If one of the draft lines at your bar is pouring foamy, which of the following could be the cause?

A foamy pour from a draft line can occur due to a variety of factors affecting the flow and pressure of the beer, and a kink in the hose that runs from the coupler to the wall is indeed a potential cause. When there is a kink in the hose, it restricts the flow of beer through the draft system, leading to increased turbulence and agitation of the liquid. This can create excess foam as the carbon dioxide in the beer is released more rapidly than intended, resulting in a foamy pour.

Understanding the draft system helps to identify issues like this. In a properly functioning system, the beer should flow smoothly, maintaining the correct balance of carbonation that results in a clean pour. Any obstruction, such as a kink, disrupts this balance.

Although excessive carbonation in the beer can also lead to a foamy pour, the specific scenario mentioned — the draft line pouring foamy — points more readily to the mechanical issue of a kink in the hose. Similarly, while faulty tap handles and dirty glassware can cause poor pouring characteristics, they are less directly linked to the mechanics of the draft system compared to a kink in the hose. Thus, identifying a kink offers a clear and specific solution to a foamy pour problem.