Clogged dip tube. HELP!

[RiggsSpiltMyDrank]

So when I was transferring my beer from my carboy into the keg, I also transferred some hop matter. I had Dry Hoppped with hop flowers and I didn't bag, just threw them in.

After I force carbed the beer, I began to bottle a few days later using a Blichmann beer gun and it was fine until it stopped dispensing beer. There is still beer in the keg, but I want to get that stuff out and into bottles. I didn't know what to do, still don't. I am thinking of reversing my post connections. "In" post switch with "out" post to backflush with CO2 to unclog the dip tube. Does that sound like a good idea? Or what other things can I try to do to unclog the dip tube so I can get my beer out of keg.

Thanks in advance

Riggs

[Ozwald]

That's what I'd do.

Be careful though. That's also a good technique to blow off CO2 in an over-carbed beer (gas through the out, vent, repeat a half dozen times). A quick burst should be fine, but just warning not to over do it or you could drop your carbonation level pretty quickly.

[troybinso]

Release the pressure valve, take the "beer out" post off. Pull out the dip tube and clear it out. Check the post and the poppet - it is probably where the clog is and clear it out too. Sanitize the parts you fooled with. Put it all back together.

MAKE SURE THERE IS NO CO2 PRESSURE LEFT IN THE KEG BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF THE OUT POST.

[BDawg]

I agree with what troybinso said. The clog is probably all the way up into the poppet valve. you have to release ALL pressure from the keg, remove the outpost, and clean everything all up. I would also add that if its possible to add a (sanitized) plain stainless steel scrubby to the bottom of the long beer post, it will prevent more hop material from clogging it up again. Either that or crimp on one of these:

http://www.homebrewing.org/Corny-Keg-Di ... _2091.html
(it's essentially some stainless steel braided hose that you crimp closed on one end and slip over your dip tube like a rubber. You can probably make a bunch of them yourself by chopping up braided hose cover like you would when making a braided hose for your mash tun.)

HTH-

[grod]

I agree with what troybinso said. The clog is probably all the way up into the poppet valve. you have to release ALL pressure from the keg, remove the outpost, and clean everything all up. I would also add that if its possible to add a (sanitized) plain stainless steel scrubby to the bottom of the long beer post, it will prevent more hop material from clogging it up again. Either that or crimp on one of these:

http://www.homebrewing.org/Corny-Keg-Di ... _2091.html
(it's essentially some stainless steel braided hose that you crimp closed on one end and slip over your dip tube like a rubber. You can probably make a bunch of them yourself by chopping up braided hose cover like you would when making a braided hose for your mash tun.)

HTH-

you could also crank up the co2 and try to flush out the hop block.

love

g

[BDawg]

CO2 flushing isn't a fix if shit is gunking up the poppet valve.
It has to be manually removed.

[Ozwald]

CO2 flushing isn't a fix if shit is gunking up the poppet valve.
It has to be manually removed.

In my experience it'll at least get you through the keg... and teach you to be more careful about keeping that shit out in the first place

[RiggsSpiltMyDrank]

CO2 flushing isn't a fix if shit is gunking up the poppet valve.
It has to be manually removed.

Thanks guys! I will remove my dip tube and clear out the poppet. Last time I let the flowers sit in the beer without bagging! Lesson learned!