New: Inline Flow Control Valve for Dialing in Carbonation Levels
When you put a beer on tap the carbonation level is a function of temperature and CO2 pressure. In a nutshell… higher carbonation levels (or temperatures) require higher CO2 pressures. See: Balancing Your Draft System for more info.
Higher CO2 pressures need to be offset with appropriate resistance. A Hefeweizen at 20 PSI isn’t going to serve well with your typical 5′ of beer line. You need to add stuff to produce resistance so that when you’re beer hits the air it’s not speeding like a rocket ship toward your glass. Many times that’s done by increasing tubing lengths. That can work but does have some down sides. Chief among those, at least to me, is you can end up having a good amount of beer sitting in those lines. Temperatures are usually higher toward the top of your kegerator [See: Kegerator Beer Line Temperatures & Reducing Foam with a Recirculating Fan], so that means your first pint is still going to be foamy. This also results in some guesswork and requires that you swap tubing out when you change carbonation levels.
Keg Connection has just introduced a device to address these issues. Their new inline flow control assembly.
This allows you to restrict flow to reduce foam without the need for additional tubing or a specific faucet. You use the provided Allen wrench to adjust resistance. This means no adding additional tubing on a beer beer or carbonation level basis. Easy to disassemble for cleaning (or using an inline draft cleaning pump – See: Mark II Keg & Carboy Cleaner… As a Recirculating Draft Line Cleaning Pump). This is also made in Germany from food grade plastic and stainless steel.
Inline Flow Control – $49.95
At $49.95 it’s not what I would consider cheap. You can get a Perlick with Flow Control built in for about that price. The inline does have some advantages. It will work with any faucet and it requires a tool to adjust resistance.
Also: Kegerator Tips & Gear | Keg Repair Part #s | 5 Recent Keg Finds | Build A Recirculating Draft Line Cleaning Pump | What’s the Difference Between Ball Lock Kegs and Pin Lock Kegs?
Does it works with nitrogen gas (keg at about 40 psi) ?
I’m glad you mentioned the Perlick flow control faucets. Since the replacement cost of your faucets is equivalent to this device, I can’t see much of a point to the inline device, other than making it harder for your guests to mess with the flow on your faucets. I’d argue that the benefit of having the flow control easily accessible at the tap for pouring samplers/flights for your guests outweighs the obfuscation of that control inside your kegerator. If one were concerned with the guests messing with the settings, just put a small label on it saying “Don’t Touch!”
I own 4 of the mentioned Perlick faucets, and the only regret I have with them is that they aren’t stainless. However, considering these are in a home setting vs a bar, I expect them to last longer than I do.
The cost is certainly a factor considering it’s about the same as a perlick flow control. Hopefully the price will come down. Either way, I have one on the way, I’m going to give it a try.
How did these work out? I have flow control faucets but with heavily carbed beers I still have all sorts of issues.
I’m glad you mentioned the Perlick flow control faucets. Since the replacement cost of your faucets is equivalent to this device, I can’t see much of a point to the inline device, other than making it harder for your guests to mess with the flow on your faucets. I’d argue that the benefit of having the flow control easily accessible at the tap for pouring samplers/flights for your guests outweighs the obfuscation of that control inside your kegerator. If one were concerned with the guests messing with the settings, just put a
I own 4 of the mentioned Perlick faucets, and the only regret I have with them is that they aren’t stainless. However, considering these are in a home setting vs a bar, I expect them to last longer than I do.