Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(  (Read 22247 times)

Offline Podo

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 87
  • Korea
Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« on: March 13, 2015, 07:31:58 pm »
Hello All,

I'm not sure what I've done wrong with my keg system.  I kegged my beer a week ago and put in on gas to carbonate.  Yesterday I connected the tap and opened it, and only a little dribble comes out.  The keg has been at 11psi for a week and seems to be keeping a good seal.  The connectors seem to be on correctly.  I disconnected everything, let the gas out of the keg, reconnected and waited 24 hours, and today I still have the same problem.  Any ideas what to do? 
So good once it hits your lips!

Offline JT

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1556
  • Bloatarian Brewing League - Cincinnati, OH
    • Bloatarian Brewing League
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2015, 07:51:20 pm »
You likely switched the beer and gas posts.  They look the same, but aren't. 

Offline duboman

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1578
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2015, 08:19:11 pm »
You likely switched the beer and gas posts.  They look the same, but aren't.
Yup, that's my guess as well or you flipped the dip tubes.

Degas, check posts and tubes,
Peace....Love......Beer......

The Commune Brewing Company-Perfecting the craft of beer since 2010

Offline JT

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1556
  • Bloatarian Brewing League - Cincinnati, OH
    • Bloatarian Brewing League
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2015, 08:42:06 pm »

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10678
  • Milford, MI
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2015, 09:18:15 pm »
Hop particles can plug a keg. Release the keg pressure with the relief valve. Take off the out post, pull the dip tube. Make sure the dip tube is clear, a dip tube brush is something you should have as it works well clearing obstructions. Then look at the post and poppet upside down. If it is green in there, you need to get the hops out by pressing out the poppet, cleaning, and pressing the poppet back into the post. Then sanitize and reassemble the dip tube and post on the keg. I have done this in the past.

If you had the in and out switched, they can be terrible to get off. If they were not bad getting off, I would get out the wrench.

Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline BrodyR

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 524
  • Philadelphia, PA
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2015, 10:54:26 pm »
I had this happen to me as well, in my case it was a dip tube clogged with hops

Offline bboy9000

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 703
  • KCMO
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2015, 12:16:28 am »

I had this happen to me as well, in my case it was a dip tube clogged with hops

That's the only time I had that happen.  It was dribble and foam.  Too much hops in an IPA... Uh wait.  You know what I mean.  Clogged the dip tube and liquid out post.
Brian
mobrewer

Offline cascadesrunner

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 134
  • San Diego, CA
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2015, 09:52:52 am »
Yup, had that happen exactly one time and thankfully it was an IPA that wasn't that great.  Lesson learned.
Run then beer.

Offline Frankenbrew

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 709
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2015, 06:11:23 am »
Also, it could be frozen if your temperature was low. I've had that happen to me. The whole keg doesn't necessarily freeze. Just a little bit of ice in the bottom of the keg or inside the post could do it.
Frank C.

And thereof comes the proverb: 'Blessing of your
heart, you brew good ale.'

Offline hopfenundmalz

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 10678
  • Milford, MI
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2015, 06:31:31 am »
Also, it could be frozen if your temperature was low. I've had that happen to me. The whole keg doesn't necessarily freeze. Just a little bit of ice in the bottom of the keg or inside the post could do it.

Yes, this has happened to me, about twice IIRC.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3777
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2015, 09:47:44 am »
Have you asked the beer nicely to come out?
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

Offline norcaljp

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 126
  • I prefer to drink my bread, thank you
    • The Brewins
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2015, 10:45:18 am »
I've had the same experience as others with hops clogging the post. It usually happens when I get greedy when transferring to the keg and suck a bunch of trub up and into the keg. Trying to get every last drop out of the fermenter usually backfires on me this way.  Especially with an IPA or other dry hopped beer.
Joel Prater

I prefer to drink my bread, thank you

Offline tommymorris

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3869
Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2015, 11:13:21 am »
I have had a few clogs overtime. In those cases I raised the gauge pressure to 30 PSI to serve a glass (it will be 90% foam). Remember to turn it back down and purge the co2 after.
On one unlucky batch the dip tube kept clogging every few days. I had to repeat the procedure each time.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2015, 11:17:25 am by alestateyall »

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2015, 01:20:02 pm »
I have one keg that won't pour at higher pressures.  Release the gas and it pours fine.  Gas it back up and it won't pour.  It's weird, and it usually winds up with a Belgian that I want higher pressure on, but it works out eventually.  I have no idea why it does this.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4222
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Beer won't Come out of Keg :-(
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2015, 01:41:27 pm »
Joe, I can visualize the extra pressure disfiguring the little o-ring on the spring loaded poppet so that it seals the liquid out port right at the quick disconnect.
Anyway, it can't be any where else in the system other than the poppet, can it?
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995