Priming sugar or fizz drops

[davidabcd]

But how are you measuring that?

I would never be interested in measuring it because I can experience that all the beer has the same amount of carbonation. My only proof, of which I am completely satisfied with, is empirical.
It's nothing more than when someone dissolves sugar by stirring in their tea. Is every molecule equally distributed? Maybe. Maybe not. But the taste doesn't vary when you drink it.

 

[TwistedGray]

I would never be interested in measuring it because I can experience that all the beer has the same amount of carbonation. My only proof, of which I am completely satisfied with, is empirical.
It's nothing more than when someone dissolves sugar by stirring in their tea. Is every molecule equally distributed? Maybe. Maybe not. But the taste doesn't vary when you drink it.

Touche

 

[Mumathomebrew]

Our first batch (that got late primed), bubbled out like a volcano when the sugar went in, so this time we glued the sugar to the lids. The sugar lumps were cut in half lengthwise so not entirely accurate. When the lid crimper jogged it, the lump fell into the beer, so it worked pretty well. This first batch was glued on with dissolved sugar, but the second batch got glued on using icing sugar which stayed on the lid better. No volcanoes. Hah! Contamination possibly high but we'd been handling lots of campden sterilising solution so hopefully not.

 

[CodeSection]

^^^^That seems like a lot of work!

 

[davidabcd]

Our first batch (that got late primed), bubbled out like a volcano when the sugar went in, so this time we glued the sugar to the lids. The sugar lumps were cut in half lengthwise so not entirely accurate. When the lid crimper jogged it, the lump fell into the beer, so it worked pretty well. This first batch was glued on with dissolved sugar, but the second batch got glued on using icing sugar which stayed on the lid better. No volcanoes. Hah! Contamination possibly high but we'd been handling lots of campden sterilising solution so hopefully not.

View attachment 645460

You definitely get the award for "Most Creative Method for Sugar Addition."
From all the posts I read about individual bottling, especially on HBF, bubbling out isn't mentioned that I recall. Why is it, do you think, that you got that reaction? I maybe just don't quite get the meaning of "that got late primed."
Also, do most people who bottle-prime put the sugar in and then fill?

 

[Mumathomebrew]

^^^^That seems like a lot of work!

We hadn't made much beer so only had to do it for 12 caps. I'm sure there are better ways but this beer was being a volcano as we'd late primed it (as in not put conditioning sugar in immediately). It worked ok.

No idea why it did that as it's my first beer ever. It was from an ancient coopers kit found in the shed.

 

[CodeSection]

I never thought I would give up batch priming, but lately I've been using Domino Dots also. Crazy expensive if you buy them through Amazon, but about a penny a Dot at my local supermarket. 2.31 grams of table sugar per Dot by my measure, and this weight is amazingly consistent from Dot to Dot. Perfect for many styles in conjunction with 12 Oz. bottles.

Being old school I never thought I would ever use table sugar over corn sugar for priming, but I can't tell any difference in the end.

Is it possible you are buying a different brand? Domino Dot's ingredient label indicates 4 grams.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

I didn't know that size existed. The ones I purchase come packed 198 to the pound. They are precisely 1/2 TSP. Hover over the image of the box at the link I provided below and go to the mid left side of the box. It states 198 cubes.

https://coffee.org/products/domino-dots-sugar-cubes-1-pound-box-198-mini-cubes

 

[CodeSection]

I didn't know that size existed. The ones I purchase come packed 198 to the pound. They are precisely 1/2 TSP. Hover over the image of the box and go to the top left side of the box.

https://coffee.org/products/domino-dots-sugar-cubes-1-pound-box-198-mini-cubes

Apparently, they come in different sizes. Amazon sells 2.5 gram sizes whereas Kroger sells 2.29 gram sizes. The Kroger package contains 198 dots too. If you had to guess, what carbonation level do they provide?

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

@CodeSection, even the image in your post says 198 in a 1 Lb. box.

 

[CodeSection]

@CodeSection, even the image in your post says 198 in a 1 Lb. box.

Yep...in the latest imagine on the latest post. After receiving your first response, I searched for more places that sell them. Weird that they all sell different sizes....

Any idea of carbonation level?

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

If you had to guess, what carbonation level do they provide?

I don't have to guess. I use 'Mash Made Easy', and it has a nice priming calculator tool that switchably quite closely mimics two highly popular online calculators, which I refer to as conservative and aggressive in their approach respectively. You can select each and compare them.

 

[TwistedGray]

Also, do most people who bottle-prime put the sugar in and then fill?

Yes

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Yes

Ditto yes! And they do not exhibit any odd fizzing when done that way.

 

[davidabcd]

they do not exhibit any odd fizzing when done that way.

Which is what I thought also. I wanted to know from @Mumathomebrew what brought about the solution to glue the sugar to the caps. Maybe I'll get some clarification.

 

[Mumathomebrew]

Which is what I thought also. I wanted to know from @Mumathomebrew what brought about the solution to glue the sugar to the caps. Maybe I'll get some clarification.

Aside from a possible beginner anomaly... it is my first beer so I don't know what normal beer behaviour is yet.

As a newb to beer but an old hand at country wines, I have not really dealt with deliberate bottle conditioning before, except for knowing about winemaking champagne methods. These bottles had been left a few months unconditioned in 2l plastic water bottles as secondaries before proper bottling. It has been extremely hot weather for a while here in the UK, so it is possible they experienced a secondary fermentation, leaving the yeast hungry.

The attempt to condition these within the secondary resulted in a massive volcano eruption and lost a quarter of the beer. We needed to get the beer into the bottles and get the sugar in before the yeast realised and had the party.

This lidded sugar method was just an idea to prevent the sugar touching the beer until the lid was on safely and hence preventing the fizz over being experienced. It does mean the finished bottles have to lay on their sides until the sugar has dissolved. We'll make a silicone mould to create sugar pellets in a better conical shape for next time.

 

[davidabcd]

Okay, thanks.
I do think you had a beginner anomaly. The beer should not have foamed upon adding sugar, considering the timing. Unfortunately, that could be a warning sign.

Basically, let your beer ferment completely in a primary FV suitable for the amount of beer you're making. Correct fermentation temps still apply. Generally, you don't need a secondary. Take two gravity reading after a couple of weeks to ensure fermentation is complete.
Transfer to bottles. You can use table sugar, if that helps, measured according to bottle size.

I like the idea of creating a mould for the sugar.

 

[lump42]

I didn't know that size existed. The ones I purchase come packed 198 to the pound. They are precisely 1/2 TSP. Hover over the image of the box at the link I provided below and go to the mid left side of the box. It states 198 cubes.

https://coffee.org/products/domino-dots-sugar-cubes-1-pound-box-198-mini-cubes

It's odd that the label on that site states that each cube is 2.5g but only contains 2g sugar... what's the other 0.5g?

Edit: Nevermind, I'm guessing its water in the crystals

 

[Dave Sarber]

It's odd that the label on that site states that each cube is 2.5g but only contains 2g sugar... what's the other 0.5g?

Edit: Nevermind, I'm guessing its water in the crystals

super glue!

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

It's odd that the label on that site states that each cube is 2.5g but only contains 2g sugar... what's the other 0.5g?

Again, I'm only aware of the 2.29 gram (2.31 g. by my measure) Dots. My box explicitly states (on the side opposite of the requisite nutrition info section) that the only ingredient is pure cane sugar, and that there are 2.29 grams per cube. It also states that 1 cube equals 1/2 TSP of sugar. It appears that the nutrition info section is in error, as indeed it says 2 g. there.

My take is that they need to weigh 2.29091 g. by law (for honest advertising at 1 Lb.), so they make them at 2.31 g. to be a smidge on the safe side. But it could also come down to the precision of my scale.

 

[lump42]

Again, I'm only aware of the 2.29 gram (2.31 g. by my measure) Dots. My box explicitly states (on the side opposite of the requisite nutrition info section) that the only ingredient is pure cane sugar, and that there are 2.29 grams per cube. It also states that 1 cube equals 1/2 TSP of sugar. It appears that the nutrition info section is in error.

No doubt, Looking at the packaging labels on-line from the manufacturer and several retailers sites, their packaging seems inconsistent. Nutritional labels ay 2.5g but then state 2.29g, 1/2-tsp.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

I also weighed a leveled 1/2 TSP measure of granulated cane sugar on my scale and it did weigh on average 2.29 grams in several trials on my scale. The noted weight deviations were very small. Even when I introduced a second TSP measure from a different mfg.

I'm fairly certain that European TSP's are not of precisely calibrated to the same volume measure as USA measuring TSP's. And I'm certain that common S/S tableware TSP's are all over the board as to their leveled volume, so only a USA measuring TSP should be utilized.

 

[Leezer]

Again, I'm only aware of the 2.29 gram (2.31 g. by my measure) Dots. My box explicitly states (on the side opposite of the requisite nutrition info section) that the only ingredient is pure cane sugar, and that there are 2.29 grams per cube. It also states that 1 cube equals 1/2 TSP of sugar. It appears that the nutrition info section is in error, as indeed it says 2 g. there.

My box is exactly like that, bought at local supermarket.

 

[kh54s10]

This thread brings up another question. I said before that I don't believe that you can more accurately measure 1/2 teaspoon as compared to adding a measured solution to a bottling bucket. My question is - with hundreds of manufacturers of measuring spoons, how accurate are they?? compared to each other? Food prep is generally not too concerned with accuracy. For instance if a recipe calls for a teaspoon of garlic, I usually use 2 because I like garlic. And if it call for 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper I don't really look to see I get exactly 1/2 teaspoon. A little more - a little less and I cannot tell the difference. But the same degree of error in priming could make a significant difference.

 

[Dave Sarber]

Again, I'm only aware of the 2.29 gram (2.31 g. by my measure) Dots. My box explicitly states (on the side opposite of the requisite nutrition info section) that the only ingredient is pure cane sugar, and that there are 2.29 grams per cube. It also states that 1 cube equals 1/2 TSP of sugar. It appears that the nutrition info section is in error, as indeed it says 2 g. there.

My take is that they need to weigh 2.29091 g. by law (for honest advertising at 1 Lb.), so they make them at 2.31 g. to be a smidge on the safe side. But it could also come down to the precision of my scale.

Be aware of sneaky advertising. The nutrition labeling is required by law. You will find that many nutrition labels have a different serving size than what's in the package, to make it look better nutritionally (calorie count, sugars, fats, etc).

 

[kh54s10]

Be aware of sneaky advertising. The nutrition labeling is required by law. You will find that many nutrition labels have a different serving size than what's in the package, to make it look better nutritionally (calorie count, sugars, fats, etc).

Also serving size is usually too small so if a package says it contains 2 servings it really only contains 1 so you need to double all the nutritional numbers.....

 

[bleme]

If you put the warm/cool priming solution in the bottling bucket and then have the siphon hose leaning against the bucket wall, it creates a flow that mixes the priming solution with the five gallons of beer. That's a lot of mixing. It would be like stirring a glass that just had sugar added to it. It dissolves and disperses throughout.

Empirically, all the bottles are carbonated equally, everything else being constant.

I started out doing this exactly and noticed that I had some bottle over-carbed and some under-carbed. I started numbering the caps on all my bottles so I could see if there was a trend and the lower the number, the more carbed it was so then I started taking a slotted spoon and mixing from top to bottom. That evened it out but was a pain and I felt like I was oxidizing my beer. Unevenly carbed bottles was one of my main reasons for investing in kegs.

 

[kh54s10]

I started out doing this exactly and noticed that I had some bottle over-carbed and some under-carbed. I started numbering the caps on all my bottles so I could see if there was a trend and the lower the number, the more carbed it was so then I started taking a slotted spoon and mixing from top to bottom. That evened it out but was a pain and I felt like I was oxidizing my beer. Unevenly carbed bottles was one of my main reasons for investing in kegs.

I have done the same without stirring most of the time. I would guess I have bottled more than half of my 109 batches and have gotten uneven carbonation in only a few of all those. I do see that my glassware has a big effect. The first bottle has little head - soap residue I suspect. The next beer has much more head and any after are about the same.....

After having my kegging in storage, I need to get that set up again........

 

[TwistedGray]

This thread brings up another question. I said before that I don't believe that you can more accurately measure 1/2 teaspoon as compared to adding a measured solution to a bottling bucket. My question is - with hundreds of manufacturers of measuring spoons, how accurate are they?? compared to each other? Food prep is generally not too concerned with accuracy. For instance if a recipe calls for a teaspoon of garlic, I usually use 2 because I like garlic. And if it call for 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper I don't really look to see I get exactly 1/2 teaspoon. A little more - a little less and I cannot tell the difference. But the same degree of error in priming could make a significant difference.

For bakers, a small difference between measurements can have a monumental effect on the outcome of their bake. However, I do see your point.

Also serving size is usually too small so if a package says it contains 2 servings it really only contains 1 so you need to double all the nutritional numbers.....

Learned something new today.

 

[kh54s10]

Also serving size is usually too small so if a package says it contains 2 servings it really only contains 1 so you need to double all the nutritional numbers.....

For bakers, a small difference between measurements can have a monumental effect on the outcome of their bake. However, I do see your point.



Learned something new today.

Just to be clear. I mean serving size on packages is too small in that most people would want more than one serving. For example a box of Kraft Macaroni and cheese says the serving per container is 3. That may be true if using it as a side dish. I add something to it so that throws off the nutritional numbers anyway, but even then I usually only get two servings out of the box.

Then again my mother would get 5 servings out of the same box.......