Randy Mosher writes in Mastering Homebrew: “Some tap heads have an adjustment that helps vary flow, and this helps with fine-tuning. But there’s no substitute for a well-balanced system. Another neat trick is to use one or two plastic epoxy mixer tubes, shoved in the liquid dip tube of the keg. These are basically dual spiral tracks that provide a lot of back pressure to give you a good amount of restriction in a compact form, perhaps 6 psi/0.41 bar per 6-inch/15-cm mixer. They are available cheap from industrial suppliers like McMaster-Carr (part number 74695A58).”
I have this kind of tap with an adjustment, and with my latest IPA I get too much foam. Has anyone tried 74695A58? Does it work? Anything else I could put in the dip tube (as I live in Europe) to reduce the foaming?
I use 74695A12, a little cheaper and a little longer. I’m still experimenting with it but I think the ideal system for me is 1.75 static mixers in 0.3 m (metric my friend!) of 1/4" line for 15 psig (~202 kPA absolute). I have not tried them in a dip tube as having them in a line is better IMO because you can see if they are picking up hop debris and easily remove the line for cleaning.
doesn’t have to be in the diptube, fyi. beer flows from the keg go from the keg, to a section of tubing with the spirals in it, which are then connected to other tubing attached the keg.
I use them. I don’t put them in the dip tube because I would probably forget it’s there. I do put them in the draft line. I also use them to make 10-inch picnic tap lines for serving outdoors. You get less warm beer in your cup with the short serving line.