I just had a new 20 tap system professionally installed, and the beer tastes like ass. It has a very harsh plastic/chemical taste and smell. I completely flushed one of the lines and the beer from that tap tasted ok for a few hours, but after awhile the taste returned.
Any ideas or suggestions? The installer is understandably in full cover-his-ass mode and is blaming everything from the glass washer detergent to human psychology (ie. someone told me the beer tasted off, so now that's what I taste when I try the beer). I did a blind taste test in front of him and was easily able to pick out the plastic beer pre-cleaning vs the beer from the clean line. I also pulled a brand new glass out of the box that has never seen our glass washer... same plastic-tasting beer.
I've read several theories. One has to do with the couplers. I don't think that's the issue as I have Strongbow on tap (Euro coupler) as well as one using pop couplers. Every beer has the same taste.
I personally think it's the trunk lines. I read somewhere that there is usually some differences in the poly used in the trunks, and some can be softer than others allowing taste to be imparted into the beer.
Are there any other ideas out there? I'm absolutely desperate at this point. We just achieved our dream of having 20 local micro-brews on tap and I'm embarrassed to serve any one of them.
Any ideas or suggestions? The installer is understandably in full cover-his-ass mode and is blaming everything from the glass washer detergent to human psychology (ie. someone told me the beer tasted off, so now that's what I taste when I try the beer). I did a blind taste test in front of him and was easily able to pick out the plastic beer pre-cleaning vs the beer from the clean line. I also pulled a brand new glass out of the box that has never seen our glass washer... same plastic-tasting beer.
I've read several theories. One has to do with the couplers. I don't think that's the issue as I have Strongbow on tap (Euro coupler) as well as one using pop couplers. Every beer has the same taste.
I personally think it's the trunk lines. I read somewhere that there is usually some differences in the poly used in the trunks, and some can be softer than others allowing taste to be imparted into the beer.
Are there any other ideas out there? I'm absolutely desperate at this point. We just achieved our dream of having 20 local micro-brews on tap and I'm embarrassed to serve any one of them.
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