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**limulus** · 12-13-2009, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telix

Carbonate them naturally upright. Chill them in your fridge. Attach the tap with the bottle upright (obviously), lay it on its side, then insert C02 cartridges, keeping it on its side. Stick it back in the fridge and keep it cold and on its side from then on.

I'm attempting to naturally carbonate with the full amount of priming sugar this time. I'll report back with my experiences. The worst thing about TAD is the way the carbonation changes over time as the CO2 cartidges add forced carbonation, but the extra head space causes the carbonation to change again, and as the CO2 runs out it changes, etc etc. It's very difficult to have a consistent pour from it. I'm hoping a full natural carb will change that.

I'm also using the full amount of sugar on my batch. This batch was in primary for 18/19 days and then crashed cooled for 24hrs before moving to a bottling bucket. I figured a lot of yeast probably settled out and I'd need the full sugar load. They've been in my basement at 69F nine days now and the bottles are firm, but no bombs.

**jkarp** · 12-13-2009, 04:45 AM

The reason you must keep TaD horizontal during CO2 cartridge insertion is the cartridges are partially liquid CO2. If the liquid is allowed to flow through the TaD it can break it and even burst the bottle due to rapid expansion if it makes it that far.

**ChshreCat** · 12-13-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkarp

The reason you must keep TaD horizontal during CO2 cartridge insertion is the cartridges are partially liquid CO2. If the liquid is allowed to flow through the TaD it can break it and even burst the bottle due to rapid expansion if it makes it that far.

+1 on that. I knew I'd heard the reason why and it was something like that, but I couldn't recall enough of it to crate a coherent sentence on the subject.

I always use the same amount of sugar I'd use for bottling and have had no issues. No leaks or problems. And I have the plain black caps that came with my TAD system.

**limulus** · 12-20-2009, 09:45 PM

OK Lads, I have a report to make:
I tapped my first TAD bottle yesterday. It had been naturally carbonating for just over two weeks and had been refrigerated a day or two. In the beginning, it was in primary for over two weeks and then crash cooled for 24hrs. From there it went to a bottling bucket with a full charge of priming sugar. From there, it went into three TAD bottles.

The first bottle had been in the fridge for a day or two. Yesterday morning, I removed the black cap and there was a nice hiss as CO2 was discharged. I screwed on the dispensing head, inserted one CO2 cart and placed it back into the fridge for several hours until our guests arrived. **(Someone else already said this and it is so true: When screwing in the cartridges, do it quickly once it is punctured or you'll lose a lot of CO2). I probably lost half my first cart that way. When it was time for the first pour, I placed the second CO2 cart in the regulator. I remember some of you said to open the tap all the way and then close it partially to generate a head at the end. The very first pour ran as pure and clear as a brown ale could be. It was great!

I do have two bottles of the brown ale left and I'll be filling three more with Bee Cave Haus Ale. Once a bottle is opened, I do have to wonder if it will last until I can consume it (there were 3 of us yesterday). After the Bee Cave Haus Ale, I'm going to modify my recipes to 3gal batches. I do have a brand new case of 12oz PET bottles and caps. Maybe, I'll fill some of those.

**ChshreCat** · 12-20-2009, 09:58 PM

When I'm the only one drinking it, I generally have to change carts at least once before I empty the bottle.

**jkarp** · 12-21-2009, 01:27 AM

Me too. Naturally carbonated it usually takes me 2 cartridges to push a bottle. If I force-carbonate, it's 3-4.

jrfuda · 12-21-2009, 01:14 PM

Same here. Naturally carb, use one cart initially and charge again about 1/2-way through the bottle. I have some Cream of 3 Crops Cream Ale that I'm going to start chilling tonight to serve to my guests on Christmas Day (along with some bottled Homebrew Amber Ale and a case of Sam Adams winter variety pack as a backup).

bguzz · 12-21-2009, 06:53 PM

I'm about to tap my first one this week. When inserting the co2 cartridge, I read that you need to do this quickly...is that only if you are doing 1 cartridge? or do you always have to have 2 installed? In other words, when you put one in, is co2 coming out of the other cartridge location until you put one there too?

Also, I have some NO2 cartridges...is there anything special about when to screw them in? (first, or after the co2?)

I'm psyched to tap my TAD!

**limulus** · 12-21-2009, 07:23 PM

I only did one and placed the whole thing back in the fridge on it's side for a few hours before tapping. When I was ready to tap, I added the second cart.

jrfuda · 12-21-2009, 07:32 PM

It's perfectly fine to only use 1 cart at a time. I assume there's a 1-way valve on each cart tap that preventsgas from getting out. I typically have only 1 cart on for about a week before adding the second.