Tapping a keg of beer with a CO2 unit is not as complicated as you may think. But before you’re ready to tap the keg, there are a few things you’ll need to do first…
If your keg of beer has just undergone significant jostling (like in a vehicle), it will need to sit for 2 to 3 hours before you tap it. T
apping a keg that has been shaken will result in foamy beer. The more you move the keg the more the beer gets agitated. When Beer is agitated it will release the CO2 from the beer and increase the pressure in the keg or worse release the CO2 while you are pouring your beer. Either way both of these will cause foamy beer. TIP: To speed up the “SETTLING PROCESS” of your keg you can do three things to help;
- Get the beer cold as fast as possible and keep it cold until you want to pour.
- “Pressure Neutralizing your Keg” (see below) while you are letting it settle. DO NOT add any CO2 until you are ready to pour the beer.
- DO NOT MOVE YOUR KEG!!!!!!!!!!
NOTE: DO NOT put ice into the Jockey box until after you have completed the procedures listed below and the keg has been tapped and there is beer in the lines.
When using a Jockey Box you don’t need to put the keg in an ice bath UNLESS; it’s warmer than 12 C, or you’re pouring lots of beer at once, or you’re pouring over an extended period of time. If you are using an ice bath see “Chilling Process” Below
CHILLING PROCESS Beer should be around 2-4◦C. While your beer is un-jostling itself, set it in a tub filling the remaining room with ice. The ice should be able to cool the beer within an hour. If your keg is outside on a hot, sunny day, add ice as needed. TIP: In a Keg the pick-up for the beer is at the bottom of the keg, so to ensure the bottom of your keg is cold add 4-6L of water to the Ice Tub first before adding keg and ice. The water at the bottom of the keg will always be ice cold. Note: if you add salt to the water it can go below zero degrees without freezing.
Attach the Regulator to the CO2 tank and tighten with a wrench. Open valve on the top of tank and please ensure that you turn the regulators “Shut Off” valve located below the Dials attached to the CO2 hose to the “ON” position which is parallel with the hose, this will pressurize the system. With the system pressurized listen for leaks (a HISSING Sound). The other way to check for leaks is to close the tank valve on the CO2 and see if the pressure drops on the regulator gauges. Please Note That ALL Our Regulators on our equipment are pre-set to the correct pressure for dispensing beer. If you prefer to set your own pressure first you must release all the pressure in the keg. See “Pressure neutralizing your keg” section below. The correct pressure ranges for our Jockey Boxes are as follows;
Now you will need to connect the “Coupler” to the keg. Line up the two notches on the keg with the two indentations on the bottom of the Coupler. Then, push down, and rotate the tap clockwise a Half a turn or until Snug. Then Pull the “Lever” on the “Coupler” out away from the Coupler and down to engage. The “Lever” should lock into place. This will open the beer line and CO2 ports in the keg. The keg is now tapped!
diaphragm that regulates the output pressure, back it off counter clockwise to reduce that output pressure. Now you will add the CO2 from the Tank provided, you do this by turning the “Shut Off” valve at the base of the Regulator to the ON position (parallel with the hose). We recommend that you start low with between 10 to 15 PSI and test it by pouring a small amount of beer in a small glass. If it pours too slowly for your liking you can up the output pressure by turning the set screw clockwise to add pressure.
n our cleaning process. If you put Ice on the cold plate before running beer through the lines it could cause the water to freeze in the plate and create a blockage that will not allow you to pour any beer.
