I recently tried to make some rootbeer using the extract then adding yeast and sugar, but I was worried about the 2 liters exploding on me. I ended up opening one of them too early, and it just seemed hard to judge exactly when they were done by the hardness of the bottles. How exactly do the carbonator caps work? I'm thinking of buying one. Do they work over time or can you carbonate quickly?
__________________ The End of the Line Brewing Co.
Primary: Bourbon Imperial Coffee Stout
Secondary: Blackberry mead
On tap: Imperial pumpkin, Graham cracker brown
Bottled: Barn Door Dubbel (5/2011)
I recently tried to make some rootbeer using the extract then adding yeast and sugar, but I was worried about the 2 liters exploding on me. I ended up opening one of them too early, and it just seemed hard to judge exactly when they were done by the hardness of the bottles. How exactly do the carbonator caps work? I'm thinking of buying one. Do they work over time or can you carbonate quickly?
I have no idea, but I put my rootbeer into a keg. If you got the CO2 setup anyways, might aswell buy a reconditioned keg to dedicate to it.
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PRIMARY - Irish Red
PRIMARY - Apple Bee Cider
PRIMARY - Dunkelweizen
PRIMARY - Orange Blossom Mead
Never done soda, but carbonate water all the time. Fill the bottle about 3/4. Squeeze to remove all the air and put the Carbonator Cap on. Charge with about 30 lbs. Shake the heck out of it. Charge and shake till you get desired level of carbonation.
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All a carbonator cap is is a gas connector on a screw top. At 30 psi & cold soda, you can carbonate in about 5 minutes. Once it is carbonated, put the regular cap back on.
Be very certain your CO2 line has a check-valve in it.
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Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"
Thanks guys- next root beer I do will either be kegged or I'll use a carbonator cap. I'm thinking I want to stick to smaller batches of 1-2 gallons at a time, it could take a long time to empty a keg of root beer.
__________________ The End of the Line Brewing Co.
Primary: Bourbon Imperial Coffee Stout
Secondary: Blackberry mead
On tap: Imperial pumpkin, Graham cracker brown
Bottled: Barn Door Dubbel (5/2011)
They work pretty quickly, but you can't use as much psi as with a keg because the plastic won't take it. The package says not to exceed a certain psi, but I can't remember it. I don't go over 30 psi. The quick connect on your gas line will connect to the cap.
I never made one mysefl and just paid the $12 for one at my LHBS. I only have one cap, but that is enough because unlike with beer, you can use a regular cap once you carbonate the soda, and just recharge it as needed. They are also great for recharging any store bought flat soda.
You might consider making concentrate. Just mix the extract & sugar with enough water to fill a 2L bottle. Assuming your recipe is for 4 gallons, then you can put one cup of concentrate in a 2L bottle, chill & carbonate. That way, you'll only have a bottle of concentrate & a 'working' bottle of soda in the fridge. Add a bottle of water to pre-chill & you'll have a steady supply.
__________________
Remember one unassailable statistic, as explained by the late, great George Carlin: "Just think of how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are even stupider!"
Carbonator Caps
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