Wheat pale ale has poor carbonation after a month of bottling

[Dabba]

..and it's not much improved from two weeks ago. Its fizzy, but not much more.

I used 5oz of bottling sugar with this recipe:

Fermentables:
8lb - Wheat LME

Mash @ 154F for ~80 mins
2lb - American Caramel C10 LME
1lb American Pale Ale
1lb American Wheat

Hops:
Cascade 0.5 @ 60
Cascade 0.5 @ 30
Centennial 0.5 @ 20
Centennial 1.0 @ 10

Yeast: 1056
Fermenting at 60-66F

I don't mind drinking fizzy beer since it tastes good and I need to tweak this recipe but.. I'd like to know where I went wrong?

 

[EtchyLives]

What temperature are you keeping the bottles at for carbing? I recommend getting them up to 70-75°F or higher.

 

[Dabba]

What temperature are you keeping the bottles at for carbing? I recommend getting them up to 70-75°F or higher.

They're sitting in my house so its between 68 and 74

 

[jalc6927]

Was 5 oz the right amount? Was it a 5 gallon batch

 

[Dabba]

Yup 5oz in 5gal!

 

[Braumeise]

Yup 5oz in 5gal!

How long did you leave it to ferment in primary? If you left it there too long your yeast might be too old by now.

What do you mean by "bottling sugar"?

Anything that could have "contaminated" your bottles/beer? fat, soap...?

Are you sure the sugar mixed well with your beer?

 

[Dabba]

How long did you leave it to ferment in primary? If you left it there too long your yeast might be too old by now.

What do you mean by "bottling sugar"?

Anything that could have "contaminated" your bottles/beer? fat, soap...?

Are you sure the sugar mixed well with your beer?

Primary for 5-6 weeks

Corn sugar, thats what I meant

Nope, no contamination. It would have to be to all the bottles but they soak in starsan just prior to bottling.

I pour the sugar in the bottling bucking first, then the beer goes in so it should mix well!

 

[thunderwagn]

Primary for 5-6 weeks
I pour the sugar in the bottling bucking first, then the beer goes in so it should mix well!

Unfortunately, I found that to not always be the case when I used to bottle. I would usually gently stir with a paddle for reassurance.

 

[Braumeise]

Primary for 5-6 weeks

Corn sugar, thats what I meant

Nope, no contamination. It would have to be to all the bottles but they soak in starsan just prior to bottling.

I pour the sugar in the bottling bucking first, then the beer goes in so it should mix well!

maybe your yeast is "tired" after 5-6 weeks.

That would be my best guess. There is a reason why some lager recipes call for adding fresh yeast prior to bottle carbonation.

do you dissolve the sugar in boiling water or just add it?

 

[Dabba]

maybe your yeast is "tired" after 5-6 weeks.

That would be my best guess. There is a reason why some lager recipes call for adding fresh yeast prior to bottle carbonation.

do you dissolve the sugar in boiling water or just add it?

Boiling water. Can it hurt to add yeast at bottling every time?

 

[Braumeise]

Boiling water. Can it hurt to add yeast at bottling every time?

Your sugar should be equally dissolved so that seems to not be the issue.

To my knowledge you only add yeast when bottling lager - but I am no expert.

If your beer still isn't carbonated by now I would add yeast and give that a try.

 

[Dabba]

Your sugar should be equally dissolved so that seems to not be the issue.

To my knowledge you only add yeast when bottling lager - but I am no expert.

If your beer still isn't carbonated by now I would add yeast and give that a try.

Already in the bottles! I don't think theres any more I can do?

I think I'm going to chaulk it up to bad yeast. My dunkel carbed fine, hopefully the next one will as well.

 

[Braumeise]

Already in the bottles! I don't think theres any more I can do?

I think I'm going to chaulk it up to bad yeast. My dunkel carbed fine, hopefully the next one will as well.

You have to open the bottles again - add it and put new caps on.
If I had to do this, I'd prob. re-hydrate dried yeast and add a few drops to each bottle.

Never done it though.

here is an excerpt from "Braukaiser" (Lager brewing) about adding yeast for natural carbonation.

source: http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fermenting_Lagers

"bottle conditioning after cold conditioning
If you plan to bottle after cold conditioning, as suggested in Noonan's Book "New Brewing Lager Beer", you lager the beer in a carboy first (since you are bottling I’m assuming that you don’t have kegs for cold conditioning). This may take 4 weeks to a few months depending on the beer. Because the yeast has been inactive for such a long time and only little yeast is in suspension anyway, it is recommended to add fresh yeast at bottling time to ensure consistent carbonation in a reasonable time frame. The fresh yeast can come from either dry yeast (1/4 pack should be enough), yeast sediment from the primary fermenter of another batch or Kraeusen. The type of yeast doesn't matter much since the flavor has already been defined during the fermentation and cold conditioning process. Any clean well flocculating ale or lager yeast will do.

When racking from the cold conditioning vessel to the bottling bucket make sure that as little sediment as possible is transferred since the advantage of this method is to leave all this behind and have the beer benefit from bulk-aging."

 

[mirthfuldragon]

Turn them all upside down and give them a shake, then move then someplace warmer for a week. My last IPA was uncarbonated for five weeks until I did that, and now it is perfectly carbed.

 

[Dabba]

Turn them all upside down and give them a shake, then move then someplace warmer for a week. My last IPA was uncarbonated for five weeks until I did that, and now it is perfectly carbed.

Will try this!

Thanks. How long until results? Week or two if effective?

 

[mirthfuldragon]

Will try this!

Thanks. How long until results? Week or two if effective?

I went from minimal carbonation (snap-hiss on cap opening, nothing else) to full carbonation in a week after shaking. I would leave a few alone, shake the rest and move them somewhere warmer, then compare at a week and then at two weeks. Then you can consider more drastic options.

Also I love pale wheat beers.

 

[madscientist451]

Please post what your results are from the shake the bottle and let it sit method.

 

[Dabba]

Mystery solved: Priming sugar didn't mix correctly because some of them are geysers. How do I ensure proper mixing without aerating? Add sugar halfway through filling the bottling bucket? I usually add the sugar first and then add the beer.

 

[Mothman]

I add the sugar solution first and rack on top like you do, with the siphon hose set such that the beer gently whirlpools around the bucket.

For insurance, once done racking, you could stir the beer, gently, no splashing, with a sanitized spoon for a short time.

 

[Dabba]

I add the sugar solution first and rack on top like you do, with the siphon hose set such that the beer gently whirlpools around the bucket.

For insurance, once done racking, you could stir the beer, gently, no splashing, with a sanitized spoon for a short time.

Yup, figured the whirlpool would mix as well. Not sure how it didnt mix correctly.