All lubed up but not getting any head

[Guest Close Guest]

I used a food grade lubricant on my tap over the weekend. It now just GLIDES Amazing!

But my beer suddenly has NO head. When I pour the bubbles look like coke bubbles, and they fade away almost immediately.

Is this a temporary problem or did I screw up?

[CraftyZA Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close CraftyZA]

Well alcohol is a solution, and will dissolve oils in time. You might speed up the process by chasing a bottle of cheap vodka through the system? Romanov is cheapest i think. I use it to clean my vaping tanks and drippers from time to time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

You might speed up the process by chasing a bottle of cheap vodka through the system?

Cool! I will give it a shot. I have a bottle of vodka in the brewery for such reasons.

[jakeslouw Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jakeslouw]

food grade lube = some type of grease or plant oil

And we know what plant oils do to the head.............

"The main culprits are substances known as lipids, which include fats.

Because lipids have regions of their structure which are hydrophobic they will behave in a similar way to foam stabilising proteins and migrate into the bubble walls. There, rather than stabilising foam, the lipids interfere with the interactions between proteins and hop bitter acids with the result that the foam collapses. Good brewing practice should ensure that very low levels of lipids survive into the final beer. It is more likely that these substances are introduced into beer while it is in the glass from sources such as lipstick, or typical bar snacks like potato crisps. In fact, in those countries where foam is not seen as a positive feature of beer, consumers have been known to dip a chip into their beer to assist its collapse."

So you've just screwed up yes.

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

So you've just screwed up yes.

But I was told I *have* to use food grade lube on my taps to keep them working nicely.

I guess there is probably some other kind of lube for beer taps. The one that I had specified beverages, but maybe not beer.

[DieBaas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DieBaas]

But I was told I *have* to use food grade lube on my taps to keep them working nicely.

I guess there is probably some other kind of lube for beer taps. The one that I had specified beverages, but maybe not beer.

KY should work fine for taps.

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

KY should work fine for taps.

I am using it for beer, not sex!

[DieBaas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DieBaas]

I am using it for beer, not sex! [emoji38]

Well at least it is food safe. I've read it's a good substitute for keg lube.

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

I just read this:

If the o-rings are actually rubber, petroleum jelly will degrade the rubber.

I would only use it in an absolute emergency, then clean the seal and use silicone lube as soon as you can afterwards.

silicone lube won't eat rubber seals at all...but it will melt silicone seals/tubing.

Dammit. This rabbit hole if going deeper than expected... And that pun was not intentional.

[DieBaas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DieBaas]

I just read this:

If the o-rings are actually rubber, petroleum jelly will degrade the rubber.

I would only use it in an absolute emergency, then clean the seal and use silicone lube as soon as you can afterwards.

silicone lube won't eat rubber seals at all...but it will melt silicone seals/tubing.

Dammit. This rabbit hole if going deeper than expected... And that pun was not intentional.

Meaning astroglide would work better?

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

Well at least it is food safe.

I can't find any proof that it is food grade.

[DieBaas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DieBaas]

I can't find any proof that it is food grade.

I'm pretty sure if it going on your junk it can go in your mouth. [emoji23]

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

Meaning astroglide would work better?

The only thing this proves is that I need to make a turn at a company that does this for commercial breweries and get information from them.

Let me contact them and see what I can learn. Will report back.

[Guest Close AtronSeige]

I'm pretty sure if it going on your junk it can go in your mouth. [emoji23]

That is true, but does it react with the other things in beer?

Will the pH break it down?

Will it react with something else and cause damage to my taps?

How quickly does it dry out?

I would rather be 100% sure that I am using the correct stuff than having to replace my taps.

[DieBaas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DieBaas]

That is true, but does it react with the other things in beer?

Will the pH break it down?

Will it react with something else and cause damage to my taps?

How quickly does it dry out?

I would rather be 100% sure that I am using the correct stuff than having to replace my taps.

All valid points. Didn't think about that. And you can't get hold of normal get lube?

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk