CARBONATION DROPS VS SUGAR????

[Clean Brewer]

Hello all,

Would like to know what brewers out there that bottle their beer use, CARBONATION DROPS OR SUGAR??

I have been using carbonation drops and while they are easier to use, I think they are a little expensive, they save a bit of time but at about $2.88 for 1.5 batches, sugar is much cheaper but it may take a little more time to put in bottles??

Like to hear thoughts on this!!!!!!!!

[warra48]

Sure, the drops are easy, but you are unable to adjust them for bottle sizes of anything other than 375 mil or 750 mil.

I use raw caster sugar, and use one of those measure things you buy at the HB shop or BigW etc. It allows me to adjust the amount of sugar according to bottle size. Easy, and takes very little more time than carb drops, particularly as I use a small funnel to get the sugar into the bottles.

[Old Gil]

Also I've found some carb drops are different a size to others so you don't get exact measurements all the time. And you can't account for different style beers if you want slightly lower or higher carbonation

[rwh]

Plain white sugar for me, using measuring spoons. Either 1/2 tsp or 1 tsp depending on bottle size.

[ryan]

Agree- caster sugar, widemouth funnel and 5g. teaspoon the only way- bulk priming is for the birds.

[Chris]

Tweet tweet. I bulk prime.

[James L]

how am i supposed to soar like an eagle when i'm down on the ground surrounded by turkeys....

[Chris]

how am i supposed to soar like an eagle when i'm down on the ground surrounded by turkeys....

Move out of Perth.

[James L]

HAHA.... nicely done....

[ryan]

.......and without further ado, it`s over to you, Perth

[James L]

i was just going along with the bird talk, and thats all i had... it wasnt directed at anyone..

I have another bird analogy... Old Chook makes good soup...

Now... back to the topic... I bulk prime with dextrose...

I tried carb drops, but found they weren't consistant and we're suitable for bottles other than 375ml and 750ml... all my beers bulk primed have turned out great... just need to keep an eye on what ammount of dex i need to add depending on the bottling temp... I think i have it under control...

[Parrothead]

I bulk prime when bottling 5-gallon [US] batches, and use carb drops when bottling smaller batches. I just find it easier. I've never noticed a big difference either way.

[39Niner]

Standard

Two lollies per 750
One lolly per 375

Odd sizes

Suck lollies before putting in funny size bottles.

Roger

[rwh]

Odd sizes
Suck lollies before putting in funny size bottles.

That's one of the best ways to infect your beer that I've ever heard.

[ryan]

Standard

Two lollies per 750
One lolly per 375

Odd sizes

Suck lollies before putting in funny size bottles.

Roger

AHA HA HA - LOL you bunny fastard. That`s the best I`ve seen here yet!
Wish I`da said that

[spatch]

I was yakking to a guy at our local HBS's tasting day and his kids help him bottle and they suck
on each lollie before it goes in. Reckons it wasn't a problem........ yet?

I did a little experiment on my first brew and tried some Carb Drops, sugar and Castor Sugar.
The Castor did a great job without over carbonating like the drops were in 330ml stubbs.

Bottled my 2nd brew this arvo with mainly Castor (about 2/3 batch) and plain sugar the rest.
We'll see how these ones are in a month or so.

[Clean Brewer]

YUK

My self being a chef and a clean freak, I know that if anyone (even my own kids) had been sucking on something(carb drops), well I would not be putting it in my mouth, let alone home brew that is so suseptible to infection. The mouth is a nasty, nasty place for germs and bacteria. YUK.

On the subject of CARB DROPS VS SUGAR, it has been interesting peoples response since I posted this topic. I today bottled a brew and used up the last of my carb drops on half the batch and then used caster sugar on the rest.

One difference so far that I can tell is that it Cost $1.49(3 funnels) $2.69(sugar measure) and $1.76(1kg caster sugar)=$5.94. This will be enough for 4 batches of beer. If was to use carb drops($2.88 packet) it would cost $8.64 for the same amount. Difference being $2.70, after the first bag is used the difference will be $6.88(4 batches beer - 3 Packs Carb Drops $8.64- 1kg sugar $1.76)... You could use that extra $$$$ to make your beer extra special then.

I found it just as quick using caster sugar through a funnel and it is much CHEAPER...

[ryan]

Said it before and I`ll say it again..... unless it was for a variety of different size bottles for one brew, I wouldn`t bulk prime if you paid me.
Single prime for me, and it`s done in less than 2 minutes. All the hooha about uneven measuring is just that, hooha. Unless you`re really hamfisted or have major eyesight problems, you can`t go wrong.
So while the bulk primers are sanitising extra fermenters and racking hoses, preparing their sugar and boiling water, racking {again } and whatever else they do, I`ll just take 2 minutes to single prime then put the funnel and spoon away till next time
Too easy.

[rwh]

I bulk prime if I'm bottling an entire batch, and single prime if I'm bottling the leftovers from kegging. Both methods are great and they're both easy. I'll let you in on a little secret. I bulk prime because it gives me an excuse to rack. Racking the beer before bottling gets it off the trub, and that lets me relax and move the fermenter around as much as I like while bottling.

So yeah, just stick to whatever you like guys. It's all good.

[Trough Lolly]

...I'm amazed that after 19 posts, nobody has mentioned the word "twang" yet!!

I did once, but I think I got away with it.....And no more lolly sucking jokes please!!