Priming sugar vs carbonation tabs

[nasmeyer]

I am thinking about using Munton's carbonation tablets for my next 5 gallon batch of ale, I have always used priming sugar but have not always been happy with the carbonation level on some batches, and have not bought extra priming sugar to measure different amounts (just used the pre-measured amount in the kit). The tablets would allow me to play around a bit with the same batch by using more tablets in some of the bottles.

A couple of questions here. Are the tablets just priming sugar in tablet form? Do they fully disolve within a week or two? Is there a greater risk of infection or contamination by adding something that is not boiled into the brew? any other pros or cons?

 

[red]

i used carb drops for first batch because of ease. checked about a day or 2 after capping and they were completly disolved(as far as i could c). i dont know that i would play around with it too much else u might end up with some bottle bombs. if u want consistency, everyone ive spoken to recommends bulk priming.
btw im still new to this also but ive spent countless hours doing as much research as i can

 

[Lcasanova]

I think some of them are a mix of different sugars but they seemed to work quite well when I did a 1 gallon test batch.

As long as you have practiced good sanitation I think you will be quite all right and yes, they dissolve within a few days. Like the previous poster said, don't mess around too much with what is recommended on the package else you will have bottle bombs.

 

[nasmeyer]

Like the previous poster said, don't mess around too much with what is recommended on the package else you will have bottle bombs.

What I wanted to try was to vary between the 3-5 tablets in the instructions. I think the instructions do not recommend more than 5 tabs per bottle for wheat beers. I like my IPA's a bit more carbed than some recipes call for, but wouldn't put more tabs in than the max recommended amount.

 

[prrriiide]

I use DME, and have always been satisfied with carb levels.

 

[Lcasanova]

Put the tabs in first!

 

[Toga]

No matter what brand of carb tabs you use drop your carb tabs into the bottles then fill. Give them a shake once you cap them to get them dissolved real good and you should be good to go.

 

[Beer-Baron]

Take a small funnel and put about 3/4 teaspoon of dextrose in a 500ml bottle. There is your carb drops for much less.

 

[ChshreCat]

If you're unhappy with your carbonation level, I'd think that varying your amount of priming sugar would be much easier than messing around with carb tabs.

Also... I've heard that Muntons tabs tend to leave "floaters" in your beer. The one time I used Cooper's carb drops I didn't get anything like that. I still have some handy in case I want to carb a few bottles of something separately from a bigger batch.

 

[dracus]

Just use table sugar. It works quite well. You do need a bit less than dextrose. I just use the online calc to figure out the volumes. Typically I end up with about 5oz or so. Nearly the same as dextrose.