Annual Subscriptions and Monthly
When craft beer goes bad
  • PK1PK1
    0.00 KarmaPosts: 14
    This is why beers sometimes taste different on tap http://tinyurl.com/7xv7bam
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    I have a bar i frequent that has had some tap line problems.... needless to say, i was happy when i saw the draft system techs there last time i stopped by. a good cleaning will go a long way to help out.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    At my animal club, we get the lines cleaned every week. They keep em real clean.
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    most of the places i go are really good about it. but the place i mentioned is really close to work, so its easy to stop by for lunch
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    i think one of their big problems is that they have the kegs in a separate building behind the bar. it's separted by like 30 ft, so the lines run underground for quite a ways. they must have 75-100ft of line between tap and keg.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    Animal club is 6 blocks downhill from my house. No driving involved. They do have hookups for cornie kegs. Lines are nice and clean. If you want to have a private party with your own beer, you flip a valve and hook up the cornies
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    Lakewood said:

    i think one of their big problems is that they have the kegs in a separate building behind the bar. it's separted by like 30 ft, so the lines run underground for quite a ways. they must have 75-100ft of line between tap and keg.



    That is a lot of line. I built the walk in directly behind the bar. Longest line is 12 feet
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    i don't think PBW is recommended for draught lines. there is a liquid line cleaner out there that is acid based i believe, and rinses totally clean. PBW can leave a residue if it's not rinsed with the same or hotter water.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • FerminatorFerminator
    256.00 KarmaPosts: 6,553
    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    I use beer to clean my lines but I plan on changing that. It's a really bad habbit.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    We recently moved the compressors to the basement. Cutting holes in 100 year old concrete is not an easy task. That helps to keep the walk in running efficiently. 35 degree beer year round.
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    djsethall said:

    Lakewood said:

    i think one of their big problems is that they have the kegs in a separate building behind the bar. it's separted by like 30 ft, so the lines run underground for quite a ways. they must have 75-100ft of line between tap and keg.



    That is a lot of line. I built the walk in directly behind the bar. Longest line is 12 feet


    anything under 20 seems to be best, otherwise the cleaning process and replacement gets pricey.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • FerminatorFerminator
    256.00 KarmaPosts: 6,553
    Lakewood said:

    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    i don't think PBW is recommended for draught lines. there is a liquid line cleaner out there that is acid based i believe, and rinses totally clean. PBW can leave a residue if it's not rinsed with the same or hotter water.


    So... I won't be switching to PBW.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    As a matter of fact, I think it may be time to have the lines replaced. It has been about two years. How long do beer lines last?
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    Ferminator said:

    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    I use beer to clean my lines but I plan on changing that. It's a really bad habbit.


    at home that what i do most times. every third keg i flush with hot water then run star san through it.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    djsethall said:

    As a matter of fact, I think it may be time to have the lines replaced. It has been about two years. How long do beer lines last?



    they last indefinitely, but if they get dirty or you run a bad batch through them, you should clean or replace them.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • LakewoodLakewood
    5545.00 KarmaPosts: 37,786
    Ferminator said:

    Lakewood said:

    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    i don't think PBW is recommended for draught lines. there is a liquid line cleaner out there that is acid based i believe, and rinses totally clean. PBW can leave a residue if it's not rinsed with the same or hotter water.


    So... I won't be switching to PBW.


    star san seems to take care of it for me. just hot water for a few minutes, then star san.

    but that said, i do have a couple of lines that i will be replacing because they have some deposits in them. they are a couple years old.
    Baby Charlotte has arrived.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    Lakewood said:

    djsethall said:

    As a matter of fact, I think it may be time to have the lines replaced. It has been about two years. How long do beer lines last?



    they last indefinitely, but if they get dirty or you run a bad batch through them, you should clean or replace them.


    The beer rep (good buddy of mine) is talking about shelves in the cooler for us. I might take that opportunity to have the lines switched anyways. It is a free service from the beer distibutor
  • FerminatorFerminator
    256.00 KarmaPosts: 6,553
    Lakewood said:

    Ferminator said:

    djsethall said:

    What do you guys think the best beer line cleaner is? PBW?



    I use beer to clean my lines but I plan on changing that. It's a really bad habbit.


    at home that what i do most times. every third keg i flush with hot water then run star san through it.


    That seems safe enough. I think I'll tackle this issue mañana.
  • djsethalldjsethall
    243.00 KarmaPosts: 3,857
    He hooked me up with shanks, valves, lines and handles for the house. He also got me a two tap tower that "fell off the truck" at the warehouse
  • FerminatorFerminator
    256.00 KarmaPosts: 6,553
    djsethall said:

    Lakewood said:

    djsethall said:

    As a matter of fact, I think it may be time to have the lines replaced. It has been about two years. How long do beer lines last?



    they last indefinitely, but if they get dirty or you run a bad batch through them, you should clean or replace them.


    The beer rep (good buddy of mine) is talking about shelves in the cooler for us. I might take that opportunity to have the lines switched anyways. It is a free service from the beer distibutor


    A walkin cooler would be sweet. I wanna join this club. Do they have a NY chapter?
Add a Comment
Annual Subscriptions and Monthly

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In with Google Sign In with OpenID Sign In with Twitter
Sign In Apply for Membership

Categories

In this Discussion

Note to Visitors: Many posts have uploaded pictures that are only visible to logged in members. You may sign up for free and you will be able to see them.

Top Leaders

Top Posters

Who's Online (1)


Feeling generous? Help keep HBF running.
Get the sticker that shows them how you really feel.