Too little priming sugar?

[adhomebrew10]

OK -
So 5 weeks ago I bottled my brown ale. It was a 4 gallon batch, and I expected 3.75g in the bottling bucket - so I carbed to 1.9 volumes c02 using 2oz corn sugar. I actually ended up with just about 4g in the bottling bucket, so I needed about another half ounce of priming sugar. For 5 weeks the bottles have been holding at 70 degrees.

Anyway, 3 weeks in, I opened a bottle and got a slight psst. No head at all, and very flat. Waited 2 more weeks, opened another bottle and no change. Did I just add too little priming sugar? I can see that maybe it needs to go longer, but would expect some kind of change after 2 more weeks. It tastes green, like it did when I sampled what was left over in the bottling bucket - like priming sugar.

The beer also has 0 mouthfeel, very dry, considering it finished at 1.015. Any ideas?

 

[BendBrewer]

Have you met Revvy? If not, you're about to.

 

[adhomebrew10]

Have you met Revvy? If not, you're about to.

I understand the whole you have to wait deal - but this is an average gravity beer that has been in the bottle for 5 weeks. I would expect SOME improvement at this point, even if it needs longer, and simply want to know opinions on if I added too little priming sugar for the batch. I have read Revvy's replies on these threads many times, and I know that it takes time for a bottle to carb, but it has been over a month with 0 noticeable improvement from bottling - other than a slight fizz when I open the bottles.

All I am asking is if 2 oz corn sugar will give the seen result when used in 4g of beer.

It is quite possible that the "green" taste I am tasting is the hops - though it SHOULD be only 22 IBU (1.052 og, if I remember).

 

[Brewham]

2 oz of sugar is less than half what I use. I typically use 5 oz corn sugar for 5 gallons. So, "Yes" that could explain why the beer is flat.

Your 1.9 volumes is correct, but somewhere you read off the incorrect amount of sugar.

 

[sgillespie]

According to TastyBrew.com's priming calculator, 1.75 Volumes CO2 would require 2oz Corn Sugar for 4 Gal @ 70F. So I think your measurements are correct.

 

[Calder]

I don't use a calculator. I prime all my beers pretty much the same, and all seem to come out well.

For the longest time I used 2/3rds cup of can sugar for 5 gallons. Some while ago I decided to weigh it. It was 5 ozs, so now I just use 1 oz per gallon.

Corn sugar has 20% less fermentables for the same weight, so compared with what I usually use, you under-primed.

 

[adhomebrew10]

Well - this is my "Christmas" beer, so it will be around for another month. We will see if it carbs up more. It needs work anyway, not quite the flavor I was looking for. I wanted something much more malty.

Just out of curiosity, what is the carb level at 1.9 volumes like? I assume it has much more than what I have now. I was shooting for a carb level like a New Belgium 1554.

 

[sgillespie]

How would you categorize New Belgium 1554? To me probably most similar to a dark american brown ale or a robust porter.

TastyBrew.com calculator lists those styles with average volumes:
American Brown - 1.5 - 2.5
Robust Porter - 1.8 - 2.5