Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Adding sugar to primary  (Read 2774 times)

Offline rjharper

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 646
    • Angry Scotsman Brewing
Adding sugar to primary
« on: November 11, 2015, 05:26:37 pm »
So had a great brew day, then remembered as I was running off to the fermenters that I didn't add the sugar at the end of the boil. I figure I'll just add it to the primary instead at high krausen tomorrow. But question: do I make a syrup with some water, boil, cool, then add; or just dump a lb of sugar in and hope for the best? Experiences?

This is 1 lb table sugar / 5 gal 1.080 OG BTW.

thanks!

Offline jeffy

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4223
  • Tampa, Fl
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #1 on: November 11, 2015, 05:54:46 pm »
So had a great brew day, then remembered as I was running off to the fermenters that I didn't add the sugar at the end of the boil. I figure I'll just add it to the primary instead at high krausen tomorrow. But question: do I make a syrup with some water, boil, cool, then add; or just dump a lb of sugar in and hope for the best? Experiences?

This is 1 lb table sugar / 5 gal 1.080 OG BTW.

thanks!
I poured some granulated sugar into a carboy of Belgian Triple after it had finished the bulk of fermentation.  It won a gold medal at a mid sized competition.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11336
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #2 on: November 11, 2015, 05:58:04 pm »
Just pour it in, it will be fine. Be sure to anticipate it may end up drier that you expected.

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2015, 05:59:55 pm »
Just pour it in, it will be fine. Be sure to anticipate it may end up drier that you expected.

True.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline rjharper

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 646
    • Angry Scotsman Brewing
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2015, 06:28:22 pm »
Just pour it in, it will be fine. Be sure to anticipate it may end up drier that you expected.

True.

Thank guys! Its a DIPA so drying it out is the plan.

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #5 on: November 11, 2015, 07:06:23 pm »
Would adding at high krausen cause a foam eruption?

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2015, 07:33:06 pm »
Not in my experience.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline rjharper

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 646
    • Angry Scotsman Brewing
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2015, 07:37:58 pm »
If I sprinkle, if anything the crystals will knock down the foam.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2015, 07:25:26 am »
I've added sugar (crystals) to secondary as krausen subsided on a tripel. Good results. As said, will definitely dry the beer some - a good thing on a tripel IMO.
Jon H.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11336
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2015, 07:34:39 am »
I've added sugar (crystals) to secondary as krausen subsided on a tripel. Good results. As said, will definitely dry the beer some - a good thing on a tripel IMO.

IME it dries the beer out a good 5 gravity points or more every time I have done it. Otehrs have stated it doesn't have any effect. So YMMV.

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #10 on: November 12, 2015, 07:56:52 am »
I added 1/4 lb of granulated sugar during active fermentation this week and got an overflow.  Normally I wait until the fermentation subsides more to avoid this issue.

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #11 on: November 12, 2015, 07:59:02 am »
I've added sugar (crystals) to secondary as krausen subsided on a tripel. Good results. As said, will definitely dry the beer some - a good thing on a tripel IMO.

IME it dries the beer out a good 5 gravity points or more every time I have done it. Otehrs have stated it doesn't have any effect. So YMMV.

Yeah, I stopped doing it on saison because (mashing low enough) I normally get close to or at 1.002 anyway. But beers like tripel dry out great for me doing this.
Jon H.

Offline rjharper

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 646
    • Angry Scotsman Brewing
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #12 on: November 12, 2015, 09:03:32 am »
Well we got a little foamy over the top of the bucket. Nothing a StarSan spray down.

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2015, 10:28:07 am »
IME it dries the beer out a good 5 gravity points or more every time I have done it. Otehrs have stated it doesn't have any effect. So YMMV.

Just from the stoichiometry, dFG = -0.4*dOG. If the FG doesn't drop after adding (a significant amount of) sugar, then the sugar didn't ferment out.

Anyway, I've poured in dry sugar without issue, but I prefer to make a syrup. I'm probably over-thinking it, but I doubt being in direct contact with crystalline sugar is a happy environment for a yeast cell.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline majorvices

  • Global Moderator
  • I must live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 11336
  • Polka. If its too loud you're too young.
Re: Adding sugar to primary
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2015, 12:45:39 pm »

Anyway, I've poured in dry sugar without issue, but I prefer to make a syrup. I'm probably over-thinking it, but I doubt being in direct contact with crystalline sugar is a happy environment for a yeast cell.

Well, that's why they get paid the big bucks.