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Author Topic: Forced carbonated, beer flat  (Read 1814 times)

Offline Brotillery

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Forced carbonated, beer flat
« on: November 30, 2017, 09:59:55 pm »
I just kegged a brown ale a few days ago, cooled it down to 40 degrees then force carb’d following a chart @11 psi. I was aiming for 2.3-2.4 volumes. I shook the keg for awhile until I couldn’t hear bubbles anymore. Maybe the co2 tank is almost empty? The gauge on the left side of the regulator is at 750.

Offline mainebrewer

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2017, 03:56:36 am »
If your tank gauge reads 750, it's not empty.
I find that it takes 7-10 days for a keg to be fully carbed.
Shaking the keg will speed that process up, of course.
Not sure how long the keg has been hooked to the gas but after a few days (3-4) there should be some signs of carbonation.
You may have a small leak somewhere. The first place I check is the keg lid.

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Offline Brotillery

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2017, 07:51:20 am »
If your tank gauge reads 750, it's not empty.
I find that it takes 7-10 days for a keg to be fully carbed.
Shaking the keg will speed that process up, of course.
Not sure how long the keg has been hooked to the gas but after a few days (3-4) there should be some signs of carbonation.
You may have a small leak somewhere. The first place I check is the keg lid.

Okay thanks I will start with the lid.

Offline BUZZSAW52

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2017, 08:01:39 am »
I agree with Brotillery. It's too soon. What's the hurry? I would leave it alone for at least a week.

Offline Slackjawls

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2017, 06:02:53 pm »
Your pressure was too low.  I get good results with 30 lbs.  i sit in a chair and roll the keg  gently back and forth.  After 7 or 8 minutes I get around 2.3 volumes.

Offline Robert

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #5 on: December 04, 2017, 04:45:05 pm »
Your pressure was too low.  I get good results with 30 lbs.  i sit in a chair and roll the keg  gently back and forth.  After 7 or 8 minutes I get around 2.3 volumes.

I agree but I start at 20psi instead of 30, because at 30 I have overshot carb level!  Believe me it's easier to get CO2 in than out.  I leave it till the next day with the gas disconnected and then finish off by shaking the keg with the gas set at my desired final psi.  It's still a lot faster than doing the whole job by just sitting there under serving pressure.
« Last Edit: December 04, 2017, 04:49:39 pm by Robert »
Rob Stein
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Offline Philbrew

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2017, 07:06:54 pm »
Agree with Buzzsaw.  What's the hurry?  That beer needs to age a bit and mellow out.  Give it two weeks and it will be killer beer.
Many of us would be on a strict liquid diet if it weren't for pretzels.

Offline Robert

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Re: Forced carbonated, beer flat
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2017, 07:18:20 pm »
^^^^
If there's still yeast present, it might age and mellow a bit, except that as you approach your target the pressure will send the yeast into dormancy.  I filter before I force carbonate, and if you do this you want to get it carbonated and on tap as fast as you can -- once the beer is separated from the yeast or the yeast goes dormant, the beer is not aging. It's just getting old.
Rob Stein
Akron, Ohio

I'd rather have questions I can't answer than answers I can't question.