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Author Topic: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming  (Read 5202 times)

Offline macbrewdaddy

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best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« on: June 05, 2014, 09:21:54 am »
So, when I ordered ingredients, the homebrew shop was out of corn sugar.  To my knowledge I can't get any in the stores here in Colombia.  I ordered some dme to use in its place, but after doing a bit of research it looks as if that may not be the greatest option as it will take a long time to carbonate.  I also saw some stuff that offered up normal table sugar as an option.

So DME or sugar?  impact of each?  something else obtainable at the grocery store?  I could probably get brown sugar.

Quick notes on the beer itself: its an IPA, all grain brewed, gravity has gotten all the way down from 1.05 to 1.005 in 12 days (that's another topic for another post), it'll be sitting at roughly 72-76 degrees to condition (its the caribbean).  maybe the warmer temp will offset the slower carbonation of the dme?  or would straight sugar be the better option?  I have some friends leaving in a couple weeks and I'd like to share it with them before they go.

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2014, 09:28:27 am »
White sugar will substitute oz per oz for corn sugar and carbonate just the same. It's also cheaper than DME.
 
I wouldn't use brown sugar unless it's something you want in your recipe. First, usually it's just white sugar mixed with molasses, so you're still adding white sugar (unless you get turbinado or something like that). But mostly, because it has flavor that you may not want in your beer.
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Offline mihalybaci

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2014, 01:56:49 pm »
I've used DME, corn sugar/dextrose, and plain white table sugar for priming and have not noticed any difference. White sugar is cheap and readily available, so I use it and don't know of a reason to use anything else.

Offline erockrph

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2014, 02:06:19 pm »
Plain old table sugar is all I use. Corn sugar really isn't needed for priming. I don't have any personal experience with DME, but I've heard reports of incomplete carbonation, as well as leaving a krausen ring in the neck of the bottle.
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Offline case thrower

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2014, 09:48:18 am »
If you are using plain table sugar, what's your procedure for getting it into the bottling bucket?  I've been using honey that I weigh into my pan, add some water and bring that to a boil, let it cool and then add to my beer in the bottling bucket.  If you are doing the same thing with the table sugar, how much water are you using?  After I've measured out the honey, I add enough water to just about double the volume in the pot.
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Offline denny

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2014, 09:50:08 am »
If you are using plain table sugar, what's your procedure for getting it into the bottling bucket?  I've been using honey that I weigh into my pan, add some water and bring that to a boil, let it cool and then add to my beer in the bottling bucket.  If you are doing the same thing with the table sugar, how much water are you using?  After I've measured out the honey, I add enough water to just about double the volume in the pot.

When I use sugar to prime, I just use the smallest amount of water i can to get it to dissolve.  The exact amount doesn't really matter.
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Offline case thrower

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2014, 10:00:21 am »
Makes sense, thanks.  And given how much coffee I put in my morning sugar, shouldn't be too much trouble to figure out an exact amount.  ;D  Thanks, again.
Dave C.

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Offline tommymorris

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2014, 12:10:40 pm »
One difference between corn sugar and table sugar is the density. Make sure to weigh your sugar with a scale not measure the volume with a measuring cup.

I may be the only dummy out there, but, since ounces can be a measurement of mass and volume, I thought I would point this out.

Use a calculator like this one to estimate the amount of sugar to add.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/priming-sugar-calculator/

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: best alternative to corn sugar for bottle priming
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2014, 12:52:54 pm »
One difference between corn sugar and table sugar is the density. Make sure to weigh your sugar with a scale not measure the volume with a measuring cup.

Even different corn sugars can have different densities. I used to use a really fluffy type that only weighed 3oz per 3/4 cup. Messed me up when I was just starting.
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