[travjohn92]

Does it take longer to force carbonate a higher gravity beer?

I have a Tripel that I force carbonated.  After 4 days, I poured myself a pint and it seemed flat.  I have decided to try additional time for force carbonating to see if it helps.

My fridge is at  40F and I am shooting for the higher carbonation end of the the style and even a little more  (2.5).  I have my Co2 pressure set at about 12-13lbs.

Typically it doesn't take this long, as I am not sitting at 6 days.

Thanks!

[davidgzach]

What was your FG?

[travjohn92]

OG: 1.081
FG: 1.014

[hoser]

Did you check all of your connections to make sure hat you don't have a leak?  This is the most likely culprit.  If not, then increase the pressure by about 3-5 PSI and give it another 2-3 days. BTW, the higher end of style of carbonation for a tripel is more like 3-3.5.  Carbonation is related more to temp, time, and pressure.  Not gravity.

[denny]

I have never noticed any relationship between OG or FG and the time it takes to force carb a beer.

[Mark G]

So did you just set the pressure at 12-13 PSI and leave it? Or set it higher and shake the keg before setting to serving pressure? If you just set it at 12-13 PSI, it's still going to be pretty flat after 4 days.

Like Denny said, I've never noticed a difference in time to carb in a high vs. low gravity beer.

[travjohn92]

I hooked my Co2 to in out line.  To let it bubble its way up.  Then I set the keg on my lap, CO2 still connected, and rolled it on my lap for about 2 minutes, then let it sit about another 3 days, with the Co2 still connected.

[Jimmy K]

I hooked my Co2 to in out line.  To let it bubble its way up. 

Is this how you always carbonate? Did it sit cold for 3 days or at room temp?

[travjohn92]

Is this how you always carbonate? Did it sit cold for 3 days or at room temp?
[/quote]

This is how I have carbonated in the past and the keg sat in the fridge for 1 week before I began carbonation
[/quote]

[davidgzach]

It makes no difference where it started only where it finished.  Being a high OG beer doesn't matter.  If you were trying to carbonate something with a high FG, that would matter as the CO2 would need more pressure to get in to solution.  The thicker the liquid the harder to force carbonate.  1.014 should be carbonated at 40F and 13psi after 6 days.

Check your lines and whether you have sufficient pressure left in the tank.  When you shake the keg, can you hear the gas entering or not?  If the latter, gas is not getting to the beer for one reason or another.

[denny]

It makes no difference where it started only where it finished.  Being a high OG beer doesn't matter.  If you were trying to carbonate something with a high FG, that would matter as the CO2 would need more pressure to get in to solution.  The thicker the liquid the harder to force carbonate.

That may be theoretically true, but in reality I've never seen it make any difference.

[davidgzach]

It makes no difference where it started only where it finished.  Being a high OG beer doesn't matter.  If you were trying to carbonate something with a high FG, that would matter as the CO2 would need more pressure to get in to solution.  The thicker the liquid the harder to force carbonate.

That may be theoretically true, but in reality I've never seen it make any difference.

Just throwing out a little science on that one.......

I'm in agreement.  If you were trying to carb something at say 1.025, I think you would see a difference.  That would be one sweet beer!

[denny]

Just throwing out a little science on that one.......

I'm in agreement.  If you were trying to carb something at say 1.025, I think you would see a difference.  That would be one sweet beer!

I've force carbed 1.025 (and higher) beers many times....no difference.  And they weren't necessarily sweet.  It all depends on how you design the beer.

[davidgzach]

Really?  Wow.  I would have thought there would be a residual sweetness at that FG but I suppose that is very true in it depends on the design of the beer. 

Still can't seem to get it in my brain that it wouldn't be even a little harder to force carb at .025 verus .010 but I'll take your word for it!

[denny]

Really?  Wow.  I would have thought there would be a residual sweetness at that FG but I suppose that is very true in it depends on the design of the beer. 

Think a 135 IBU BW that starts at 1.115 and finishes a 1.028.

Still can't seem to get it in my brain that it wouldn't be even a little harder to force carb at .025 verus .010 but I'll take your word for it!

Well, technically it may, but not that you'd ever really notice in real life.