OK so I am a newbie and have completed my third batch using the Mr Beer kit. I have been all over this site trying not to ask a question that has already been answered but here goes. If this is a repeat I apologize. My first two batched were VERY carbonated. They were carbonated to the point that they were not fun to drink. I have since found a home brew store where I live and have been dealing with him asking questions. I followed the first two batches recipes to a T. The only mistake I think I made were some sanitization issues which I now understand. Following the first batch recipe 2.5 teaspoons of sugar went into each bottle. Another mistake I believe I made was using table sugar. Both batches again were very carbonated. Now fast forwarding to the third batch.
This is what I changed to try and solve that issue. The last batch I let in the fermenter for 1 month instead of 2 weeks. EVERYTHING was sanitized. There was nothing that touched that beer that was not run through Star-San, even the bottle caps. The next thing that was changed was that the beer was transferred from the fermenter to a second container for the mixing of the sugar instead of adding sugar to each individual bottle. This time I used corn sugar instead of table sugar for bottling. This was recommended by this site and my home brew shop. Next I let the beer sit bottled for 3 weeks instead of 2. I was so anxious to try it last Saturday I could hardly wait. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. Half a bottle down I tossed the rest of the bottle and started to churn about what I did wrong. It was flatter than a pancake. Actually the over carbonated batched tasted better.
So in conclusion there was no way I had a beer that was not fermented enough or a sanitization issue, not that I believe anyway. I think there was not enough sugar for the batch. Either the home brew guy told me wrong or I misunderstood. He told me when I bought the corn sugar, and he knew I was doing Mr Beer, to add 2 oz to the entire batch. So I went from 2.5 teaspoons per bottle of table sugar to 2 oz of corn sugar for the whole batch, which is about 20 bottles. That didn't seem right to me but he was the expert and I thought I understood what he said. On top of that he only sold me a 5 oz bag of corn sugar so who was I to argue. Anyway I would like to fix my remaining 18 bottles of beer. I am looking for some advice here for two things. One, is there a way to figure how much sugar I can add to the batch to fix it? Should I just add whatever is suggested to each bottle rather than pouring all of it back into a container to mix in the sugar. Why were my first two batches over carbonated and this one under?
Sorry for the long scenario but this is the first thread I have started and I searched all over looking for answers so I feel like I have done my homework. Now I am simply looking for some help. I want to move on to AGB but I want to figure out what went wrong with the extract batches first. Of course I want to fix my last batch as well so I can enjoy them. Thanks in advance for the help. It is much appreciated.
This is what I changed to try and solve that issue. The last batch I let in the fermenter for 1 month instead of 2 weeks. EVERYTHING was sanitized. There was nothing that touched that beer that was not run through Star-San, even the bottle caps. The next thing that was changed was that the beer was transferred from the fermenter to a second container for the mixing of the sugar instead of adding sugar to each individual bottle. This time I used corn sugar instead of table sugar for bottling. This was recommended by this site and my home brew shop. Next I let the beer sit bottled for 3 weeks instead of 2. I was so anxious to try it last Saturday I could hardly wait. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. Half a bottle down I tossed the rest of the bottle and started to churn about what I did wrong. It was flatter than a pancake. Actually the over carbonated batched tasted better.
So in conclusion there was no way I had a beer that was not fermented enough or a sanitization issue, not that I believe anyway. I think there was not enough sugar for the batch. Either the home brew guy told me wrong or I misunderstood. He told me when I bought the corn sugar, and he knew I was doing Mr Beer, to add 2 oz to the entire batch. So I went from 2.5 teaspoons per bottle of table sugar to 2 oz of corn sugar for the whole batch, which is about 20 bottles. That didn't seem right to me but he was the expert and I thought I understood what he said. On top of that he only sold me a 5 oz bag of corn sugar so who was I to argue. Anyway I would like to fix my remaining 18 bottles of beer. I am looking for some advice here for two things. One, is there a way to figure how much sugar I can add to the batch to fix it? Should I just add whatever is suggested to each bottle rather than pouring all of it back into a container to mix in the sugar. Why were my first two batches over carbonated and this one under?
Sorry for the long scenario but this is the first thread I have started and I searched all over looking for answers so I feel like I have done my homework. Now I am simply looking for some help. I want to move on to AGB but I want to figure out what went wrong with the extract batches first. Of course I want to fix my last batch as well so I can enjoy them. Thanks in advance for the help. It is much appreciated.