Bottle priming techniques

[Steviewell]

hi all

Just about to bottle up my second ever brew, John Bull IPA. Been in the FV for three weeks, disappointingly only reaching FG of 1.016 from OG 1.052 but I'm sure it's done, such is life.

For the bottling does it matter when exactly to add sugar? Previously I just used normal 'kitchen sugar' ie Tate and Lyle stuff. I half filled bottle, primed and then topped up the bottle. I thought this would help the mix. I rotated the bottle about but was scared to vigorously shake (should I?). It came out a bit flat (there was plenty of sugar in fact maybe too much, a level teaspoon for 500ml). This was a woodfordes wherry by the way (maybe it's supposed to be less fizzy?)

Any input so that my new batch of IPA has a good gas please?

 

[clibit]

Sugar dissolves by itself, no need to faff about. Not sure why your beer didn't carbonate properly. You want 2-2.5 grams per 500ml bottle. Half a teaspoon. Then I find two weeks at room temperature usually does the trick, then cool bottles to absorb the CO2.

 

[Steviewell]

Hi clibit thanks for ur input I ended up putting the 'flat' bottles back in the warm for another week now seems much better.

 

[Waylander87]

I tend to use 1/2 or 1/4 teaspoon to prime; its ale, not lager - who wants it fizzy? Depends on the style though.

Too tip - get a small funnel that fits into the neck of the bottle. Makes life SOO much easier when you've got 40 bottles to prime. And a set of measuring spoons helps too to make sure each bottle is the same.

I don't stir or shake the bottles.

Sugar in first, then I reckon that the beer filling the bottles agitates the sugar enough to dissolve it.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

+ 1 on what Waylander says. You don't need a set of small spoons, a 1/4 teaspoon does it for me.

 

[pms67]

I would give up on home brewing if I had to prime each bottle individually !
I used to use Coopers carb drops but gave up after three brews when I read on here about batch priming,so,so much easier.
Either dump around 80-100g of sugar straight into fermenter or dissolve in a little water then chuck in,most people give a gentle stir,I don't even bother now,never noticed any difference,wait 5 mins,then bottle :thumb:

 

[Steviewell]

Appreciate the input everyone thanks. Might give batch priming a bash.