Lack Lustre Fizz

[chiefstoker]

I did an edme lager kit about a month ago, and i thought I would just crack open a bottle to give it a taste - you know how it is!

Whilst it does taste fine, its not particularly fizzy compared to the last couple of kits i have made. (i did try another bottle and that was the same, still drinkable mind :grin: )

My question is, approx how long should it be for the carbonation period of the secondary fermentation to be completed - will it continue or is that it?

The bottles were kept indoors for about 2 weeks after fermentation and moved to the garage afterward.

Would putting more sugar in at bottling stage improve things?
Say double the amount without risk of exploding bottles :shock: I know forced carbonation and corneys are the way forward but for now i can only use bottles

:


chiefstoker

 

[31bb3]

How much sugar did you prime bottles with

 

[chiefstoker]

Well I may have done it wrong perhaps, I have a bottling bucket with a little bottler, so i did it this way with about 100grams for 40pts.

I did also put a sachet of finings in two days before transfering to the bottling bucket too.

 

[Dunfie]

Did it taste sweetish? You can sometimes tell if the priming sugar has not fermented out.

 

[chiefstoker]

Yes perhaps, I will have to have a another bottle to help with diagnostics :grin:

I suppose it didnt taste as crisp and sharp as what i was perhaps expecting, it didnt taste quite ready in my opinion and maybe a bit sweetish? hard to tell till i have another taste

 

[Dunfie]

It could be that the finings removed more yeast than desired for bottling(finings are not required when you bottle). However if you have acheived some carbonation then it should just be a waiting game. Just keep in the warm and try a bottle now and again. It should come good. Patience is a brewers best friend.

 

[chiefstoker]

Ok thanks Dunfie, that was my thoughts about the finings too. I have put most of this batch in my beer fridge though now, if i retrieve them back into the house will that revive the yeast ?

 

[Dunfie]

It wont do any harm. Its worth bringing then in for a few days and then trying one to see if its any better. :thumb:

 

[chiefstoker]

Well, I have just brought a couple in from the garage fridge.

One, iam drinking, tastes very good - similar to wife beater :thumb: obviously with a small fizz as before, very palatable maybe a tad sweetish, heavy i would say.

The other I have inverted to get the yeasties back up, I will leave this to settle for a week in the house before chilling it again and drinking - does that sound like a plan?

 

[Dunfie]

Good plan - I'm sure you will notice a difference. :

 

[chiefstoker]

....................one week later..



I have retrieved the first bottle having chilled it this afternoon in the fridge, what a difference :thumb:

The carbonation is excellent, flavour is great : :party:

I just need to test all the other bottles now to conclude that they will be the same

This concludes that all is not lost, so to anyone who may have doubts about their brew, dont lose heart and give up at the first sign of disappointment