Carbonation...which is to say, how much...

I generally like decent carbonation in most of my brews, some more than others. I'll carb a Hefe up pretty well (which is too style), and on the rare occasion when I enjoy a lager I prefer a well carb'ed one. One thing I've found with many other ales is that I like to take a sample from the secondary where it has a slight natural carbonation and give it a try. If it tastes really fantastic as is I'll go with a very light carbonation (~2.5-3oz corn sugar for 5g). If it seems like it needs something more, particularly in hoppy ales in my experience, I'll go with more like 3.5-4oz corn sugar.

What's everybody else doing?

I lack what folks like to call "experience" in brewing, however, I used 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz.) of corn sugar for a 5 gallon batch for a pale ale that I made and it came out well carbonated, which probably means that it wasn't appropriate for the style. I used 3/4 cup (6 fl. oz) in my last doesn't-fit-into-any-style beer (think pale ale, but with a little wheat in the mash). I think it's fair to say that I like a fair amount of carbonation as well. I wonder how much you can put in before they start leaking/explode? Will bottles actually explode or will the crown cap leak first?

uh oh, 1/2 cup for 5 gallons was well carbonated? i just put 3/4 cup in my 5 gal batch I dont want them to blow! :-o

I usually use 2/3 cup corn sugar, which probably works out to about 4 - oz, in the pale ale that I make most often, and it comes out perfect. Nicely carbed. I used the same amount in a porter recently, and it seems like it is going to be too much, but I like it.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between what I like, and What I am expected to like.

I use in the range of 2/3-3/4 cup corn sugar per 5 gallons.
Some recipies in Clone Brews call for 1 cup per 5 gallons.
I have never really used over 4/5 cup per 5G...although may try it for a lighter brew.

Cheers.

I've used 3/4cup + 2Tbsp without issue. Well carbonated.

I always measure by weight just to be safe. I've used upwards of 7oz for Hefe before, so I know you won't get into bottle bombs in that range assuming that fermentation was completely over at bottling time.

You can carbonate this stuff?

I usually go with what promash tells me to according to the style when I bottle. Now that I keg, I just let it carbonate until it tastes really good and then stop, no matter what the style guidlines dictate what the proper carbonation level is supposed to be.

General rule: 1 oz of CS per gal of brew...4.5 gals= 4.5 oz.

Chairman Cheyco said:

You can carbonate this stuff?

I usually go with what promash tells me to according to the style when I bottle. Now that I keg, I just let it carbonate until it tastes really good and then stop, no matter what the style guidlines dictate what the proper carbonation level is supposed to be.

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Yeah, as to kegging I've been keeping mine in the 13-15psi range on my gauge (not sure how accurate it is). It seems to dispense best at that pressure for the amount of hose I have, and it's carbonated fine.

Baron von BeeGee said:

Yeah, as to kegging I've been keeping mine in the 13-15psi range on my gauge (not sure how accurate it is). It seems to dispense best at that pressure for the amount of hose I have, and it's carbonated fine.

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Yeah, I started out at ~10-11 psi and keep upping it for the IPAs, now hanging out at around 13-14 psi and enjoying the results. This is all at 40F.