Carbonation fail

[CBecksOSU1]

Just brewed a RIS with 2 cups of Bulleit Bourbon and an ounce of dark brown oak wood chips. Out of the secondary it tasted like heaven.

Didn't want it too carbonated so I only added 2.5 oz of priming sugar in one cup of water. 5 gallon recipe.

A week later absolutely no carbonation what so ever. Moved the bottles to a warmer room and I'll check another bottle in a week.

Do you Guys think I way under carbed? Hopefully the warmer room will kick start carbonation process. If not anything in can do?

 

[gromitdj]

It will be undercarbed. But that's what you wanted, correct? Also, a RIS may take a little longer to carb up. Your yeast is tired, and the beer is higher alcohol. The Standard 3 weeks is likely not going to do it. I would give it at least 5 weeks minimum at 70F.

At 1 week, I would expect that virtually nothing has happened.

 

[cshamilton]

Strong beers always take longer to carb - plus yours won't be very carbonated. Give it two more weeks. Strong beers can take 3 months to fully carbed, tired yeast an high alcohol slow things down. Some people pitch fresh yeast at bottling when they have big beers.

 

[CBecksOSU1]

It will be undercarbed. But that's what you wanted, correct? Also, a RIS may take a little longer to carb up. Your yeast is tired, and the beer is higher alcohol. The Standard 3 weeks is likely not going to do it. I would give it at least 5 weeks minimum at 70F.

At 1 week, I would expect that virtually nothing has happened.

I was looking for some Fizz along the lines of a Guinness but not much more. Think I'll get that at least?

 

[gromitdj]

Like most things homebrewing... it depends. Fermentation profile? Recipe? O.G./F.G.? All of that aside, I don't think you'll be as carbonated as a Guiness. I don't consider Guiness to be too lightly carbed.

However, I think you'll get some carbonation after a while. I wouldn't risk anything at this point. IMO, it's not worth opening the bottles and adding priming sugar. Write it down in your notes, and fix it next time. (if necessary) Chalk it up to a learning experience.