Excessive Beer Foam

• If the beer dispensed from the Kegerator is either all foam or too much foam and the beer keg has recently been transported, allow the keg to stand for a couple of hours before tapping it to allow the beer to settle. The movement of the beer keg is akin to shaking a soda bottle. If the keg still produces too much foam, ensure that the CO2 bottle’s pressure regulator is adjusted to allow only between 10 to 12 pounds-per-square-inch, or “p.s.i.,” of pressure to enter the keg. Excessive pressure will cause too much CO2 to enter the keg, which results in the excessive foam. The pressure can be adjusted by turning the screw that protrudes from the regulator. If the beer keg’s temperature is higher than 50 degrees, allow the keg to chill in the Kegerator until the temperature drops to between the high 30s to the mid 40s. Higher temperatures cause the carbonation to be released from the beer, resulting in too much foam. Determine the temperature of the keg by either placing a thermometer inside the cooler cabinet with the keg, or by pouring a small amount of beer into a glass and measuring the temperature of the beer with a thermometer.

No Beer Foam

• If the Kegerator fails to produce any beer foam or very little foam, the problem can likely be traced to either an incorrect CO2 pressure level, user error or to dirty glasses. Ensure that the CO2 bottle’s pressure regulator is adjusted to allow only between 10 to 12 p.s.i. Turn the screw that protrudes from the regulator to adjust the pressure. Dispensing the beer from the Kegerator to the beer glass may take a bit of practice to produce the desired amount of foam. The glass should be placed approximately 1/4 of an inch underneath the tap and at a 45 degree angle to the tap’s spout. Open the tap’s handle quickly rather than gradually. Once the beer glass is approximately 2/3 full, level the glass and top it off by dispensing the beer into the center of the glass. Performed properly, a 12-ounce glass should be filled with approximately one inch of beer foam. If the Kegerator still fails to produce foam, the problem may be with the beer glasses. Beer purists use a set of glasses for beer only. When glasses are washed, it is not uncommon for residue to be left on the glass. The most common residue is water spots. Residue may also be left behind if the beer glasses are washed with glasses that contained milk or other fatty substances. The residue will quickly absorb the beer foam. Therefore, only use a dedicate set of glasses for beer, or wash glasses with very hot water and detergent rather than soap. If the problem persists, wash the glasses with hot water and baking soda.

Kegerator Fails to Produce Beer

• Assuming that the beer keg is not empty, the CO2 bottle may not have a sufficient supply of CO2. If the Kegerator has never been used before, note that its CO2 bottle is shipped empty. If your beer retailer will not fill the bottle, try contacting a fire extinguisher or fire and safety equipment retailer. Most of these retailers will fill CO2 bottles for a small charge. If the bottle does contain CO2, one or both of the shut-off valves may be closed. One shut-off valve is located on top of the CO2 bottle, while the other is on the regulator that screws into the bottle. Both valves must be turned on for the CO2 to reach the beer keg. If the Kegerator still fails to produce beer, check the hose which connects the CO2 bottle to the beer keg for any kinks.