Carbonation

[midd]

Hi folks..
I've just made my first batch of pale ale from a kit. I decided to barrel it rather than bottle. It's finished fermenting and is now cooling down to clear. I've had a few tastes but requires more carbonation as its quite flat. Is there any way I can give it a carbonation. Boost? Maybe add more sugar and leave for another week?
Or am I impatient and it will continue to carbonate as time goes on? I barrelled it with carbonation sugar 12 days ago so it's been left for longer than the instructions said.

Thanks

 

[Revvy]

What do you mean by "barrelling" it? Are you talking about in a pressure barrel?

Carbonation takes time for the yeast to eat the sugars, fart co2 and the co2 to go into solution....Adding MORE sugar if you've added the correct amount already will just make it over carbed when the yeast is finished doing it's job,

In bottles it takes around three weeks minimum when the beer is at 70 degrees for beer to fully reach it's carb level. I would assume that it will take AT LEAST as long for it to take in your barrel.

 

[midd]

In the instructions to leave it for 1 week at 70•c for carbonation then cool. It's currently outside (cold & dark) to clear. Does that mean it won't eat any more of the sugars because it's no longer at 70•c ?

 

[Revvy]

Bring it in, let it warm up and leave it for a couple more weeks

 

[WoodlandBrew]

Bottles typically take two weeks to carbonate for me, then I give them another week in the fridge for the CO2 to go into solution. For a pressure barrel I would imagine that it would take at least that much time. Let it sit for another week or two. If you bring it inside where it is warmer (Like Revvy suggested) it may happen faster.

 

[dstranger99]

OP, you didn't just pour the beer into the barrel did you ?

 

[midd]

OP, you didn't just pour the beer into the barrel did you ?

Siphoned into the barrel and added sugar?

 

[kh54s10]

What kind of barrel?

If it is not sealed (airtight) it will not carbonate.

 

[dstranger99]

Siphoned into the barrel and added sugar?

Ok...I was afraid that you just poured it in there......lol

 

[midd]

Ok...I was afraid that you just poured it in there......lol

No worries. It's a Sealed barrel with a gas bottle to pressurise it. I've just given it a couple of squirts and it's Sooo much better. Lovely head and everything. I only added 20 litres of water instead of 23 so it's stronger than it should be (like rocket fuel) and im not dissapointed about that lol..
Gonna (try) to leave it another couple of weeks before consuming any more )
Thanks for your help guys.

 

[Revvy]

What kind of barrel?

If it is not sealed (airtight) it will not carbonate.

I was pretty sure, he was referring to a UK style pressure barrel fermenter/server like this.

We don't really have much experience with them in the states. They're big in the UK, Australia and Canada. Most of us have never seen them or used them here.

 

[midd]

I was pretty sure, he was referring to a UK style pressure barrel fermenter/server like this.

We don't really have much experience with them in the states. They're big in the UK, Australia and Canada. Most of us have never seen them or used them here.

That's exactly what it is. I've got another brew on the go now and I'm gonna try bottling. See how much difference there is.