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Date: 14 Nov 2006 15:26:07
From: Gerard Eberlein
Subject: residual carbonation and bottling
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I have a hefeweizen in primary, been 10 days now, and it still looks active
(can see in carboy still swirling but slowly) and obviously still bubbling
the airlock. Usually 10 days on a hefe I take an FG reading but they usually
look more settled than this one. I used a starter this time (first try) and
had semi success, still took almost 8 hours for small activity (CO2 building
in the blowoff hose) with 3068 wyeast. 24 hours and it was blowing off as
usual with a hefe and I was pleased. I've never had a hefe take more than 10
days and taking a reading from a 6.5 gallon without tipping it sideways
seems impossible, which would stir up trub. I tried the trick with the
finger over a racking cane before with no luck. I tried to keep the cane as
vertical as possible and the wort still ran out before I could take a
sample. Even if I do manage to get a sample and the FG is right, if there is
alot of residual CO2 in the beer should I lower the amount of priming sugar
I use normally, or will the residual not be enough to really cause problems,
i.e. bottle bombs, overcarbed? Thanx in advance.
Gerard
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Date: 15 Nov 2006 05:19:41
From: Danny Williams
Subject: Re: residual carbonation and bottling
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Gerard Eberlein wrote:
> I tried the trick with the
> finger over a racking cane before with no luck. I tried to keep the cane as
> vertical as possible and the wort still ran out before I could take a
> sample.
I use a stainless steel turkey baster with an injecting needle I found
at K-Mart in the Martha Stewart section. It is easy to sanitize, just
long enough to reach the beer, and the small opening prevents much from
falling out as I lift. 3 squirts is enough for a hydrometer sample.
Just be careful not to squeeze the bulb as you lift!
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Date: 15 Nov 2006 01:32:56
From: MarkMc
Subject: Re: residual carbonation and bottling
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You really shouldn't bottle until you know primary fermentation is
finished. You're playing Russian-roulette with bottle bombs if you
don't!
You're going to have to take a sample. Best to take samples every day
for a couple of days, and if the FG is in the right area and hasn't
changed for a couple of days, then it is ok to prime and bottle as per
normal.
Taste the sample to check that it isn't infected too. If you bottle it
infected even if the FG is in the normal place, you may still get
bottle bombs.
I've learned to taste the wort and beer at every stage as this tells me
if the beer is ok, and if it isn't gives me a better chance of working
out at what stage it went wrong.
Regards,
Mark
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Date: 15 Nov 2006 21:31:53
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: residual carbonation and bottling
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On Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:26:07 -0500, <dormouse@charter.net > wrote:
> I have a hefeweizen in primary, been 10 days now, and it still looks active
> (can see in carboy still swirling but slowly) and obviously still bubbling
> the airlock. Usually 10 days on a hefe I take an FG reading but they usually
> look more settled than this one. I used a starter this time (first try) and
> had semi success, still took almost 8 hours for small activity (CO2 building
> in the blowoff hose) with 3068 wyeast. 24 hours and it was blowing off as
> usual with a hefe and I was pleased. I've never had a hefe take more than 10
> days and taking a reading from a 6.5 gallon without tipping it sideways
> seems impossible, which would stir up trub. I tried the trick with the
> finger over a racking cane before with no luck. I tried to keep the cane as
> vertical as possible and the wort still ran out before I could take a
> sample. Even if I do manage to get a sample and the FG is right, if there is
> alot of residual CO2 in the beer should I lower the amount of priming sugar
> I use normally, or will the residual not be enough to really cause problems,
> i.e. bottle bombs, overcarbed? Thanx in advance.
Well, step one is to make sure the fermentation is done before you bottle.
The only way you're really going to know that is by taking gravity readings.
BTW, a wine thief works great for taking samples from a carboy.
Once you determine that fermentation is complete, then bottle with your
normal amount of priming sugar.
John.
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Date: 15 Nov 2006 10:37:27
From: Bob the Brewer
Subject: Re: residual carbonation and bottling
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Gerard Eberlein wrote:
...
> days and taking a reading from a 6.5 gallon without tipping it sideways
> seems impossible, which would stir up trub. I tried the trick with the
> finger over a racking cane before with no luck. I tried to keep the cane as
> vertical as possible and the wort still ran out before I could take a
> sample.
...
> Gerard
I use the Fermtech Thief to get samples out of my 6.5 gallon primary
carboy. It works well for me. I think it was about ten bucks at my
local HBS.
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