MikeM

Recipes 

I used my usual routine for bottle conditioning. 3/4 cup (5 oz) corn sugar in 5 gallons of beer. After sitting in my basement (temp varies from 68-72 degrees) for 3 weeks I tried one and the beer tasted very good but was under carbonated. Is it possible that if I let it sit a few more weeks it will finally carbonate or am I stuck w flat beer?
Thanks,
MIke

WorryWort

Recipes 

I would shake each bottle to rouse the yeast and then try to warm it up slightly, maybe move it to a warmer room for a week or two. If that doesn't work it might not improve, in my experience.

__________________
In Process - Russian Imperial Stout, Nelson Sauvin Rye IPA, Mild No.3

In Kegs - Barley Wine, Apfelwein, Wild BlackBerry Wheat, Coffee Oatmeal Porter

Gone - so many :(

ifishsum

Recipes 

I would roll the bottles to rouse the yeast rather than shake them, and it certainly is possible they will improve if given a couple more weeks. they may not though. I had similar issues with inconsistent carbonation from batch to batch, that improved greatly once I started weighing priming sugar amounts rather than measuring by volume. Something to keep in mind.

__________________
"If you're gonna be an ape, be a hairy one" - Spyder

Primary 2: Edwort's Robust Porter
Secondary 1: LW Pale Ale
Secondary 1: Blackened Soul RIS
Kegged: Dead Guy Ale
Kegged: Rye Pale Ale
Kegged: Haus Pale Ale
Kegged: Nut Brown Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber
Kegged: Jock Scott Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber

WorryWort

Recipes 

+1 on rolling them. Shaking was not a good description of how to do it. I gently turn them upside down a few times.

__________________
In Process - Russian Imperial Stout, Nelson Sauvin Rye IPA, Mild No.3

In Kegs - Barley Wine, Apfelwein, Wild BlackBerry Wheat, Coffee Oatmeal Porter

Gone - so many :(

golfguy819

Recipes 

I had the same problem w/ my pumpkin ale last fall. 3 weeks in the bottle, zero carbonation. I lightly tipped the bottle end over end, moved it in next to the furnace and 3 days later, completely carbed.

__________________
Primary: Christmas Cheer
Secondary: AHS Oaked Porter
Kegged:
On Tap: Blonde Ale, Pumpkin Ale
On Deck: Cream Ale, Honey Nut Brown

MikeM

Recipes 

Cool. I'll give it a try and report back in a few weeks.

MikeM

Recipes 

ok, I gently agitated the bottles and moved them upstairs where it is warmer. I let it sit 2 weeks and tried it and it was still flat. I'm going to let it sit for a few more weeks and try again. If it doesn't carbonate I'll keep it around for blending purposes.

Yooper

Recipes 

Well, even if it doesn't carb up this time (it should), don't give up! I had one beer that just didn't carb so I gently opened them and added literally one speak of dry yeast and recapped. It worked!

Is the beer a little sweet, like it hasn't fermented out the priming sugar? Or is not sweet, with sediment on the bottom? I'm wondering if your caps didn't seal tightly if that's the case.

__________________
Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

hukdizzle

Recipes 

+1 on weighing anything to do with brewing, grab a small gram scale off amazon.com and weigh your priming sugar additions.

__________________
Primary 1 - Cream Ale
Primary 2 - Cream Ale
Primary 3 - Empty
Secondary 1 - Empty
Bottled - Apfelwein, Big Roasted Rocket Fuel RIS
Kegged 1 - English Nut Brown Ale
Kegged 2 - American Brown IPA
Kegged 3 - Bavarian Hefeweizen
Kegged 4 - Empty
Kegged 5 - Empty

MikeM

Recipes 

I left the bottles alone and tried one on Saturday (11 weeks post bottling). It was................CARBONATED just right. There was a decent head, little bubbles were visible in the glass and it had the appropriate mouthfeel from carbonation. Thanks guys. I was considering dumping the batch but I'm glad I didn't.
Mike