carbonation drops or just sugar?

thisispants · Post by **thisispants** » Tuesday Feb 07, 2006 7:57 pm

Any preferences?

I've only used normal table sugar and its worked a treat. Should i try the drops? Surely bubbles are bubbles?

or is the beer gonna taste more funky with sugar?

dags64 · Post by **dags64** » Tuesday Feb 07, 2006 8:35 pm

I use the carb lollies because I am just damn lazy

anything to make things easier

Mewshew · Post by **Mewshew** » Tuesday Feb 07, 2006 9:36 pm

Yeah, I'm the same. Lazy. Carb drops are just measured amounts of sugar and glucose so yeah, bubbles is bubbles.

Goatee · Post by **Goatee** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 1:11 am

i like to use dextrose. Can't impart any flavours at all.

My first beer had half drops and half table sugar, and to me, the sugar tasted more bitter just not as nice. i know i wasn't biased because i had no love for either method or know anyone who did.

Not completely sure, but i think dextrose might even carbonate faster and more bubbly pound for pound. Just from watching my batches as i changed over to dextrose.

JaCk_SpArRoW · Post by **JaCk_SpArRoW** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 5:29 am

Another point to consider is IMHO dex will give a better head retention & as Goatee said, it doesnt seem to impart any flavours at all...hey if its good enough for AG brewers, its good enough for me but use whatever you're comfortable with & whatever works!...each to his own!

Hashie · Post by **Hashie** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 7:54 am

I've always used sugar, as it was my understanding that the sugar used for carbonating didn't affect the flavour.

After reading some of the posts here, I might have to try carbing with dex.

Polar · Post by **Polar** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 8:43 am

Agree with my fellow canberran - Dex - tighter/smaller bubbles = lacy looking head

JaCk_SpArRoW · Post by **JaCk_SpArRoW** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 8:51 am

Polar wrote:Agree with my fellow canberran - Dex - tighter/smaller bubbles = lacy looking head

Ahhh ha, another one to mingle & swap ideas with...which I think we already covered didnt we?
Did you go to the CBC meeting last week?
Where abouts are you?...Kambah from memory?

MHD · Post by **MHD** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 9:14 am

if you can find a suitable container Bulk prime IMHO

Easy as...

JaCk_SpArRoW · Post by **JaCk_SpArRoW** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 9:17 am

MHD wrote:if you can find a suitable container Bulk prime IMHO

Easy as...

Yep, my sentiments exactly!

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 9:29 am

I now bulk prime with dextrose, and have no problems.

But back in the day - last year when I kinda started, I used sucrose for priming, and had good results, I certainly could not pick any bad flavours from that. It's such a small amount in the beer, surely it can't make too much difference.

I did two brews with Coopers carb drops, and they were the WORST I have done. They didn't carbonate well at all, and I had definitely used the two drops per longneck. I won't ever use them again.

Mewshew · Post by **Mewshew** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 3:14 pm

Thats stange scblak. How long ago was that? I've only ever used carb drops and never had any problems.

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 3:47 pm

Mewshew wrote:Thats stange scblak. How long ago was that? I've only ever used carb drops and never had any problems.

It was strange, it was a Coopers Pale Ale, but it was only my number two brew, so could well have made a mistake. But I'm pretty sure I didn't. It was July last year. All ingredients were from Coles.

Never know now, maybe I didn't cap firmly enough?

Mackers · Post by **Mackers** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 4:11 pm

I started using carb drop a year ago and reckon they're the beez neez. All beers are perfectly carbonated which is impossible using the little sugar spoon. Haven't tried bulk carbonating.

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 7:08 pm

scblack wrote:I now bulk prime with dextrose, and have no problems.

But back in the day - last year when I kinda started, I used sucrose for priming, and had good results, I certainly could not pick any bad flavours from that. It's such a small amount in the beer, surely it can't make too much difference.

I did two brews with Coopers carb drops, and they were the WORST I have done. They didn't carbonate well at all, and I had definitely used the two drops per longneck. I won't ever use them again.

Same here!

pricey · Post by **pricey** » Wednesday Feb 08, 2006 10:53 pm

I just opened a few of my first brew (Coopers Lager from a starter kit, no improvements). I used the coopers carb drops with the PET bottles. Whether I didn't cap tightly enough or whatever I'm not sure. There's a good sound on opening but the beer is only very lightly carbonated.

Here's the thing, I did a week in primary, then racked to secondary for a week then bottled into PET and a couple of longnecks. What is weird tho is that when I was racking I bottled two stubbies (glass) using the drops also. I tried one of those for a comparison and to be honest there wasn't much difference in taste at all (so I'm not completely sold on racking yet) but the stubbie was nice and bubbly.

So I still can't work out whether it was the glass and the bench capper that ensured good carbonation of the stubbie, or whether the unracked beer was what did it.

Either way I'd like'em more fizzy

Polar · Post by **Polar** » Thursday Feb 09, 2006 6:29 am

Sorry Jack - did not get to the meeting -this time of the year if I'm not working - I'm down the coast - fishing from my kayak - and a roger to the Kambah area

JaCk_SpArRoW · Post by **JaCk_SpArRoW** » Thursday Feb 09, 2006 6:42 am

Polar wrote:Sorry Jack - did not get to the meeting -this time of the year if I'm not working - I'm down the coast - fishing from my kayak - and a roger to the Kambah area

S'all good Polar...it was a great meeting...plenty of beer to be sampled!...I'll have to let you know when the Canadian Blonde is ready & you can come round & try it out...my next brew will be a partial!

JaCk_SpArRoW · Post by **JaCk_SpArRoW** » Thursday Feb 09, 2006 6:46 am

pricey wrote: I tried one of those for a comparison and to be honest there wasn't much difference in taste at all (so I'm not completely sold on racking yet) but the stubbie was nice and bubbly.

So I still can't work out whether it was the glass and the bench capper that ensured good carbonation of the stubbie, or whether the unracked beer was what did it.

Did you cold condition for a week after 3-4 days in secondary Pricey?...CC'ing will greatly improve your beers, trust me!!!...also if you can bulk prime, you will be able to adjust the amount of dex used...standard is around 180g for 23 litres but you can use less or more, depending on your tastes & desired carb levels!

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Thursday Feb 09, 2006 8:13 am

Tipsy wrote:
scblack wrote:I now bulk prime with dextrose, and have no problems.

But back in the day - last year when I kinda started, I used sucrose for priming, and had good results, I certainly could not pick any bad flavours from that. It's such a small amount in the beer, surely it can't make too much difference.

I did two brews with Coopers carb drops, and they were the WORST I have done. They didn't carbonate well at all, and I had definitely used the two drops per longneck. I won't ever use them again.
Same here!

At least I'm not alone here

. I am sure I did not make a mistake, as I am quite particular with my measurements and work etc. I'll never use them again.