Beer didn't carbonate... gelatin?

[jasonclick]

I had two beers that were ready for bottling at the same time... a bohemian pilsner and a pale ale. Both have been in the bottle for almost 3 weeks. Both have very little carbonation. The only things I did different than usual is racking to a secondary and adding gelatin to the secondary to help clarify the beer. I don't thing the secondary is an issue since that's a common practice for some. Could the gelatin be the cause? I basically bought some gelatin from the grocery store... mixed 1 envelope in a cup of water (heated to 140 degrees) and then poured half into the pilsner and the other half into the pale ale about 4 days before bottling. Could the gelatin be the issue?

 

[mtk6006]

Sometimes it just happens. I have opend micro brews with no carb and commercial beers. It happens it sucks but.....

 

[duboman]

I had two beers that were ready for bottling at the same time... a bohemian pilsner and a pale ale. Both have been in the bottle for almost 3 weeks. Both have very little carbonation. The only things I did different than usual is racking to a secondary and adding gelatin to the secondary to help clarify the beer. I don't thing the secondary is an issue since that's a common practice for some. Could the gelatin be the cause? I basically bought some gelatin from the grocery store... mixed 1 envelope in a cup of water (heated to 140 degrees) and then poured half into the pilsner and the other half into the pale ale about 4 days before bottling. Could the gelatin be the issue?

Probably not as a lot of folks use it with no issues. More importantly, how are you priming?

 

[jasonclick]

5oz of corn sugar in each 5 gallon batch. The pilsner was in the primary for a month and then the secondary for a month. Pale ale was in the primary for two weeks and then the secondary for two weeks.

 

[woody34]

If there's some carbonation, even a little, you probably just need more time. I've learned that anywhere from 1 to 5 weeks is to be expected at 70 degrees.

 

[david_42]

As long as the gelatin was added 24 hours or more before bottling, it won't impact the carbonation. Are the caps from a batch you've used before?

 

[jasonclick]

It's been sitting at around 72-73 degrees the whole time carbonating.

 

[jasonclick]

As long as the gelatin was added 24 hours or more before bottling, it won't impact the carbonation. Are the caps from a batch you've used before?

Same caps I've used on previous beers.

 

[duboman]

If there's some carbonation, even a little, you probably just need more time. I've learned that anywhere from 1 to 5 weeks is to be expected at 70 degrees.

+1 and at 70F, if they've been kept colder, warm them up a bit. Also, don't confuse carbonation for head. If you see bubbles rising after you pour the beer is carbonating but if you have no head it could just be dirty glassware. Any sort if soap residue on our glass will kill the head

 

[woody34]

It's been sitting at around 72-73 degrees the whole time carbonating.

Sounds like you did everything correctly. I think it just needs more time.+1 on making sure your glass is clean and soap free.

 

[Revvy]

Just because it's not carbed at EXACTLY 3 weeks, doesn't mean anything whatsoever is wrong. Just remember the three weeks at 70 degrees we talk about on here is the MINIMUM it usually takes. Beers can take a couple months to carb.

Just give them a roll to resuspend the yeast and forget about them for a couple more weeks.

 

[jasonclick]

that's my plan... to wait... after a few weeks I'll have to hit the panic button. It's frustrating after all the time and effort it takes to make this stuff and then one of the steps doesn't work. I guess that's a good excuse to start kegging?

 

[mtk6006]

Your frustrated? I finally make a good beer and i only got 11 bottles from 2 gallon! If i did 5 gallons it would taste like butt....i have to wait for a 11 pack!?!??! Gotta have paitence though. Next batch im blowing steel toes off someones boots 5 miles away! bc it will be just that good! I hope......