Help with non-carb'd bottles after 2 months

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sejasba

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I posted this about 1.5 months ago.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/nb-imperial-stout-carbonation-issue-465458/

Long story short...

-Imperial stout was in secondary in cool temps (60F basement) for 3 months.
-Bottled early March, went back into that cool basement.
-Likely should have been warmer, so brought it back upstairs after 2 weeks.
-It has been 1.5 months since then and carbonation is still lacking

I understand this is a big beer, but after 2 months, I would expect some progression with the carbonation. I think the cold winter we had resulted in a lot of yeast dropping and not getting bottled, and whatever was bottled just isn't able to carbonate well.

What can we do to remedy this? If i lost a brew that took a month to ferment and bottle, whatever, but we started work on this batch in November and I'm not going to lose it over non-carb'd bottles. Is it just a matter of mixing up some sugar and yeast, re-opening every bottle and putting some in, and capping them again? That's the only thing I assume that could be done, but I don't know what the proper procedure would be.

Thanks!!!
 
You don't really give any info. What was the batch size, what/how much priming sugar was used, what type of capper are you using, how many batches have you done with that capper?

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I did an Old Rasputin clone that was similar to this. Turned out, it bottle conditioned too cold. I brought the temp up by letting the cases sit in my garage at around 75-80F, and a couple weeks later carbonation was perfect.

Sounds like you already tried this though.

Isn't there some tablet or something that you can drop into the bottles to carbonate them? I thought I read about it somewhere. Never tried it though.

On the plus side, stout makes a great beer bread! :D
 
I had that happen to me on a Oak Aged Porter once. Ended up having to keg it. Every bottle seemed flat.


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Patience...that beer is only getting better with age. I've never had an issue with carbing big beers for my first 3 years. 10%, 12%, every single one was carbed by 3 weeks. I even did a 14% that had low carbonation after 3.

Then I did a 10% wee heavy. It was my first time using scottish ale yeast. It took 5 months! Granted, they are amazing now, one of the best I've made.

I actually tucked them aside saying that I would simply use them to marinate and BBQ with in the summer, and sure enough, when I went to add one to some ribs, it was carbed. The annoying part was that I added yeast to about 1/4 the batch after 2 months, then another 1/4 2 months later. The first to carb was the original bottled batch.
 
Isn't there some tablet or something that you can drop into the bottles to carbonate them? I thought I read about it somewhere. Never tried it though.

Yeah, PrimeDose I think is the name of a newer northern brewer product. It is supposed to have yeast and priming sugar in a capsule. I was considering it, but after reading Calichusetts' reply about having to wait 5 months, maybe I should just wait more....!
 
Haha, well, what do you know.... we happened to open another bottle (1 of 2) that I had put in the fridge the other day. The one I opened yesterday was really flat. I opened up the second one tonight and this happened...



When we were racking in the bottling bucket, I did put the priming sugar solution in first, but after everything was siphoned in I forgot to stir. I remembered afterwards and was pissed, but I figured since the sugar was there first and then we siphoned, it should have stirred up a bit. I guess I was wrong.
 
When we were racking in the bottling bucket, I did put the priming sugar solution in first, but after everything was siphoned in I forgot to stir. I remembered afterwards and was pissed, but I figured since the sugar was there first and then we siphoned, it should have stirred up a bit. I guess I was wrong.

No need to stir. I add the sugar mixture first then just siphon in at an angle to get a whirlpool. I've never had an issue with uneven carbonation. Glad it finally carbed
 
I put a racking cane upside down at the end of the hose. It mixes really well with little/no airation.

Perhaps a bad mix, perhaps a loose cap.

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