Priming Sugar Question

[Patchouly]

Okay, After two weeks, I transferred my beer into the carboy (I don't have a bottling bucket yet). I guesstimated there to be about 5 gallons of beer (started with 6 gallons. Lost some to cooking, some to testing, a little bit of spilling etc. etc.). I used the calculator to determine that I needed 4oz of dextrose. So, I mixed it into a small amount of boiling water, cooled it off and poured it into the carboy. After mixing lightly with my spoon I bottled.

At the end of it, I had only filled 34 500ml bottles. That works out to only 4.5 gallons! So now, I'm worried that I have over primed the bottles. The question is, how badly? It this just a case of the beer being really bubbly or am I in danger of exploding bottles? I am using PET bottles so I know that should reduce the risk. How badly did I screw up here?

 

[EJay]

I used the calculator to determine that I needed 4oz of dextrose. So, I mixed it into a small amount of boiling water, cooled it off and poured it into the carboy. After mixing lightly with my spoon I bottled.
...
At the end of it, I had only filled 34 500ml bottles. That works out to only 4.5 gallons! So now, I'm worried that I have over primed the bottles.

You'll be fine, I think. 5 oz per 5 gallons is often standard, and 4 for 4.5 is less than that. It might not be the EXACT amount of carbonation you want - how many volumes were you shooting for?

 

[unionrdr]

It's usually 1oz per gallon. But a half gallon isn't going to make a lot of difference.

 

[Patchouly]

Not sure about carbonation levels. Haven't experienced different levels to get a feel for what level each number represents. I made the Coopers Dark Ale kit so I was aiming for one of the "dark ales" in the list. I think the number was 2.2...

 

[Patchouly]

Incorrect carbonation I can handle. Just as long as the bottles don't explode, I'm happy!

By the way, I did 1 week fermentation, 1 week resting in the primary and then bottled. What's the min/max time (as well as peak) to sit in the bottles?

 

[unionrdr]

3 weeks @ 70F or better is the norm for average gravity ales. Then a week fridge time to let any chill haze form & settle & get co2 into solution well for good carbonation in the glass.

 

[Patchouly]

Perfect! Thanks guys!

 

[Patchouly]

By the way, that's three weeks on top of the two it's already had; right?

 

[jfk69]

By the way, that's three weeks on top of the two it's already had; right?

Correct.

 

[Patchouly]

Okay; A follow up. I tried a beer, yesterday (I am at the three week in the bottle point with a total of 5 weeks since I started). It wasn't flat, but it was as close to flat as you can get. When I pulled the first sample to test with the hydrometer, a few weeks ago, there was a head on it so tall that I had a hard time getting a reading and had to wait a long time for it to settle. Now, there are three or four micro bubbles, not even enough to coat the top, and within a few seconds it's totally flat.

I assume it has had enough time to carbonate. Any idea what might have gone wrong?

 

[phug]

Bad seal on your bottles?


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[KepowOb]

What temperatures are you sitting you're bottles at? If its too cold out can really slow down the carbonation of them.

 

[Patchouly]

I haven't checked the temp but it is an air conditioned room. They are in a box, covered in a thick towel. It's possible that they are too cold. Would that defeat the carbonation or just delay it?

 

[Patchouly]

Bump.

 

[phug]

Cold temps would likely just slow down carbonation, if it's too cold you may stall it completely


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