Pressure barrel tap problem

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 10:06 pm

I am currently conditioning a Golden Ale kit brew which is currently chilling in my conservatory. I noticed tonight some of the beer had leaked from the tap. Having inspected it I have figured that its not coming from where the O ring seal is, its actually coming from the top of the tap. I did give the barrel a blast of Co2 when I transferred to the barrel so i'm wondering if the tap can't handle that much pressure? I've leant the barrel on its side so that that some of the excess pressure can escape without loosing more beer. My question is can I leave the barrel on its side with the excess Co2 escaping slowly, or will this spoil the beer? Cheers, Adam

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Tue Feb 16, 2016 10:20 pm

I did think about attempting to change the tap for the standard type pressure barrel tap, but I guess I'd be asking for trouble trying to do this and I'd just end up loosing most of the beer.

IPA · Post by **IPA** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:54 am

Why not release the cap to drop the pressure?

Fil · Post by **Fil** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 9:36 am

If the tap is leaking, then the pressure barrel may not be maintaining pressure..

However before you change the tap for one that seals check that the prv is functioning correctly,

generally the prv (pressure relief valve) is a simple elastic band affair around the base of the gas in valve. this can stick to the body so a simple pinch to pull it free of the body to test it is worth it the tap may be OK but under more pressure than it can contain. new lazzy bands can be got from brewshops ebay etc ..

If the prv is free and working ok then replace the tap, the tap crews into the barrel body in most cases so its a simple matter of laying it back like you have done, and unscrewing and refitting a new one.

umho in order to guarantee the taps orientation and a good seal i would be tempted to use a healthy wrap of ptfe tape it should seal well before the taps thread has been fully screwed in and allow you to position the tap pointing down without over screwing into the barrel and risk threading it.

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 10:24 am

IPA wrote:Why not release the cap to drop the pressure?

I did think about doing that, but I was worried that all of the natural gases in the beer would escape at the same time. I guess I could try opening it very slowly just to vent the barrel a little and see if that works.

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 10:29 am

Fil wrote:If the tap is leaking, then the pressure barrel may not be maintaining pressure..

However before you change the tap for one that seals check that the prv is functioning correctly,

generally the prv (pressure relief valve) is a simple elastic band affair around the base of the gas in valve. this can stick to the body so a simple pinch to pull it free of the body to test it is worth it the tap may be OK but under more pressure than it can contain. new lazzy bands can be got from brewshops ebay etc ..

If the prv is free and working ok then replace the tap, the tap crews into the barrel body in most cases so its a simple matter of laying it back like you have done, and unscrewing and refitting a new one.

umho in order to guarantee the taps orientation and a good seal i would be tempted to use a healthy wrap of ptfe tape it should seal well before the taps thread has been fully screwed in and allow you to position the tap pointing down without over screwing into the barrel and risk threading it.

Thanks for the suggestions and I will have a look at the PRV to see whether it's sticking. Worst case scenario then I guess I will have to consider trying to change the tap with the beer in the barrel to save it. If I do as you suggest and change the tap with the barrel laying on it's side (as it's doing currently) then would that not cause the beer to go off by letting air in? Also would it not then loose all it's natural carbonation? Obviously I can give it a blast of C02 once the new tap is on, but my concern would be that it might spoil the beer once I take the old tap off and let the air in. Any thoughts? Cheers, Adam

IPA · Post by **IPA** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 1:34 pm

I have changed a tap in the past with no problems. First of all chill the barrel in a fridge,if possible, then release the pressure by loosening the cap. Turn barrel on its side and replace the cap. Stand it upright loosen the cap and give it a squirt of co2 . Reseal cap job done. FWIW I think the problem is that the beer was put in the barrel too soon and over pressurised the barrel.

Fil · Post by **Fil** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 3:08 pm

odds are if you keep the barrel stable while changing taps over then there will be little or no chance of o2/air getting in, the co2 in the barrel is heavier than air so will sit inside the barrel and not go anywhere if the tap is at the uppermost point

if any does creep in a gentle tip back to the natural sitting position should keep that air above the co2 blanket and well away from the beer.

if all the pressure has been lost then you will need to re-prime with another dose of sugars to re condition the beer again!!

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:02 pm

Cheers for the tips chaps. I think I might have panicked a little last night, as I had visions of loosing my lovely beer all over the floor!! I think the point IPA makes about transferring it too early may well be correct. I did leave it for two weeks in the FV before transferring to the pressure barrel, but I could have been a little more patient, as the gravity would have probably dropped a little bit more. I did have a problem a few years ago with another Golden Ale kit where there was a leak around the O ring on the lid, so it was flat as a pancake when I went to pour my first pint. I took the cap off, re-primed, put lid back on and it actually turned out really well in the end, so there must have still been enough yeast left in there to eat up all that sugar! Anyway I'll keep an eye on it and if I do have to change the tap then the pointers above are very helpful to know. Thanks again, Adam

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:27 pm

Okay, so just to update from Tuesday, I left the barrel on its side with the tap in the air only O2 could (not beer), I turned the barrel back the right way up tonight, poured myself a taster and its not tasting that great. The beer is also still leaking from the tap, albeit at a slow rate of a couple of drips a minute. My dilemma now is do I flip it back on its side and leave it to condition in the hope that the taste will improve in time, or do I take the steps suggested above, change the tap and re-prime? Suggestions please. Cheers, Adam

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:29 pm

I should also add that when I say the beer doesn't taste that great, it does at least still retain a bit of a head so there must be some Co2 still present.

Fil · Post by **Fil** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 1:45 am

adamzworld wrote:I should also add that when I say the beer doesn't taste that great, it does at least still retain a bit of a head so there must be some Co2 still present.

I think you know the answer

, you can use a funnel to drop the new priming charge in the tap hole, (dont risk a few grains in the thread..) it will dissolve on its own with no trouble,

as long as its not stale tasting then its not oxidised, but pouring a pint with bugger all pressure in the barrel will invite the glug of death,, (when air glugs up through the beer in from the tap)

and just charging with co2 every pint will cost a lot in bulbs and result in lots of beer being pushed out the leaky tap..

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 1:03 pm

Thanks Fil, looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and change the tap then. When I tasted it last night, it didn't taste great so I'm hoping air hasn't got in there and ruined the beer. If I can have any hope of saving it, then I think changing tap over and re-priming is going to be my only option . I assume I use less sugar second time round? I was thinking 60-70g.

IPA · Post by **IPA** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 1:18 pm

adamzworld wrote:Thanks Fil, looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and change the tap then. When I tasted it last night, it didn't taste great so I'm hoping air hasn't got in there and ruined the beer. If I can have any hope of saving it, then I think changing tap over and re-priming is going to be my only option . I assume I use less sugar second time round? I was thinking 60-70g.

Just out of interest if you are using less priming this time and anticipate 60-70 gr how much did you use the first time?

adamzworld · Post by **adamzworld** » Sun Feb 21, 2016 1:27 pm

IPA wrote:
adamzworld wrote:Thanks Fil, looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and change the tap then. When I tasted it last night, it didn't taste great so I'm hoping air hasn't got in there and ruined the beer. If I can have any hope of saving it, then I think changing tap over and re-priming is going to be my only option . I assume I use less sugar second time round? I was thinking 60-70g.

Just out of interest if you are using less priming this time and anticipate 60-70 gr how much did you use the first time?

I tend to usually prime with around 80g of sugar and I usually do ales so is this too much?

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