So I messed up the batch carb. Got lazy and added the sugar straight the the batch rather than in a solution. It was all gathered at the bottom of the bucket after bottling so none of it got to the bottles. Week later and there is no carbonation. Am I good to just re-prime it all and bottle it or will I need to seed more yeast? Anyone else done this?
Id say re-prime in the bottle or batch prime - but aim for the low side of your carb target.
You shouldnt need to add yeast as long as they were kept within the operating temp of the yeast since you bottled.
You may find that some of the sugar got into some bottles - if you re-prme straight into the bottle;
if they fizz when you open them maybe add a little less priming sugar. Do it at as high a temp possible (i.e. room temp, no need to cook them) - this way you will be able to easier gauge how carbed they are - they will fizz more at higher temps.
...
The reason for the solution is 2 fold -
1. it gives you a even distribution when it is added to the wort.
2. Boiling the solution sanitises the sugar (or whatever it is you used)
So dont do it again :P
(http://i1270.photobucket.com/albums/jj605/joctcl/Capture_zps05877158.jpg)
We've all done it in some way shape or form and even with a reduced level it will still carb just take 6 months ;)
Yeah sound advice, Im not waiting 6 months. Im going to add half a teaspoon of sugar to each one and Ill judge them by the fizz when I open. Just glad I only have a half batch of bottles...rest was mini-kegged so safe enough.
Cheers
I once bottled a whole batch and then during clean up noticed that my sugar was still in solution on the hob!
haha, excellent Padraic. funny now but Im sure you cried :)
one of the first kits me and the lads made we had the lid on before one of the lads picked up the sugar..."should this be in there?"
bottles are fizzing up when I add the sugar, its a real pain. Ciderhead you reckon they will carb up a bit if I just leave them long term? I would much rather do that then loose half the beer re-capping. I wonder how much they will carb even if I leave them.
I bottled a batch 3 Weeks ago. I did half in glass bottles and the other half in Coopers plastic bottles. I discovered this afternoon that I forgot to tighten the caps in the plastic bottles :-[ >:( FFS Garry!
I added more sugar to the bottles. Most of them were flat but some were a little carbonated and they gushed out when I added the sugar. What a mess >:( I've got a few bottles that are only about half full now and the kitchen floor is sticky. Not pleased with myself but we live and learn?
yeah its a mess, Im gonna leave it till tomorrow, put it all back in the bottling bucket and add about 20-30% less sugar and re-bottle it all again. Lesson learned. on the plus side one I opened was a bit carbed and im having it now..tasty enough :P
Hi Joey
You could always try carb drops.
Dont know where your based. Some of the bigger tesco's might have them or IIRC theres the drink store based in crumlin and harolds cross that will stock them.
I'd imagine they might be easier than sugar in this situation!
I feel your pain :(
Even though a lot of the original sugar was on the bottom of your bucket your beer still absorbed some of it.
There is no way of knowing how much, (actually there is but way too complicated)
Batch priming involves making a saturated sugar solution not chucking it in ;)
I am struggling to understand why you are going at it again with the sugar surely you make a batch priming solution and dose with that and it won't make a mess or foam.
Use a big syringe you will get in the chemists for 50c and you will get more accurate, controllable and it will be easier to dose.
Make sure you STERILISE everything.
Did you first dissolve your carb sugar in boiling water and then let it cool before introducing it to your wort?
As it stands you have a batch at different carbonation levels depending on where your siphon was in the bucket when bottling.
If you are now retro-carbing you will potentially have a mix of bottle bombs, under carbed and possibly flat.
;D .. have you got a soda stream ? - carb as you open !!! worked for my very first brew - I made a balls of the batch priming on my first effort - borrowed a soda stream from a mate and it worked a charm for me