips or ideas will be welcomed.

Donoroto · Mar 4, 2022

Time for disassembly and a boil perhaps. I use picnic taps exclusively so I don't see this.

Sunfire96 · Mar 4, 2022

Beer line is inexpensive, maybe time for line replacement?

FrostyBeach · Mar 4, 2022

Try using some of the EVABarrier Tubing, it makes a big difference because it's much less gas permeable.

Over The Cliff Brewing · Mar 4, 2022

I agree with all said here. If you have ball lock connecters, take them apart an scrub with PBW or Oxyclean along with the other parts.

Craigerrr · Mar 4, 2022

Over two years of kegging, I never experienced what you are describing. A deep clean and new tubing seems to be in order.

Minbari · Mar 4, 2022

I think I will start with boiling the taps, mostly because the taste is only right by the taps.

I would hate to have to replace the tubing, I know it doesnt cost alot, but its only 6 months old.

@FrostyBeach , I will look for that.

Edit: considering it is only $20, I got 40ft of new EVAbarrier line. I am still gonna boil the taps.

Ozarks Mountain Brewery · Mar 4, 2022

I was told by a well know brewer that sours are kept isolated, with all equipment even buckets, that means that everything that sour touched is contaminate including the keg and lines, this is just what I was told

Minbari · Mar 4, 2022

Ozarks Mountain Brew said:
I was told by a well know brewer that sours are kept isolated, with all equipment even buckets, that means that everything that sour touched is contaminate including the keg and lines, this is just what I was told

totally agree, we have a brewery near me that does brett sours and everything they have is dedicated to sours.

BUT, I have never made any sours

Minbari · Mar 12, 2022

got the EVA barrier line. they really should say in the description that it ONLY works with duotight connectors. there is no way in hell to push that on to a barbed connector.

got new duotight shanks comming now *sigh*

Ozarks Mountain Brewery · Mar 12, 2022

they melt pretty easy so be careful but you can heat the ends up and make it work

Minbari · Mar 12, 2022

Ozarks Mountain Brew said:
they melt pretty easy so be careful but you can heat the ends up and make it work

I tried that. little heat, alot of heat. the inner layer melts faster and then just bunches up.

in the long run , the duotight connectors will be a better idea, if I ever have to change or disassemble I dont want to have to go through making it fit again.

Ozarks Mountain Brewery · Mar 12, 2022

Minbari said:
I tried that. little heat, alot of heat. the inner layer melts faster and then just bunches up.

in the long run , the duotight connectors will be a better idea, if I ever have to change or disassemble I dont want to have to go through making it fit again.

yup those work also, I have those and the same lines

Craigerrr · Mar 12, 2022

Try soaking the tubing in very hot water to get it to go onto the barbed fittings.
You have ordered duotight connectors, but don't toss all of your hose end fittings, they may come in handy!

Minbari · Mar 12, 2022

Craigerrr said:
Try soaking the tubing in very hot water to get it to go onto the barbed fittings.
You have ordered duotight connectors, but don't toss all of your hose end fittings, they may come in handy!

Its just too small. The batbs are 5/16 (.31") the hose is 4mm .(18" ID).

Ya I always keep odd parts they do come in handy. The barbed ones are not MFL type. So I had to buy new ones

Minbari · Mar 28, 2022

changed the shanks, all tubing, all ball locks. boiled the faucets. still sour.

so I have come to the conclusion that the sour taps were just from that batch of stout. kept cold it tastes fine, no issues. let it warm up in the taps overnight and some kind of bacteria is going wild. only had 1 gallon left, so dumped it.

its a stout I make alot, so will make it again,

GFHomebrew · Mar 28, 2022

Minbari said:
changed the shanks, all tubing, all ball locks. boiled the faucets. still sour.

so I have come to the conclusion that the sour taps were just from that batch of stout. kept cold it tastes fine, no issues. let it warm up in the taps overnight and some kind of bacteria is going wild. only had 1 gallon left, so dumped it.

its a stout I make alot, so will make it again,

OMG

.
You went around the hard way man!
Yeah I run 4mm Id duotight lines they are a bitch to get on a barb bloody nuckles and a sobbing swearing

faced human after it all. Duotights are the GO just cut that end clean and after a few inserts and removals cut a new clean grab.

I ordered some larger I think it's 6mm Id line recently more so for transfers and this new stuff is Sooo much more flexible than the old stuff I feel the duotight grabs better too.

Anyhow my taps live outside on the patio all sorts a critters try and bathe themselves in my beer up in the taps.
I squirt sanitzer up in em and put them little rubber caps on them when done imbibing if I remember...

Minbari · Apr 1, 2022

FrostyBeach said:
Try using some of the EVABarrier Tubing, it makes a big difference because it's much less gas permeable.

@FrostyBeach , what length did you go with for your EVA tubing? just curious, cause at 13ft, I think it is way too long. beer just dribbles out, there is not enough pressure in the tubing to keep the gas in suspension. (at least that is my guess) I get alot of gas pockets that foam like crazy.