To priming sugar or not.

[rich1985]

Hi all,

Last two brews have been a bit of a mare. Last night i kegged a dunkel and a dortmunder beer. Unfortunately my c02 has run out before I could purge the headspace.

I've got some c02 coming on Wednesday. What will be the effects of waiting till then. I could purge with priming sugar but don't know if thats better or to wait?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Keruso]

Some people use priming sugar in the keg rather than force carbonization. If I ran out of gas for a long period of time I would add sugar and let the carbonization work in the same way you would with a bottle, the oxygen in the headspace would be taken by the yeast and turned into CO2. I suppose now you risk the O2 from affecting the beer before the CO2 arrives, but I guess that’s no different to those who transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter, there’s going to be O2 on the top. So if you didn’t splash around when filling the keg I would be tempted to wait until the O2 arrives.

 

[The Baron]

I would put some sugar in but not the full priming amount just enough to produce some Co2 to purge the keg whilst awaiting for the gas to arrive

 

[rich1985]

You're so right. It's no different to a secondary transfer. I'll wait till I get some c02! Thanks!