Carbonating cider problems!!

[davelee123]

This is my first attempt at kegging, after receiveing some good advice on the forum about cold conditioning i was hoping someone would help with carbonation.

I have force carbonated my cider at 250kpa, with the keg inverter for around 2 minutes. when i pour all i get is head and a small bit of liquid. when the head dies down the cider is basically flat (no fizz at all.)
I have tried purging the excess gas every half hour but with no luck

HELP!!!! the cider tastes great, but its being really let down by the carbonation, I can't invite the lads round until its sorted.

[Kevnlis]

Leave the keg at pouring pressure for 3-4 days (do not touch the reg). Then try again

[davelee123]

What kind of pressure would you pour cider at, 50 kpa?

[Kevnlis]

I wouldn't pour below 70 kpa, I try to pour at 100 kpa. You can probably pour at a higher pressure with the cider than you do with beer. Just don't play with the reg, leave it to balance itself for a few days and try again.

[KEG]

I have force carbonated my cider at 250kpa, with the keg inverter for around 2 minutes. when i pour all i get is head and a small bit of liquid. when the head dies down the cider is basically flat (no fizz at all.)

that sounds typical of over-carbonation.. leave the keg at the lower end of your pouring pressure, and burp it every now and then if the pressure gets higher (as it likely will if it's overcarbed - CO2 will come out of solution).

[davelee123]

Thanks kev and chris,

have set the reg to 70 kpa and burping it every hour or so as the pressure increases, I can imagine it'll take a day or two to get right.
Will let you know what it's like!

cheers,
Dave

[Kevnlis]

Only burp it if it gets higher than what you have set the reg to. Also it is best to disconnect the gas line when you do burp the keg.

[drsmurto]

You force carbed it with the gas on? The trick is to turn the gas up to 300kPa, i go as high as 350, and then turn the gas bottle off. Rock the keg back and forth and watch the pressure drop. If it drop below serving pressure, usually 70-100 then repeat.

I agree, sounds like its over carbed so only cure is to burp it every hour or so until its almost flat and then try again. I dont trust my system not to leak the entire contents of the gas bottle so i force carb all my kegs and turn the bottle off when not in use.