Didn't stir My priming sugar

[HoppyWeasel]

I just poured my sugar on top and didn't stir it... any problems with that? I will usually add my sugar first to my bottling bucket then siphon in my brew. Will some beers be more carbonated then others... Is this a rookie mistake? Or does it really matter if you stir it?

 

[Yooper]

Did you dissolve the sugar in water first? If you boiled the sugar and water together, and then poured it in it might not be too bad. Hopefully.

I never stir my priming solution, BUT I put it in the bottom of my bottling bucket and then rack the beer into it, with the tubing "curled" up in the bottom of the bottling bucket. This causes the bucket to fill from the bottom in a swirl, and mixes the priming solution thoroughly.

 

[HoppyWeasel]

Did you dissolve the sugar in water first? If you boiled the sugar and water together, and then poured it in it might not be too bad. Hopefully.



Yes I dissolved the sugar in water... and Yah I normally pour in my priming solution to the bottom of the bucket and then siphon my beer on top. I'm going to wait 2 weeks and hopefully it's carbonated!

 

[TANSTAAFB]

Even when I rack onto my priming sugar I get beers that carb at different times...one bottle has great head, the next is almost flat. That is only the case in the first 3 wks or so when I am being impatient and want to taste my beer

After 3-4 wks you probably won't see much difference...RDWHAHB

 

[Diver165]

I think you'll be ok. Time and room temp conditioning will tell. But like others have said, I dissolve the sugar in some water and put it in the bottle bucket to cool a little then rack the beer on top. I let it swirl as it flows in but I don't stir it. So far my beer has come out great.

 

[lou2row]

Forgot to stir my sugar just tonight, but added it before racking. Glad to see a couple saying that is okay.

Search function worked!

 

[kyle6286]

Did you dissolve the sugar in water first? If you boiled the sugar and water together, and then poured it in it might not be too bad. Hopefully.

I never stir my priming solution, BUT I put it in the bottom of my bottling bucket and then rack the beer into it, with the tubing "curled" up in the bottom of the bottling bucket. This causes the bucket to fill from the bottom in a swirl, and mixes the priming solution thoroughly.

What do you mean you rack the beer into the bottling bucket with the tubing curled? I place my tubing about an inch from the bottom of the bottling bucket and then keep it there the whole time, until my beer is done siphoning. Is this ok or should I be moving the bottom of the tubing so that it is always above the beer and not submerged? Hope this makes sense.

 

[drkaeppel]

What do you mean you rack the beer into the bottling bucket with the tubing curled? I place my tubing about an inch from the bottom of the bottling bucket and then keep it there the whole time, until my beer is done siphoning. Is this ok or should I be moving the bottom of the tubing so that it is always above the beer and not submerged? Hope this makes sense.

Submerged is fine. The idea is to lay your siphon tubing on the bottom of your bottling bucket at an angle (it usually sort of curls). This way, when the beer starts running into the bucket, it starts a whirlpool that mixes the priming sugar as it fills.

 

[kyle6286]

Submerged is fine. The idea is to lay your siphon tubing on the bottom of your bottling bucket at an angle (it usually sort of curls). This way, when the beer starts running into the bucket, it starts a whirlpool that mixes the priming sugar as it fills.

Ok I've only made one batch so far so I'll try this next time. Thanks for the response I appreciate it.

 

[Shaneoco1981]

What do you mean you rack the beer into the bottling bucket with the tubing curled? I place my tubing about an inch from the bottom of the bottling bucket and then keep it there the whole time, until my beer is done siphoning. Is this ok or should I be moving the bottom of the tubing so that it is always above the beer and not submerged? Hope this makes sense.

No, I keep my tube plenty long so that it hits the bottom of the bottling bucket and then some. You don't want to splash it at all. If you can keep it submerged to start, that would be ideal.

 

[FotenSowda]

What do you mean you rack the beer into the bottling bucket with the tubing curled? I place my tubing about an inch from the bottom of the bottling bucket and then keep it there the whole time, until my beer is done siphoning. Is this ok or should I be moving the bottom of the tubing so that it is always above the beer and not submerged? Hope this makes sense.

What I always do is:

1) Boil 2-3 cups of water, add amount of sugar pursuant to one of the many priming apps found on the web. Boil for another 30 seconds, remove from heat, cover with the lid off center so it cools in a reasonable timeframe. Stick in fridge to cheat once it's below 150 or so. Pull from fridge when near room temp.

2) Spray StarSan like mad all over the outside of the tube, my hands, the inside of the tube, and whatever else is near me. Dog doesn't appreciate it all that much, but his breath is great now.

3) Attach the top of the tube to the auto-siphon/cane, and lay the bottom 12 inches in the bottom of the (StarSanitized) bucket. Every hose I've ever gotten seems to have a permanent arc due to being on the spool originally. This arc helps curve the hose along the flat surface in the bottom of the bucket.

4) Pour priming sugar solution in the bottom of the bucket.

5) Start siphon, and watch it kind of swirl gently along the bottom. The swirling seems to degrade as the bucket fills.

6) Once siphoning is done, I gently pull the hose, and rinse it. I then GENTLY stir the beer, just to make sure everything is mixed well.

7) Lift bottling bucket onto counter top, after moving the carboy out of the way.

8) StarSan the hose again, install on bucket spigot and bottling wand, and away we go.

Long way of answering the question, but there it is. I personally don't like leaving an air gap between the end of the hose and the top of the siphoned liquid, but I don't freak out if I accidentally splash it a bit. I've learned that if reasonable measures are taken, oxidation is something that can be mitigated. I've made HORRIBLE mistakes with agitating/splashing beer pre-bottling, and every one of them tasted fine.

Different people will take different approaches, your mileage may vary, see local dealer for details...

 

[kyle6286]

Wow thanks a lot for that response. Great job explaining.

 

[FotenSowda]

Wow thanks a lot for that response. Great job explaining.

You're welcome! Good luck!

 

[Terranosaurus]

First batch is in trial phase!! Unfortunately I didn't stir in my priming sugar well. Tried a couple last weekend, one was good, one was a little thin. Opened 3 tonight. 1st was the first bottled - really sweet and over carbed. Not a gusher, but a LOT of head. Next was flat and thin. Third was pretty good. I've learned from my mistake. And a few others to boot. Looking forward to my APA!!! I will rack onto the priming sugar this time.

Happy brewing!