Carbonating drops.

[snail59]

Ive seen some Coopers Carbonating Drops. Can these be used to prime a Keg/bottle instead of sugar/spray malt.

 

[Moley]

Yes they can, that's what they are intended for, it's just an expensive way to buy sugar in measured doses.

 

[snail59]

Ok thanks for that. Will use these (they came with the kit) then just buy brewing sugar :thumb:

 

[Gemok]

The coopers ones are also designed for the aussie brewer who as I understand things generally bottle in 330ml (1 drop) and 750ml bottles (2 drops) making them far less usefull when using pint bottles since that would be 1.5 drops approx.

Priming a Keg is hardly time consuming, and for bottles I try and follow the "how to" that recomends priming and syphoning to a barrel or another FV and bottling from that. so much easier than teaspooning 40 bottles.

 

[jamesb]

I used them for my last batch of bottles, one tab to one pint. I don't normally bottle, and I find the general assumption of 1/2tsp of sugar per bottle a little too much for my tastes, although using glucose works better. The carbonation of this batch was spot on for me. I've never batch primed though, so other's views may (will) vary.

WARNING: I am a southerner

They are expensive though. But for the few bottles I do, I can live with that. I generally keg everything.

 

[Bribie]

The coopers ones are also designed for the aussie brewer who as I understand things generally bottle in 330ml (1 drop) and 750ml bottles (2 drops) making them far less usefull when using pint bottles since that would be 1.5 drops approx.

Priming a Keg is hardly time consuming, and for bottles I try and follow the "how to" that recomends priming and syphoning to a barrel or another FV and bottling from that. so much easier than teaspooning 40 bottles.

For historical reasons, most Aussie small bottles or 'stubbies' are 375 ml (13 fl oz) and the big ones or 'tallies' are 750 ml (26 fl oz) and the Coopers drops are designed for this. So a pint bottle is a problem.
When I started off a couple of years ago I used 2L pop bottles and a far cheaper and consistent method was to use supermarket sugar lumps (cubes) at the rate of 2 per 2L PET bottle for an ale and 3 for a more fizzy lager style.

 

[jimboedin]

Think I'm just going to use brewing sugar when times comes to bottling (after reading this).

Am I right in thinking that half a teaspoon will do a 500ml bottle?

 

[Gemok]

Think I'm just going to use brewing sugar when times comes to bottling (after reading this).

Am I right in thinking that half a teaspoon will do a 500ml bottle?

I'd use the cheapest sugar you can get for priming since it's such a small amount comparativly it shouldn't affect the flavour of the brew. 1/2 a teaspoon is fine for ales, for lager which is generally more lively I'd say 3/4 to a whole teaspoon is more like it depends on how fizzy you like it.

 

[jimboedin]

Great thanks will use 1/2 teaspoon.