druss716

Recipes 

Opened my very first bottle of homebrew today, a Hefeweizen from my LHBS. Spent 2 weeks in the Primary and it hit its FG of 1.012. Bottled it and had it sit for another 2 good weeks, then another week or so in the fridge after that. Tried it this afternoon and its definitely lacking carbonation. When I poured it in my glass, it didn't have much of a head. I can see bubbles in the glass, but the beer itself just tastes sort of flat. It has pretty good flavor, just not very carbonated.
Should I leave it a little bit longer before drinking, or am I doomed to have an undercarbonated beer?
Anything I can do in the future to ensure proper carbonation?
Aside from that, not bad at all for my first homebrew!

yaaybeer

Recipes 

I'm only on my 3 rd brew. That happened with my first. I was prob impatient though. Try turning them upside down and resuspending the yeast. Then leave back at original temp for another week or two. Keep trying a beer every week. Out of interest did u use the carb sweets/drops or sugar? Carb drops seem to take much longer

BrewMasta

Recipes 

Yes, I actually had the same problem with my first attempt at bottle conditioning, and carbonating. I also let my beer (caribou slobber) go only 2 weeks in the bottle, and one on the fridge, and it had carbonation, but not much. I still have one case that's at 70 degrees, it's sitting for 4 weeks + now, and I'm hoping its going to be better than the first case. If its not I think it's likely that I used less priming sugar than I should have.

It's my understanding that you need to wait at least 3 weeks at about 70 degrees prior to going to the fridge, and if your beer is a big beer then it needs even longer than three weeks likely. Hopefully you still have some that are at 70 degrees that you can leave longer b4 going to the fridge for experimentation purposes. At your stage everything is an experiment, so you should try them at different stages, and time intervals until you get the process right. Under carbonation is a disappointment I know, but it's still tasty beer right.

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" life is like a case of beer, you must enjoy it every day"

- American Brown Ale in Bottles
- Zesty Pale Ale on tap #1 / @50%, orange mango
- Dead Ringer IPA on tap #2 / @50%, piny
- Belgium Tripel in primary #1
- IPA in primary #2

* Member of the Maniacal Association of Shoreline Home-brewers, CT

triskelion

Recipes 

happened to me once before, I put it down to the metal screw top bottles leaking

Revvy

Recipes 

Repeat after me...."3 weeks at 70, 3 weeks at 70, 3 weeks at 70.....There are NO carbonation problems, only patience ones...."

Take the beers out of the fridge, let them warm up, and check them in TWO weeks. Give them a shake after the first week. Only put one or two in the fridge to check the carb. If they're not ready, MORE TIME.

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BrewMasta

Recipes 

Revvy, what would be your advice should someone have put all their beer in the fridge prematurely. What should the process be to try to get the to finish carbonating. I read the bit about turning them over, but how long should they sit upside down? Should they get a little swirl as you turn them over? And will they finish carbonating once they get back to 70 degrees, and how long should they remain at 70 b4 going back in the fridge?

__________________
" life is like a case of beer, you must enjoy it every day"

- American Brown Ale in Bottles
- Zesty Pale Ale on tap #1 / @50%, orange mango
- Dead Ringer IPA on tap #2 / @50%, piny
- Belgium Tripel in primary #1
- IPA in primary #2

* Member of the Maniacal Association of Shoreline Home-brewers, CT

druss716

Recipes 

I used regular old priming sugar, not tabs or anything.

Guess I'll sit tight for awhile longer.

I only put 1 or 2 bottles in the fridge, so at least the other 40+ are still rocking out and waiting.

Stupid, sexy impatience.

Revvy

Recipes 

Look at my response above, I answered what someone should do if they're in the fridge.

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Like my snazzy new avatar? Get Sons of Zymurgy swag, here, and brew with the best.

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

BrewMasta

Recipes 

Thanks Revvy, will do.

__________________
" life is like a case of beer, you must enjoy it every day"

- American Brown Ale in Bottles
- Zesty Pale Ale on tap #1 / @50%, orange mango
- Dead Ringer IPA on tap #2 / @50%, piny
- Belgium Tripel in primary #1
- IPA in primary #2

* Member of the Maniacal Association of Shoreline Home-brewers, CT

GeorgiaTiger

Recipes 

If there is anyone on the forum that you guys should heed their words, it is Revvy. You will never go wrong following Revvy's advice! JUST DO IT!

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Allen
"Im an airlock sniffer...I sniff airlocks"
Primary 1: Empty
Primary 2 (LBK): Empty
On Deck - IPA of some sort
Bottled - Irish Red Ale
Wicked Gnome HomeBrewing