First batch is kind of flat

[Cos]

I made a Brewers Best kit English Brown Ale. Had my first bottle this week and it tasted a bit flat. Been in bottle two weeks and I hear the co2 escape when I pop the cap so I think it is carbonated.

Anybody else make this kit?

Also is there an ingredient that makes for more head on the beer?

 

[CharlieB]

brown ale's are suppose to taste kinda flat or less carbonated than most other ales. the head is usually weaker too. just the way i have seen them

 

[Muss]

How did you prime the bottles? Did you use the carbonation drops, or measure 1 tsp of powdered sugar in each bottle, or did you mix the whole amount of priming sugar in a bucket with the brew before bottling?

Bottles usually ferment within 2 weeks, but it could take longer in cold weather.

Yes there are some products that you can add to give better head retention. Sorry I can't remember the names of them and I too drunk/lazy to google them at the mo
Make sure you have thouroughly rinsed the glasses as the slightest amount of soap residue ruins the head too.

 

[malkore]

I actually made that kit, but mine's in a keg. Mine came with 5oz of priming sugar, which should be plenty of carbonation.

what temp were the bottles sitting at this past 2 weeks? should be room temperature.

give em time, try a bottle from the other case. your priming sugar may not have been mixed thoroughly enough.

 

[Lonek]

"or measure 1 tsp of powdered sugar in each bottle"

isn't that too much??

 

[c.n.budz]

Give it another week, maybe 10 days and I'll bet they'll be fine. I've had batches that had practically no carbonation after 2 weeks but were normal after 3

 

[Muss]

"or measure 1 tsp of powdered sugar in each bottle"

isn't that too much??

Not sure, I've googled about and half the resources say 1/2 tsp and the rest say 1tsp. I just bought a scoop specifically for bottling that measures the right amount in

 

[ohiodad]

I made a Brewers Best kit English Brown Ale. Had my first bottle this week and it tasted a bit flat. Been in bottle two weeks and I hear the co2 escape when I pop the cap so I think it is carbonated.

Anybody else make this kit?

Also is there an ingredient that makes for more head on the beer?

I made that kit as my second batch... I used the 5oz of priming sugar that came with it in 2 cups of water and mine has plenty of carbonation dare I say maybe a touch too much after 3 weeks in the bottle. I didn't try it prior to that.

 

[Cos]

I used the priming sugar that came with the kit and boiled it per instructions.
I'll give it another week and see.