Carbonation Drops for Bottling

[andywilde16]

Hi,

Before I am at the stage were I am ready to bottle my homebrew I wanted to get some advice on the number of carbonation drops to use per bottle!

I have a pack of Muntons Carbonation Drops (http://www.thehomebrewcompany.co.uk/muntons-carbonation-drops-160g-80-pieces-p-2783.html) and it says for 500ml bottles to use 2 drops in each bottle.

I am brewing a Yorkshire English Bitter and I am concerned that I do not get the final brew too gassy.

Any advice is welcome - I am using 500ml plastic bottles with crown caps.

Thanks

 

[andywilde16]

Can I use regular granulated sugar or is caster sugar better?

If I go down this route how much should I put in each bottle?

 

[Manxnorton]

Normally...
500mil bottle half teaspoon
1l bottle full teaspoon

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Normally...
500mil bottle half teaspoon
1l bottle full teaspoon

That`s a bit too much 1/2 a tsp is enough providing your fermentation is fully complete and there is enough suspended yeast in your beer.
Dont forget if your bottles are overprimed you will get "gushers" and your beer will be impossible to drink. If you under-prime, your beer is still drinkable, just a little less carbonation.

Household/granulated/castor sugar are all fine to use

 

[andywilde16]

That`s a bit too much 1/2 a tsp is enough providing your fermentation is fully complete and there is enough suspended yeast in your beer.

How much would you recommend in a 500ml bottle?

 

[Razor]

I usually go for 5g/1tsp per 500ml bottle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[johnnyboy1965]

How much would you recommend in a 500ml bottle?

1/2 a tsp is about right for me....dont get too anally retentive, just bung in the approx weight.....and certainly dont weigh it out.

 

[MickDundee]

How much would you recommend in a 500ml bottle?

Depends on the style. I use the Brewers Friend iPhone app. For English ale, the range is 1.5-2.0 volumes of CO2 per litre so just under half a teaspoon around 2g to 2.5g per 500ml bottle.

 

[andywilde16]

Thanks johnnyboy1965!

 

[andywilde16]

Brewers Friend iPhone app

Is that the name of the app? Will give it a try as well as the amounts quoted.

 

[Gerryjo]

I use 5g or a level teaspoon.My last three brews had carbonation drops and can't even get a head on the beer never mind a hiss when opening.Never again will I use them.

Sent from my ALE-L21

 

[MickDundee]

Is that the name of the app? Will give it a try as well as the amounts quoted.

Yeah the free one that gives you unlimited use of the calculator options, which I think they have on their website anyway, and ability to input 3 AG recipes.

 

[andywilde16]

I am glad I asked the question now!! - I am going to discard the drops and use regular sugar instead as will be gutted if my first homebrew has no head or hiss when opening!!

 

[johnnyboy1965]

This a Wheatbeer primed with 1/2tsp of brewing sugar, as you can see its got a good long lasting head (and yes, its meant to be cloudy)

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Try different measures...ie 1/4 1/2 3/4 full tsp...Dont forget that this will all go out of the window on your next brew, due to the amount of suspended yeast in your future brews.
If in doubt...go low

 

[Manxnorton]

That`s a bit too much 1/2 a tsp is enough providing your fermentation is fully complete and there is enough suspended yeast in your beer.
Dont forget if your bottles are overprimed you will get "gushers" and your beer will be impossible to drink. If you under-prime, your beer is still drinkable, just a little less carbonation.

Household/granulated/castor sugar are all fine to use

after 30 plus years of bottling beers n lager....never had a 'Gusher' and ive made hundreds of kits, qite a bit of AG brewing...that info is the 'Norm' for a lot of people.
are speaking by your experience or just seems a lot?

 

[Manxnorton]

This a Wheatbeer primed with 1/2tsp of brewing sugar, as you can see its got a good long lasting head (and yes, its meant to be cloudy)

nice one:thumb:

 

[andywilde16]

Yeah the free one that gives you unlimited use of the calculator options, which I think they have on their website anyway, and ability to input 3 AG recipes.

I cannot seem to find it on the App Store!

 

[johnnyboy1965]

after 30 plus years of bottling beers n lager....never had a 'Gusher' and ive made hundreds of kits, qite a bit of AG brewing...that info is the 'Norm' for a lot of people.
are speaking by your experience or just seems a lot?

A lot of experience..if you under-prime you have drinkable beer, if you over-prime, you will spend more time with a wet cloth wiping up the mess and have no beer to drink

 

[johnnyboy1965]

This is what I call a 1/4 tsp of brewers sugar