Carbonation question

bearkluttz · 07-16-2008, 08:58 PM

I am brewing 4.25 Gallons of Northern Brown Ale from extract. I have found that my past few brews have been WAY over carbonated for my liking when i use 3/4 of a cup of corn sugar for 5 gallons to carbonate. Due to the smaller size of this batch would i be way off to only use 1/4 or 1/3 of a cup to carb this batch? Thoughts questions comments...

TwoHeadsBrewing · 07-16-2008, 09:18 PM

Two things to try:

1. Scale 3/4 cup per 5 gallons down to the amount in your primary (4.25 gallons would be about 2/3 cup, exactly .6375)
2. Make sure your beer is done fermenting. A lot of overcarbonation can occur when the beer has not yet finished when you bottle.

The Blow Leprechaun · 07-16-2008, 09:34 PM

Best thing to do would be to measure your priming sugar by weight and use a software tool to calculate exactly what carbonation level you want for that particular style of beer.

http://tastybrew.com/calculators/priming.html

That one'll work, but I've seen better ones out there.

UselessBrewing · 07-16-2008, 09:34 PM

The style says 2.0-2.6 volumes.Try using 2.3 oz corn sugar for 4.25Gal and 2.0 Volumes. Which is just over 1/4 cup corn sugar

homebrewer_99 · 07-16-2008, 10:25 PM

They usually supply you with 4 oz of CS for priming.

4 / 5 gals = .8 oz per gal of beer...

Never use the cup method because CS can compact. Once it does you've inadvertantly overprimed. On the other hand if it's not compacted are you underpriming?

I recommend weight...

BrosBrew · 07-16-2008, 10:26 PM

or use carbing tablets. I'm gonna give them a whirl in about 2 weeks.