Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Beer Leakage
Hi All. New to this lark but have my first pint of Wherry conditioning in the barrel. Got a call from her indoors yesterday saying that the beer was dripping out of the tap. Realised it must be pressure but the pressure valve on the top hadn't released any. So got her to undo the lid to let the pressure out.
Have a knackered my beer by releasing the pressure ?.
Should the valve on the top automatically release any pressure ? or do I need to tweak with the white band
Should beer be forced out of the tap by the pressure ?.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
My barrel bloated out at first, so on the good advice of some chaps on here I moved it somewhere cooler, released a few short bursts via the White band and then drew a pint out as well. Sorted!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Ill do that then shift it to a cooler place. I am still trying to avoid temptation to start drinking it but its only been in the barrel a week. However the beer that leaked out did look pretty clear.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
It's rude not to taste it man! Come on come on! Pour yourself a glass!
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I drink it out of the boiler
Never waste a sample.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Also make sure in future that the tap is at a 90 degree angle on the off position, if you close it all the way to the barrel it will leak a little.
By undoing the lid she may have let out too much pressure so you may need to add a bit more via some co2. The beer wont be knackered at all so dont worry. The pressure release band needs a tweak to release excess pressure, never seems to do it "automatically" (though it should!)
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
merry xmas all
on that point above about adding CO2
i have a barrel that really i have struggled to get conditioned. It just didn't seem to really pressurize itself - despite leaving it warm for two weeks and adding more yeasta and more sugar!!!!! so i have started to add CO2 from those little bulbs - my problem is they dont really add much do they - it seems to pressurize ok but in drawing off only one pint the pressure drops right away. In fact i can remove the spent bulb!! Am i doing something wrong?
I also note that if i leave the spent cartridge screwed into the valve when i try to draw off a test pint - i get the dreaded glug! remove the cartridge and it draws air in thru the valve when a pint is drawn off - the beer tastes lovely fortunately! but as a result of the lack of pressurization its pretty flat with little head and not in the remotest lively!
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I had a brief affair with a barrel about 20 years ago - I could never keep the bugger pressurised or stop the connectors leaking. I'd get through so much vaseline on it that I was getting sniggers from the staff in the chemist. The little C02 bulbs hold virtually nowt. Now I bottle although I have had my eye on a corny recently
(with grateful thanks to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and slightly adapted)
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I would check the cap washers are in good nick, tighten any nuts that may be on the release/co2 valve. Apply loads (and I mead tons) of vasaline round the thread of the cap and just a slight smidgen on the white o ring that sits inside the cap. Turn the cap until its just about tight then just do a 6th or a quarter of a turn. Apply co2 and all should be good. Its normally the white o ring that distorts if tightened too much.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Reply
You must log in to post.