12% brew not carbing

[mcsewnab]

Hey all,

My last batch was a Sam Adams Old Ale clone. It came out just under 12%. It's been bottled for about 2 months now and it's still not carbed. I have tried bottles randomly so I don't think it was my priming sugar mix. I think at this point the alcohol level might have killed off the yeast.

I decided to bottle this batch instead of keg because I planned to go through it at a much slower pace. My question is, would it be a problem if I opened all the bottles, dumped them into a cornie, and forced carbed the brew?

I'm guessing the high alcohol content would prevent any type of contamination.

The brew is coming along nice just no bubbles.

Opinions appreciated.

 

[Sir Humpsalot]

Give them all a good shake every couple of days...

 

[Thalon]

Any idea exactly which strain of yeast you used?

I suspect yeah the yeast is probably having a tough time fermenting with the ABV. I don't know how much it's worth to you to carb this batch in the bottle, but you may consider adding some dry yeast of a strain that can handle a nice high ABV.

 

[mcsewnab]

Here is the recipe, I followed it exactly including the yeast.

21lb American 2 row pale malt
2 lb Munich malt
1 lb Special roast
1 lb CaraMunich
.5 lb Special B

Single infusion 148˚ for 60 minutes.

2oz Northdown (6%aa) 60 min
2oz Kent Golding (5%aa) 30 min
2oz Fuggle (4%aa) 10 min

Wyeast 1728 Scottish Ale Yeast

Target OG 1.090
Target FG 1.020
ABV 9.4
IBU 74

Ferment at 65-74 (5 days) lower to 55˚ (15 days) raise to 70˚ 2 days before bottling.

 

[FlyGuy]

It was probably that the yeast went inactive before carbonation completed, usually because the bottles got too cool.

Here is some advice from a previous thread. Sorry -- I am too lazy to type it all out again.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=310490#post310490

 

[mcsewnab]

I dont think temp is a problem but I guess it could be a factor. I have them stored at 68-70. I have brewed about 12 other batches that have carbed fine at this temp.

I will have a read through the other post but I really dont have any desire to try to carb the bottles at this point. I was hoping to just dump it in a keg and force carb.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[david_42]

No reason to not keg it. I'd flush the keg with CO2 and put the bottle's neck inside the keg while pouring, but it should work.

 

[FlyGuy]

Sorry -- I misunderstood.

+1 to what David_42 said. Flush the keg with CO2 and dump away.