Paddy's Kegs + Keg Tap Troubleshooting

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- Keep the keg chilled, at the temperature you plan to serve it at, at all times. Between 1°c and 4°c is ideal. Should the keg get warm, chill it as soon as possible; it may take over 24 hours to fully chill the keg in a fridge. Warm beer will pour foamy.

- Avoid moving the keg before serving. Just like shaking a can or bottle of soda, this can result in foamy beer.

- If using a beer line, use the shortest line possible, and try to keep the beer line chilled or covered. If the line warms up; the beer warms up. If the beer warms up; the foams up.

If you've picked our beer to serve at your special event, thank you! We're honoured to be a part of that experience!

We understand that this is likely your first time using a pump tap with a keg, or possibly just pouring a beer from a tap at all! Don't worry, we've got some tips here to help you make the most of your keg of Paddy's beer!

Day before and day of consumption set-up

- The taps are sanitized before they are given to you, so they're ready to use.

- Follow the steps above for keeping your keg chilled at all times and avoid moving it.*

* A fridge set between 1°c and 4°c is the best base scenario; this will keep your beer around the correct temperature and less likely to get bumped or shaken. However, if you don't have a fridge that the keg can fit in, we recommend something like a plastic storage container filled with ice and water.

- If you're outside, keep the keg and tap out of direct sunlight. This can warm up the keg and/or neck of the tap resulting in foamy beer.

- Chill the beer tap before using. If the neck of the tap pump is warm, it will result in the first couple beers poured warming up and becoming foamy. Putting it in the fridge or container of ice for a little while will help you get a couple more pints out of your keg!

Time to pour some beer!

Connection: 

1st - Make sure that the tap handle on the pump tap is in the 'back position'. Otherwise, you may immediately have beer shoot out as soon as the pump tap is connected.

- Connect the the pump tap by sliding the 2 notches on the pump tap under the 2 corresponding notches on the top of the keg.

- Turn the pump tap clock-wise until it's fairly tight. Usually 1/4 to 3/4 of a turn, but can vary from keg to keg.

- Pull out on the "plastic" handle and then press down to engage the tap to the keg. It should remain in this downward position as long as you're using it. 

Pouring:

- Gently pull up on the tap's "pump" handle, then gently press back down until you feel a bit of resistance. This is forcing pressure into the keg, which will push beer up and out the tap when you're ready to pour a pint.*

* Pumping too much can result in beer quickly spraying out and foaming. If this happens, just pour some beer off to release pressure. Not pumping enough can result in slow pours or the keg just not pouring at all. 

- When a small amount of resistance has been met with the pump, you're ready to pour the first pint!

- Grab a glass, hold it at a 45 degree angle, touch the glass to the spout of the tap, and then gently open the beer tap to pour the beer. The first couple glasses may be foamy. The foam should clear up after a pint or two, because the beer will chill the neck and spout of the tap as it's poured.

- As you pour some beer, you'll need to pump the tap to keep pressure in the keg and thus beer flowing. You'll get the hang of it after a few pours.

TIPS

- Keep the foam insulation we provide wrapped around the neck of the tap at all times. This will keep the neck (and the beer within) the coldest, resulting in the smoothest pour.

- A chilled, rinsed glass will result in less foaming.

- Hold the glass at a 45 degree angle, with the glass touching the spout of the tap, then open the tap handle to pour. When the glass is about 2/3 full, straighten the glass and pour into the center of the beer.

- Smile! :)

Disconnection

*If you still have some beer remaining in your keg that you would like to drink later on, give the tap's pump a gentle pump until you feel some resistance; the same way as if you were going to pour a beer. This leaves the keg with pressure in it. If you don't leave some pressure in the keg, the remaining beer will go flat... Just like a 1/4 full bottle of soda goes flat if it's left for a couple days.

- Removing the tap is the same as connecting it, but in reverse

- Pull outward on the plastic handle at the base of the pump and lift up 

- Once the plastic handle is lifted up, rotate the pump tap counter-clockwise until you can lift it off.

* To clean the pump tap after or in-between uses, just use some dish soap and warm water down the neck of the tap. Give it a good rinse to avoid soap flavoured beer next time! ;)