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Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 7:59 am
by Guru
I made a Coopers ginger beer kit recently (just kit and kilo). Was brewed on 9/10/11 and bottled on 22/10/11. I left it at room temp for a week or so and then refrigerated. Problem is that there is little carbonation. It tastes ok just not fizzy enough. Is it possible to save this? Will it get better just by leaving it. Did I refrigerate it too soon? So many questions and I have no answers.

OG was 1030 and FG was 1010.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 8:43 am
by earle
When I made the coopers/morgans ginger beers they came out very fizzy. It sounds like it may benefit from a bit more time at room temp but can you give a bit more info on how you primed.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 8:55 am
by Guru
I just primed the same as I would of with a beer. Teaspoon measure of castor sugar in each stubbie or double that in a long neck. Put the cap on and shook it up.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 9:57 am
by earle
The amount of priming sugar sounds fine so definitely sounds like a time issue. Warm place for another week or so.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 11:30 am
by Guru
What about the ones I have already refrigerated? Can I take these out for a couple of weeks and then put back in again without affecting the ginger beer taste etc.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 1:37 pm
by earle
I think it would be ok to take them out so they can carb. Or you could drink them flat.

Do you have any that didn't go into the fridge? If so chill one of those down and check its carb levels.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Thursday Nov 17, 2011 5:48 pm
by Guru
Sadly there are none that didn't get refrigerated. SWMBO told me to get them out of the pantry, so they went into the fridge in the garage :(

I have now taken most of the out of the fridge and "hid" them in the pantry. I will give them 2-3 weeks and see how they go.

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Tuesday Dec 13, 2011 8:23 pm
by Oliver
Any luck, Guru? I suspect the extra time in the bottle would have helped.

Oliver

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Tuesday Dec 13, 2011 8:33 pm
by Guru
I did try another one of these on the weekend and it has definitely improved, although I wouldn't say it had the carbonation of a commercial ginger beer. It is quite enjoyable over some ice as a thirst quencher at the end of the day. This is only about 3.2% so goes down ok. Should be good for my week on the houseboat on the Murray over new year (plus some other brews of course).

Re: Ginger beer little carbonation

PostPosted: Wednesday Dec 14, 2011 5:30 pm
by Guru
My daughter just opened another bottle (not chilled) and it frothed out everywhere, so obviously something happening there now.