Use and Care Manual
24
TROUBLESHOOTING
TROUBLESHOOTING
2 Contaminated air line.
Defective Thomas or tongue
vents.
Examine the air hoses, air lines, and vents. If
contaminated, replace them.
Dirty air lines should be washed using a
cleaning compound normally used for
cleaning the coils, and then rinsed clean.
3 Rubber hose has absorbed and
retained odors.
A rubber hose will always absorb and retain
foul odors, resulting in foul-tasting beer. We
recommend any approved vinyl tubing for
hoses, as vinyl does not absorb moisture
and is not aected by oily substances.
A fresh, outdoor air line is imperative when
air is the pressure source.
4 Unfiltered air; air is moisture-
ridden or oily
Make sure the air is always filtered.
Check solution #8 in the Flat Beer section
on page 23.
Sour Beer: Tastes and smells extremely yeasty, or moldy.
Possible Causes Solutions & Explanations
1 Contaminated air line.
Defective Thomas or tongue
vents.
See solution #3 in the Cloudy Beer section on
page 20.
See solution #2 in the O-Taste Beer section
page 24.
See solution #7 in the Flat Beer section on
page 22.
2 Improper transportation of beer
barrels. Beer that’s delivered
on an open truck during high
summer temperatures may set
o secondary fermentation.
Make sure your beer barrels are delivered on
a closed-body, refrigerated truck. If you’re
transporting a beer barrel in a pickup truck or
similar open-body vehicle, cover barrels with a
tarp to protect them against the heat.
Make sure the truck is not loaded the night
before delivery, unless it is refrigerated.
3 Improper refrigeration and keg
rotation.
Always follow the rule that the first barrel in is
the first barrel tapped.
Make sure to keep kegs refrigerated even when
not in use.
Sour beer results from secondary fermentation,
which occurs when the beer barrel temperature
rises above 45°F (7.2°C). Make sure you
purchase your kegs from a location where beer
barrels are either refrigerated, stored in ice, or
covered with tarp.
The ideal temperature for storing kegs is
between 38°F and 40°F (3.3°C and 4.4°C).