Wheres my head gone !!

[monte]

I made a stout a few weeks ago,Barreled it off over a week ago then put in shed,i thought i would try a sample last night and was pleasently suprised how creamy smooth the head was and tasted spot on.
However my temptations preceeded me tonight and i dashed out to "sample" another as its too nice to leave alone lol,problem i noticed is the head wasnt the same as last night,i drank it still with joy and later this evening decided to have one more glass,it struggled to come out the tap with a glug here and there and no head what so ever,tastes flat too,any ideas as to whats caused this and any remedies please.
Im inclined to think its because its not been out in shed long enough for the sugar to gas it up,the recomended dose is 85g of dextrose in a barrel,i put in 100g so plenty of sugar,surley after only 3 pints poured over two days the gases dont go that quick !!!

 

[Vossy1]

Sounds to me like a lack of C02. If it's only had a week at 'shed' temps at this time of year the yeast may have stalled. It really needs 2 weeks at room temp followed by another 2 weeks at cellar temps (11-13 deg) ideally. If the beer has primed/conditioned properly then a leak in the barrel is your next port of call.

 

[monte]

Cheers for that,i may bring it back indoors in the morning,add a littlemore sugar,say 50g,give it a stir,and add heater belt for day or too then leave at room temp for another week and put it in coldest room in house until xmas,see if that helps...This i why i hate barrels,dont get this problem with bottles !! Ok more faffin about but a nicer drink and always gased from a bottle...
Think i may put my IPA in bottles rather than other barrel next week if this is what happens...

:sulk:

 

[PD]

hmmmm bottles.... :thumb:

 

[monte]

Yes Bottles for sure...More hassle at start but better product at the end..Ive brought the barrel indoors now,added another 50g of dextrose taking total to 150g which i think is maximum anyway,gave it a little stir,putmore vaseline on the cap and placed heater belt on it for a few days then im going to take the belt off and just leave it in a colder part of the house until xmas,all i can do now,imnot going out spending more money on a co2 canister just yet,see what happens by xmas..

 

[monte]

Stuff xmas lol...dont think it will last,had 4 pints tonight and feel all warmand fuzzy inside ha ha Burp,,Hic !!! Perfect...Tho it still glugs and splutters coming out the barrel after 2 pint but i can live with that for this one,ill get canisterfor nextbarreled ale,my IPA is going in 2lt bottles so will do for xmas and new year..

Yes Bottles for sure...More hassle at start but better product at the end..Ive brought the barrel indoors now,added another 50g of dextrose taking total to 150g which i think is maximum anyway,gave it a little stir,putmore vaseline on the cap and placed heater belt on it for a few days then im going to take the belt off and just leave it in a colder part of the house until xmas,all i can do now,imnot going out spending more money on a co2 canister just yet,see what happens by xmas..

 

[joe1002]

When you say 'glugs' I assume you mean air (oxygen) is going in through the tap? If so, you beer will start to oxidise and will taste :sick:

I'm sure others will correct me if I am wrong but I think you will need to get it supped pretty quick.

 

[pittsy]

yes , or inject co2

 

[PD]

With the amount of posts on the forum about faulty seals leaking kegs etc etc. I sometimes wonder when folks say there's too much faffing about with bottles... :grin:

 

[LeedsBrewer]

With the amount of posts on the forum about faulty seals leaking kegs etc etc. I sometimes wonder when folks say there's too much faffing about with bottles... :grin:

Have never used a barell and never intend to. Have read too many horror stories on here! :shock:

 

[monte]

I agree piddledribble,i think a beer tastes much better from a bottle and its the way im going to go from now on..My IPA will be getting bottled this weekend,not barreled as originally planned,My cheap wilkinsons bitter can go in the barrel once made
:party:

 

[monte]

At least if a bottle leaks or even explodes lol then you still have other bottles to sup,and no need for co2 regassing etc,open a bottle and just enjoy,i doubt i be in any hurry to re-use my barrels again if honest,years ago i used to use 2lt plastic pop bottles...Its what im going to use again for my ipa,all friends and family save them for me i was out and sterilise and are perfectly good to use,only problem is once opened i have to drink the whole 2 lts lol..maybe not a bad thing but if i only want a glass of beer will the remainder in the botle keep for a further day or so?

 

[alank950]

At least if a bottle leaks or even explodes lol then you still have other bottles to sup,and no need for co2 regassing etc,open a bottle and just enjoy,i doubt i be in any hurry to re-use my barrels again if honest,years ago i used to use 2lt plastic pop bottles...Its what im going to use again for my ipa,all friends and family save them for me i was out and sterilise and are perfectly good to use,only problem is once opened i have to drink the whole 2 lts lol..maybe not a bad thing but if i only want a glass of beer will the remainder in the botle keep for a further day or so?

I put my spiced ginger root beer into 1.5 ltr bottles and i would say its better poured into a large jug/glass in one go to reduce the sediment.I would assume if one was to pour a pint and then re apply the lid and leave it in the fridge for a day the sediment will settle again if untouched,dont know about the carbonation though.