cleaning beer lines

[slowbrew]

Funny you bring it up.  This weekend I replaced my original chrome shank with stainless (already went with stainless faucet.) The chrome had completely worn off and it was all exposed brass on the interior surfaces, and just a few years old.  I’m not exactly sure what off flavors brass is supposed  to contribute but I’ll be interested in seeing what difference this makes.  Hard to say right now, I was sick all last week and don’t trust the taste buds just yet.  I just know I’d rather have all stainless in contact  with the beer.

I also noted that the new shank (Intertap like my faucet) is of a different design than my old satandard, Ventmatic type,  both the bore profile and the seat, though the threads match.  So I can see that some faucets and shanks might mate more successfully than other combinations.

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Thanks Robert!

[goose]

I figure it’s not the amount of beer through the line, but the time with beer in the line that determines when cleaning is needed.  My process has improved to where I might go less often and not have the problems I once did, or just go with between kegs (every couple weeks anyway) but I’m cautious,  and my system is so hassle free it just isn’t a burden.  But again, what works, works.  Do what gets you beer that tastes good to you.  I would advise that faucets should be completely disassembled at each cleaning, even  if you don’t have vents to clean, or you may be surprised.  Stuff can really accumulate around the lever and under the bonnet where there’s a region of “drag” or low flow.  I learned the hard way.

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Disassemble faucets, ABSOLUTELY.  Great point, Rob.

[wbaar2 (Wilbur)]

Funny you bring it up.  This weekend I replaced my original chrome shank with stainless (already went with stainless faucet.) The chrome had completely worn off and it was all exposed brass on the interior surfaces, and just a few years old.

Reminds me, I need to do that as well. I need to play around with trying to link up my faucets as well, for some reason none of the perlick bottle from adapters seem to fit my perlick faucets.

[ynotbrusum]

Yep, the faucet that is presently not tapped came off like a breeze and there was some gunk inside, but surprisingly little (Perlick 525 SS ), so my regimen of running cleaner through was probably adequate for quick cleaning with lines attached.  Even so, a disassembled soak is happening every other month going forward.  It’s just too easy to do and Perlick says a soak without disassembly should suffice for most tap set ups…but I have replacement gasket kits from a buddy who does maintenance for a chain of restaurants and has leftovers by the scads, so no reason not to disassemble for a deeper clean.

Cheers fellow janitors!

[Robertestein05_gmail.com (Robert)]

When I disassemble and soak (which you know is every cleaning) I pull out the gaskets and as long as they are still in good shape put the same ones back.  If you don’t gouge them or something in prying them out they last a long time.  I usually replace them on the same schedule as beer line – whatever that may be.

[BrewBama (Dwain)]

I ran a brush thru my silicone transfer hoses today. I think they needed it — the right one met the brush, the left one is on deck.