Flat Coopers Irish Stout

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:58 pm

Hello everyone. I have a flat stout and need help. This is the first beer I have put in a keg and have tried to carbonate with CO2 for just over a week. I aimed for 2 volumes of CO2. When pouring from a stout faucet, pushed with CO2 I get a slight head with a heavy pour, but it only lasts for seconds. Any idea what I am going wrong and what I can change?

Thanks,
Dave

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

joe1002 · Post by **joe1002** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 7:46 am

What keg are you using? Is the beer actually flat or is it just the head is disappearing quickly?

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:33 am

Good question! I guess it’s is a touch under carbonated, not completely flat. The head then disappears extremely quickly. I am using a corny keg.

Thanks for the support

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cobnut · Post by **Cobnut** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 11:14 am

Turn the gas up 2-3 psi and wait a few days.

joe1002 · Post by **joe1002** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 12:36 pm

Also it could be your glass. If there's any remnants of grease or soap it will kill a head pretty quickly.

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:38 pm

So I’ve poured another beer and it’s defiantly carbonated. Is it possible that my beer line is too long? I’m using 3/16 line.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

joe1002 · Post by **joe1002** » Thu Jul 11, 2019 1:22 pm

Babydavid3 wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:38 pm
So I’ve poured another beer and it’s defiantly carbonated. Is it possible that my beer line is too long? I’m using 3/16 line.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Unlikely, think it's more to do with your receiving vessel.

guypettigrew · Post by **guypettigrew** » Thu Jul 11, 2019 3:05 pm

Babydavid3 wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:38 pm
So I’ve poured another beer and it’s defiantly carbonated. Is it possible that my beer line is too long? I’m using 3/16 line.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How long is your line?

Guy

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Thu Jul 11, 2019 7:15 pm

[quote="guypettigrew"][quote=Babydavid3 post_id=844685 time=1562787481 user_id=21631]
So I’ve poured another beer and it’s defiantly carbonated. Is it possible that my beer line is too long? I’m using 3/16 line.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]

How long is your line?

Guy[/quote]
It’s about 2.5m of 3/16 then 6 inches of 3/8 to the stout faucet

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:57 pm

So I am getting frustrated.

Perfectly clean glass, beer is carbonated, and this is the head about 2 mins after being poured.

[IMG]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201907 ... 9d5a4d.jpg[/IMG]

It just disappears - also the flow rate at the tap is very low.

I changed the tap from the stout facet to a normal tap, a very minor improvement, but nothing much.

Here are a few pics of my set up (including homemade kegerator

)

[IMG]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201907 ... 8e5688.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201907 ... 40bbee.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201907 ... 3f6f3d.jpg[/IMG]

Appreciate any tips to sort this out.

Thank you.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

LeeH · Post by **LeeH** » Mon Jul 15, 2019 5:25 pm

If you are using a stout tap you need the correct gas an pressure. 70/30 N/CO2 and around 20-30 psi (temp dependant)

Is this what you have?

You can pour a perfect cascading pint of coopers with the correct gas, tap, pressure and temp.

Let me know your numbers.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Mon Jul 15, 2019 5:48 pm

So that was my original plan, but in the end I stuck with CO2 to keep the cost down.

I have since changed the stout faucet for a normal one. Fridge is running at 6C and pressure about 6 psi.

The pour is extremely slow. If i increase the pressures, about 20 psi flows nicely but pours just foam

Thanks guys.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

alexlark · Post by **alexlark** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 2:50 pm

You haven't said what other fermentables you have used with the stout kit. I've done the Cooper's stout a few times and had best results by using 1kg of dried malt extract with the kit. You'll get a good lasting head and plenty of lacing all the way down the glass.

Babydavid3 · Post by **Babydavid3** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 2:59 pm

I used the recommend Coopers brew enhancer 3 - 1kg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

alexlark · Post by **alexlark** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 3:15 pm

Right, that's not 100% malt extract. Obviously it's better than pure dextrose but you'll have much better results with 100% DME. Give it a go on your next batch.

Jim's Beer Kit

Practical Homebrewing

HomeBrew Forum

Sponsored by BREW-SCHOOL