Ok, I am trying to figure out why my beer has been under carbed. I am batch priming with corn sugar, I used the calc on tasteybrew. The only thing is I have to measure by volume instead of by weight (no scale yet). Does any know if there is a significant difference between volume and weight at around 3.5oz? Thanks!
Priming sugar: Volume vs. Weight
- Thread starter tmoney645
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Go get a 20 dollar digital scale from any store.
yes there is a difference between measuring dry ingredients by volume vs weight. There's a classic experiment that Alton Brown did on his show where he took a half cup of unsifted and sifted flour and weighed them both and showed there was a substantial difference in weight between the two.
You can do this your self with a measuring cup of brown sugar. Fill a half cup with brown sugar. Now press the sugar down in the cup. How much is there? Half? Now go and get some more brown sugar and cram all that into the cup. So now you have a half cup of sugar that has twice as much sugar in it as before you compressed it.
Think that would affect carbonation?
yes there is a difference between measuring dry ingredients by volume vs weight. There's a classic experiment that Alton Brown did on his show where he took a half cup of unsifted and sifted flour and weighed them both and showed there was a substantial difference in weight between the two.
You can do this your self with a measuring cup of brown sugar. Fill a half cup with brown sugar. Now press the sugar down in the cup. How much is there? Half? Now go and get some more brown sugar and cram all that into the cup. So now you have a half cup of sugar that has twice as much sugar in it as before you compressed it.
Think that would affect carbonation?
What volume of sugar are you adding? The tastybrew calculator is giving you the weight of sugar in ounces but volume is measured in fluid ounces which are unrelated. Northen Brewer gives you weight and volume: http://www.northernbrewer.com/priming-sugar-calculator/. If you are only putting 3.5 fluid ounces instead of 3.5 weighed ounces then that wouldn't be enough and is probably the problem.
Go to the kitchen stuff isle at wallmart. I got mine there for $20,along with some other brew useful items. I gotta remember to get some of those paper dixie cups to use for weighing hops & other bits of stuff.
logdrum
Well-Known Member
+1. i just ordered a backup scale for myself (because i know mine will fail eventually, and you can't have a brew day without one) from amazon for $10, and got free shipping 'cause i ordered a bunch of other stuff: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012N1NAA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
tell me you wouldn't pay $10 to ensure all your future beers are properly carbed...
tell me you wouldn't pay $10 to ensure all your future beers are properly carbed...
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That what I figured, I knew there was a difference, I was just hoping at these small amounts that it was negligable. Not so much lol. I am fairly certain Santa is bringing me a nice scale with a tare funtion so all this should be taken care of Thanks for the input guys!
Thanks for the input guys!
iamperplexed
Well-Known Member
That being said, I just used 4.3oz of corn sugar for an Amber Ale which "shows" as over a cup in my measuring cup. Northern Brewer calculator shows that amount as 0.5 cup on their chart. A little confusing. I used my digital scale by weight but was shocked to see it "showing" over a cup when I transferred it to a measuring cup for reference. My last Stout was a bit over carbed and I'm getting more and more nervous about bombs. Wish I could feel better about my measurments. Maybe my $5 digital scale from e-bay is proving the old "get what you pay for" theory.
It might not be the scale. Volume measurements for priming sugar are really inaccurate and variable. There are so many factors that can change like how you pack it or moisture content or any number of things.
But if you're worried about your scale you can always get this scale that sweetcell posted: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012N1NAA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20. I have that exact one and it has always worked like a charm. Only $10.
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Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
Very likely the scale is the issue. Or the batteries (if battery powered) are getting low. You can try changing the batteries in it and see how it does. Weigh something before you change them, then again after to see what the results are.
IMO, you don't need to spend much to get a really good digital scale these days. Depending on the stores near you, or where you order from, you should be able to get something (that's accurate and reliable) in the $10-$30 range.
iamperplexed
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure I'm just being paranoid. After weighing out my 4.3oz from a new 1lb bag of sugar, I placed the remaining sugar on the scale and the math was correct. I guess I'm just proving a point about eyeballing it and will never again rely on anything but dry weight measurements.
Thanks for the link. I might go that route when my current scale gives out, which seems inevitable due to an already dim display.
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I got my digital scale from walmart kitch needs isle for $20. It measures up to 10lbs in kg,lbs,oz,& grams.
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