Should carbonation and serving pressure be the same?

Ideally yes. A balanced system uses the same pressure for both. If carbonation pressure is much higher than serving pressure, beer will pour foamy. Balance by adjusting line length.

What line diameter should I use?

3/16 inch (5mm ID) is standard for homebrewing. It provides enough resistance for most setups with 1-2 metres of line. 1/4 inch (6mm) has less resistance and needs longer lines.

Why is my beer foamy?

Pressure too high, line too short, beer too warm, or dirty lines. Check that your serving pressure matches the carbonation level and that you have enough line resistance.

What is the difference between carbonation and serving pressure?

Carbonation pressure is the PSI needed to dissolve CO2 to your target level — it depends on temperature and desired CO2 volumes. Serving pressure is what you dispense at, balanced by your line length. Often they are similar, but long lines or height differences may require adjustments.

How do I know if my keg is fully carbonated?

At serving pressure, a keg typically reaches full carbonation in 7-14 days. You can test by pouring a sample — properly carbonated beer has consistent, fine bubbles. Under-carbonated beer tastes flat and has minimal head. Over-carbonated beer gushes and is excessively foamy.

BrewCalcs

Keg Pressure Calculator

Calculate carbonation and serving pressures for your keg setup.

Target CO2 Volumes

Desired carbonation level for your beer style

Serving Temperature

Temperature of beer when serving

Line Length

Length of beer line from keg to tap

Line ID

Inner diameter of your beer line

How We Calculate This

Balanced System

A balanced draught system has the carbonation pressure matching the line resistance. If they match, beer pours smoothly without gaining or losing carbonation. Line resistance depends on diameter, length, and fittings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Priming Sugar Calculator

Calculate priming sugar amount for bottle conditioning to target CO2 volumes.

Forced Carbonation Calculator

Calculate CO2 pressure needed at your serving temperature.

CO2 Volume Calculator

Look up target CO2 volumes for different beer styles.

Carbonation Chart Calculator

Interactive PSI chart for temperature and CO2 volume combinations.

Bottle Conditioning Calculator

Calculate conditioning time and priming for bottle carbonation.

Last updated: 2025-02-20

All calculations are estimates. Always verify values and adjust based on your equipment and ingredients.