Im new to kegging and my newly tapped IPA gets continually clogged with what I assume is hop residue that accidently got siphoned out of the secondary fermenter. I’ve blown out the “out” side of the keg and that clears it, but only briefly. Do you think I should pour the beer into a clean bucket and strain it and then reKeg? What kind of strainer do you like to use?
I would probably try one of those screens that fit over the end of the liquid out dip tube.
https://www.amazon.com/KegWorks-Homebrew-Hops-Filter-Screen/dp/B006FX4ZCK
Definitely do not pour out the beer and re-keg it; that will ruin the beer quickly from oxidation.
I’d just keep blowing it out when it clogs, like you’re already doing. Eventually the bottom of the keg at the opening of the dip tube will be free of gunk. And then take steps with your future dry-hopped beers to avoid getting all those particulates in the keg in the first place.
Any other solution will require opening the keg and futzing with the beer-out dip tube and/or fitting, which will expose the beer to oxygen. A hop screen might work, but if there’s a lot of gunk and you’re clogging often, it will just be the screen that gets clogged, instead of the dip tube or (more likely) the poppet-valve spring.
I wouldn’t pursue a solution that requires opening the keg unless it’s truly a salvage operation.
Excellent advice. Thank you. I was wondering what might happen to the beer if I filtered and re-kegged. Also, the popett-valve spring is where the clog seems to be occurring most.
If you can tilt your keg slightly with the dip tube on the high side it might keep the hop residue out of it.
After this keg kicks you definitely want to remove that dip post and dip tube and clean it. Get a dip tube brush to scrub it out.
I have cut an inch off of my dip tubes as a long term solution.
I only dry hop with whole hops in a muslin bag. No clogs, ever. (now that I said that I’ll probably get a clog)
You might consider this:
I use that device in my fermenter and don’t have to worry about using it in my serving keg…
These work great. For $20 I say try them and see for yourself. They also sell larger ones for your BK and work great too!
Very interesting. A couple of questions:
- Are they hard to clean (does anything get inside the screen)?
- Do you notice any reduction in flow rate?
#2 I could probably live with, #1 I know I couldn’t. 
Easy to clean. I just hose the hell out of them, clean with brewery wash or one step (soak overnight) and then sanitize with Iodophor prior to use. I have never had an issue with infecting a keg.
I haven’t noticed any flow restrictions but that could be overcome with added pressure but I don’t think there would be a need to do so.