can i re-carbonate beer?

misteradam · 09-13-2009, 06:02 PM

Hello,

I have just finished carbonating an extract brew I made. This is the first time I've poured sugar into the bottles instead of using the pre measured sugar drops from coopers.

Well, it's been 2 weeks ( it's a cream ale ) and while there is carbonation, it's not carbed all the way. Imagine leaving your beer on the table for 2 hours and coming back to it, that's how they are.

I was wondering if I could open up the bottles, add a little more sugar, and close them up again? I'm using the plastic screw top 16oz bottles for this. I think I used 12oz measurements and didn't increase it enough.

Thanks,

-Adam

**Nurmey** · 09-13-2009, 06:05 PM

Rather than make possible bombs, leave your beer alone for a week or two more. The general rule is 3 weeks at 70° for full carbonation.

For more consistency, you might want to think about bulk priming rather than individual bottles. Boil up your sugar in a couple cups of water and add to bottling bucket before you rack the beer into it.

**Malticulous** · 09-13-2009, 09:03 PM

Plastic bottles can take more C02. You shouldn't need to worry about bombs. You know what you did wrong so you may as well fix it.

I have came across a few bottles that I didn't cap tight. 2 grams of table sugar and a new cap fixed them.

misteradam · 09-13-2009, 11:05 PM

thanks for your thoughts, guys. i think i will wait another week to be safe and then add more sugar.

misteradam · 09-25-2009, 03:07 AM

the re-carbonating didn't pan out. when i try to add additional sugar to the bottles they foam up and spill all over the place. i will enjoy the semi-flat beer as much as i can. at least it's a cheap recipe!