Tubing And Picnic Tap Between Pours?

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by jbakajust1, Apr 4, 2013.

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  1. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,528) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I now have kegs for my homebrew. I have 3 kegs, and 1 QC with 5' hose and a picnic tap. I am wondering what I should do between pours with the line and tap? It can be a few days between pours and I am wondering if I should be disconnecting the hose and flushing it out at the end of the evening, or do I just leave it hooked up until I want a pour of a different beer then flush the line with the new beer before pouring? I use one gas line and swap it from keg to keg as well. I guess my concern is if the beer in the line will get infected just chillin in the tubing for a few days at a time repeatedly?
     
  2. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,737) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I recommend just leaving it in the cold space, this is how it will ultimately end up once all your bells and whistles are connected. As long as you keep the beer line cold and sealed, there is no danger of the beer going bad. I would not flush the line until the keg is empty, your beer is the cleanest part of the entire operation.

    I am also in the middle of a keezer build and I disconnect my beer line after each use (just leave it on top of everything). But that's just because I have a fear of the tap handle being shifted and inadvertently spewing my brew. I can see no problem leaving it connected, other than my paranoia. Our beer doesn't know if the tap handle is permanently mounted to a tower or collar or just dangling in the fridge.
     
  3. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I don't use picnic taps, but I leave my regular faucets and hoses connected when not in use. I do usually squirt starsan solution up into the faucets that were used at the end of the day. I have no idea if this helps in any way at all.
     
  4. cracker

    cracker Pundit (893) May 2, 2004 Pennsylvania

    You need more picnic taps along with gas lines :slight_smile:
    That's the easiest solution...
     
  5. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,528) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I now have 3 kegs, 2 more taps, 8' of beer line, and 2 more gas QDs, as well as a 3 way splitter. Guess I need to just get the other 2 beer QDs, hose clamps, and some gas line.
     
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