DancingBull

Recipes 

I read through the forums and I think I'm probably just being impatient.

My very first batch was a pale ale, final gravity of 1.018, came out with about 3.95 gallons. After a week in primary and another week in secondary, I bottled using a half a cup of primary sugar last Sat. 2/20. I bottled in 22 ounce bottles. I tried one tonight (after 10 days) and it was only slightly, very very very slightly carbonated.

Am I screwed or just impatient.

Thanks in advance!

PS: The taste is good, just lacking carbonation.

billvon

Recipes 

It's taken me up to three weeks to see good levels of carbonation.

dummkauf

Recipes 

I am still waiting on my first brew, kolsch style ale, and it's all bottled up in 22oz bottles. Cracked the 1st after 2 weeks and had the same thing, cracked one at 3 weeks, and last week at 4 weeks it had enough carbonation to give it a little head and was drinkable. Think I will be waiting a couple more weeks atleast before I crack another.

DavidSteel

Recipes 

If 1/2 a cup is around 4oz if priming sugar then you're just being impatient. I was the same way with my last brew. Took longer to carb. Since I didn't like how it was, I just let it sit in the corner for another 2-3 weeks (like it was grounded for being bad or something). Went back, cracked one open, and it was fine.

__________________
Primary: None.
Secondary: Nawww
Bottled: Ó Flannagáin Standard, Random Stout, Nut Brown, Edwort's Rye IPA, Milk Stout + Coffee Milk Stout, Centennial Blonde, Pale Ale, Cthulhu Dementia Robust Porter, Nyarlathotep (I)IIPA, Willamette IPA parti-gyle, Indian Brown Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Blueberry Oatmeal Stout, Barely Legal IIPA, Oatmeal Stout 2, Hazelnut Coffee Oatmeal Stout
Planned: RIS, Coconut Porter

Pappers_

Recipes 

^ what he said

For bottle conditioning, leave the bottles for at least 3 weeks in a warmish area (70 F or warmer is best). Some beers can take much longer, if its carbing some, then you know that the yeast is working, just give it time. To test after 3 weeks, put a bottle in the fridge for a couple of days and then open. If its good, then put more bottles in the fridge. If its still under carbonated, wait it out some more.

Have you seen the carbonation calculator at www.mrmalty.com?

__________________
http://www.singingboysbrewing.com

Mmenges

Recipes 

The longer you let it sit the better it will get. Just be patient! Another thing to look out for is the conditioning temp. If you condition you beer at a warmer temp, say 70-72 it will carb up pretty quick. On the other hand if you're storing your bottles at a lower temp it will directly effect the time it takes for the bottles to carb up.

osagedr

Recipes 

Not fully carbed after 10 days?

Better dump it.

Some church guy here on HBT keeps talking about 3 weeks at 70 as a MINIMUM but what could he know?

billvon

Recipes 

One way to avoid a lot of worrying is to get a few PET bottles (i.e. 20 oz Pepsi bottles or something) and put some primed beer in that. If they are getting more rigid - the beer is carbing. No need to even open the bottle. If you don't like that approach, 7oz Coronita bottles result in less beer wasted by continual tests of carbonation levels.

DancingBull

Recipes 

Thanks everyone, this is what I was hoping to hear. Much appreciated, I will check back with them in about 2 more weeks. By the way, they are in my hall closet which fluxuates (sp?) between 65 and 69 degrees.

Pappers_

Recipes 

They should carb there, but it will likely take longer than if they were in a warmer spot.

__________________
http://www.singingboysbrewing.com