MIA: Carbonation

I've been trying some of my strawberry honey wheat which has been in bottles for two weeks now and there is zero carbonation. I haven't had this problem before and I was wondering if there is anything I can do. I used 3/4 cup of corn sugar after 1 week in each of the two fermenters. I boiled the corn sugar for 5 minutes in a couple cups of water before adding it. I put the sugar water in the bottom of the bottling bucket and then siphoned from the secondary over the top of it without stirring. Any thoughts?

Stir a little (very gently without splashing) next time, and watch for exploders from the last few bottles filled this time.

El Pistolero said:

Stir a little (very gently without splashing) next time, and watch for exploders from the last few bottles filled this time.

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I agree w/ the shootist. You probably have a couple or 10 bombs on hand. Keep an eye out.

Are the bottles in a cool dark place (like a closet) and NOT in the refrigerator? The yeast won't work on the priming sugar if its too cold for the yeast.

ORRELSE said:

Are the bottles in a cool dark place (like a closet) and NOT in the refrigerator? The yeast won't work on the priming sugar if its too cold for the yeast.

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They're in the basement at about 65 degrees. They are out of light all of the time. I'm thinking about dumping the batch due to the bomb potential and chalking it up to experiance. Safety is more important then flat beer.

I wouldn't dump it yet. I brewed a batch believe it might have been my first english ale I also stored it in my basement it was closer to a month before it showed carbonation. I don't stir when I add the priming sugar to bottleing bucket. I let my siphon hose lay on bottom of bucket. Knock on wood no bombs yet.

joeyuwp said:

They're in the basement at about 65 degrees. They are out of light all of the time. I'm thinking about dumping the batch due to the bomb potential and chalking it up to experiance. Safety is more important then flat beer.

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Go buy a $8 Rubbermaid 25g tub and put the bottles in there until you're sure they're ok. If they do blow up, it will be easily contained and easily cleaned.

Eskram said:

Go buy a $8 Rubbermaid 25g tub and put the bottles in there until you're sure they're ok. If they do blow up, it will be easily contained and easily cleaned.

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Yeah I've already put most of them into coolers just in case. I'll probably give them another couple weeks before abandoning the lot.

I agree with cap46. I've done it both ways, stirring and just letting my siphon hose lay on the bottom of bucket and I've had good carbonation using both methods. And I have never, ever had a bottle bomb. (knock, knock)

Wait it out another week or two. I prime with DME, which I understand is a little slower to carbonate than corn sugar. But I still see my best carbonation at the 3-4 week mark. To me, two weeks just ain't long enough, especially with higher gravity beers!

If you added the sugar then you will get carbonation assuming that there is yeast in the beer. If the beer sat for a long time in the secondary then the yeast may have largely settled out.. in this case there will still be plenty to carbonate the brew but it might take a bit longer.

On my early batches I tried the swirling method (rack beer onto priming solution and let it swirl and stir itself). I ended up with uneven carbonation but no bottle bombs. Gently stirring is a must in my opinion.

The temp will also have a huge effect on how long it takes to carbonate. I'd say 65 F is too cold. Move the beer to an area that's somewhere above 70 F but below 80 F and it should carbonate. Definately do not throw a good batch out.. heck, even if it doesn't ever carbonate I'd still drink it flat, but that's me.

In your case my money is on the temp.. warm those bottles up a bit and see what happens.

I'd place them in a warmer place around 70 F, check the carbonation in one in a week then decide if I needed more carbonation.

If the carbonation is good then refridgerate your entire batch. If not, then wait another week.

In either case, if you get a bottle grenade then refridgerate the entire batch.
Refridgeration retards the yeast/carbonation process.

FWIW, I have cases of bottles that are carbonated and still haven't been placed in the fridge, but no bombs.

The only time I did have bombs was my first time making root beer.