Blichmann Beer Gun - Bottling for Comps - Raise PSI?

[BrewThruYou]

I currently kegged two beers for a competition in about 3 weeks...one a Best Bitter and another a Blonde Ale. The Best Bitter is currently at 6 PSI @ 38° for ~2.0 volumes and the Blonde is currently at 11 PSI @ 38° for ~2.5 volumes.

When using a Blichmann Beer Gun, should I raise the PSI in anticipation of losing some carbonation when filling the bottles? Anyone use the Beer Gun a lot and have some historical data?

 

[Hammy71]

I usually turn my gas up a few psi a day or two before I bottle with the beer gun. Even though you flush the bottles with CO2, your going to leave some head space. The head space allows the beer to slightly loose some carbonation as the gas in the beer equalizes with the head space. My 2cents anyways....

 

[HollisBrewCo]

I also turn my gas up a little bit. I have read somewhere (new brewing lager beer, Brewing by Lewis/ Young ? not sure) that you can loose 10% of your CO2 when bottling. Generally i turn my regulator up 2psi a day or two before bottling, seems to work for me

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

Same here, I will bump it up 2 psi the day before. Never really tested it since I always did it this way from day one. But like they say if it works don’t mess with it! And no one ever said any of my beers bottles using the gun were under carbonated so I guess it works! Or at least it makes me fell better.

 

[CidahMastah]

If you don't have time to goose the psi a day or two in front - just don't leave much head space. I have just filled it up more and left about 1/3 to 1/2 half the head space that the gun would leave. Carb stays true with less head space.