Can someone explain "volumes of C02" please

[ILOVEBEER]

Hello,

I am still new to AG and chalked up my 70th gallon and have good results with my method of force carbing. I understand that carbonating is dependant on the style of beer made....since I only make ales as of now, this is the method I use.

I set my regulator at 20psi and force carb for 10 minutes and dispense right around 10-12psi with great results. Some people shake the $hit out of the keg. I found that by holding it at a 45* angle, allow the gas diffusion (audible) to finish......bring it back to vertical and drop it back to a 45* with a slight jerking motion at the end seems to stimulate the gas exchange. Like I said it may not be the right way, but it yields great results for me.

Now for the question: When people say "carbonate to 2 volumes" what exactly does this mean?

Thanks for the help
Joe

 

[weirdboy]

I could be wrong, but I think it means there's approximately 2x your volume of beer of CO2 at atmospheric pressure dissolved into the liquid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry's_law

 

[jds]

That's exactly what it means. If you have 5 gallons of beer in the carboy, carbonated to 2 volumes, there are 10 gallons (at STP) of CO2 dissolved in the beer.

Here's a useful chart (http://hbd.org/brewniversity/foodscience/forcecarbonation.shtml) that helps you determine what pressure and temperature combinations will provide the carbonation you desire.

 

[TipsyDragon]

this site is good for figuring out what pressure to use. it gives a suggested range for the style of beer then tells you what PSI you need to get it there.

 

[ILOVEBEER]

Awesome guys...thank you!