Inn Doctor

It's snowing

Here at Inndoctor we are fed up listening to the same old doom and gloom. If we hear another reference to “50 pubs a week closing”we will lock ourselves in our virtual cellar and get virtually plastered. Anyway the thought arises that despite the “50 pubs…………” thing, we believe that as the economy recovers some, not all closed pubs, will be seen as a viable business again.

With pub chains, chains being a very appropriate word for these companies, dumping pubs, and more freehold premises coming on the market, now might be a time to grab a bargain. As Inndoctor concerns itself with the practical beer dispense side of things, we wondered about the problems of reopening a pub that has been closed for some time.

A major priority would have to be reinstating the neglected beer dispense system. Gone are the days we suspect of just picking the phone up and ringing the brewery and demanding new beer lines and taps.

Like everyone else, even the mighty brewers are watching their pennies. The answer might be a polite go away. So what are you to do? Well most brewers offer a one off special clean , to restore beer lines, which we believe to be very expensive. The cost we feel is pitched to discourage people from neglecting their beer lines in the first place.

You are planning on opening quickly, money is tight, the paint is still drying in the gents toilet and the new carpets have been fitted, but your beer quality is poor. What can I do? Well shop around on the Internet is the answer. We have discovered one or two companies that will do a full Beer Line Rescue service for a great deal less than the brewers. The brewers can sometimes charge up to £25 per beer line, a lot of money if you have a large pub. Our research shows that small independent companies will do this Beer Line Rescue service for a great deal less, saving you lots of cash when you need it most. Typically they will charge you between £10 and £15 pounds per line.

Beer quality is paramount whether you are opening or reopening a pub. It is false economy to neglect cleaning your beer lines. Get your beer quality right and you are starting on the right footing. Anyway the beer lines are clean in our virtual cellar……we hope. We just might have to do a virtual beer line rescue.

All keg cream flow or extra smooth bitter products have a device fitted on the end of the tap called a diffuser. The diffuser is designed to liberate nitrogen from within the beer. No diffuser no creamy head.

Different cream flows have their own type of diffuser. Tetley Smoothflow, John Smiths Extra Smooth, Boddingtons etc, all have individual diffusers for their Taps.

A diffuser has a holed disc fitted inside, either plastic or metal. As you look into the diffuser you should see it in place.
These holes should be all free from debris.

As well as special diffusers being fitted Cream flow beers have to be dispensed using the correct mixed gas. It is important that the correct gas is used. Because of similar fittings on mixed gas containers it is possible to use the wrong gas. Check with you local technician if you are not sure what gas should be used.

Most cream flow beers use 70/30 mixed gases. If your Cream flow is flat check the following.

• Make sure correct brand diffuser is fitted
• Check the diffuser disc is in place.
• Check all the holes are clear from debris.
• Make sure correct gas is in use in accordance with brewery  instructions.
• If problem persists call for your local Technician

If your keg lager is dispensing slowly check the following.

• In the cellar check the keg is not empty.
• Ensure the gas supply to the keg is connected to full cylinders and is turned on.
• Check the gas supply to the keg coupler is turned on at the secondary valve. This is usually mounted on the cellar board above the keg.
• If an electric pump is fitted to the lager make sure it is switched on and that the pump is primed. The pump is usually primed through a small bleed cock mounted on the side of the pump. There may be a red or green priming button fitted to the pump, which should be pressed after priming.
• If a non-electric, gas type pump is fitted make sure the gas supply to it is turned on.
• Finally at the bar make sure that if adjustable taps are fitted, usually on Stella dispensers, that the tap is not fully adjusted shut.

If you still have slow lager you should contact your local Technician.

Drink it quick……Well, as long as you don’t lose yours [head that is] you may be able to solve this problem yourself, quite easily.

The main reason for poor head retention, as we in the Trade call it, is usually dirty glasses. Now I know what you are saying,” I Bloody well clean my glasses properly”.

The thing is, there is cleaning your glasses and “cleaning your glasses”. Before we talk about glass cleaning in detail, lets talk about why it is so important to do it properly. Ask yourself how many times does a single glass get used every day. Well if you are doing a good trade the answer may be very many.

Glasses retain grease from people’s mouths, from lipstick and even from some drinks, which are served in them. Always remember this, Grease and Beer do not go well together. So it is important to ensure there is absolutely no grease or other contaminates in your glasses.

The other obvious reason we must clean glasses thoroughly is to prevent germs being passed on to other people.

So here we go:

• Make sure your glass washer is cleaned regularly every day.
• Have your glass washer serviced at regular intervals. See makers guide lines.
• Make sure the correct cleaning and rinse aid products are being used, and are always full.
• Do not use the glass washer for anything else other than glasses. Sorry! No coffee cups, ashtrays. Dinner plates.
• Replace damaged or scratched glasses. They are not that expensive.
• Never polish glasses. Jack Duckworth might do it, but you shouldn’t do it in the real world.
• Always stack your glasses on proper stacking mats.

If the head on your beer is still poor, contact your local Tech Services.

In the cellar, check the plastic see through fob detector , directly above the keg on the wall, is full of beer. If it is empty of beer, then the keg in use is empty. Change on to a new keg.

Make sure that the gas to the keg is switched on, usually there is a gas valve.

Check full gas bottles are connected to the gas system and that they are turned on.

If there is a gas pump fitted, these are usually small black box type units on the wall, make sure the gas supply to them is switched on.

If there are electric pumps on the system make sure they are switched on and the prime button has been pressed.

Check the tap, make sure the sparklers or diffusers are clean and free from contamination.

If beer is still not serving contact your local Tech Services