Flat beer!

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 4:28 pm

Hi All, just cracked a couple of Bavarian Lager...both flat. They have only been 3 weeks since bottling, but just wanted to try taste. Have I done something wrong. I use a hand capper and had the odd flat one amoungst previous brews, but 99% ok. Is a bench capper much better? Or could something else cause it? Is it now wasted?
thanks

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 4:45 pm

With the cold weather ( temperatures )...its going to take your bottles longer to condition and gass up. Give them another three weeks, then have a test.

How did you prime your bottles ?

Wassa · Post by **Wassa** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 5:11 pm

Hambone,

I'd tend to agree with Paleman. in the cooler weather you need to let your brew condition longer.

Myself i never touch my brews until they have 3 months of bottle conditioning, but i like the well rounded finish that bottle age gives to brew.

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 6:17 pm

Hey Wass !!

Are you the same Wassa on Grumpys ?? Im Adam on that forum. I like your work fella.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 6:37 pm

Thanks fellas, I'll give it another couple of months. I used Coopers carbonation drops.

Wassa · Post by **Wassa** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 7:58 pm

Sorry paleman, different Wassa. I only go here, Country Brewer and Brodie although I do look in on Grumpy's. don't believe i have left a mesage though.

Paleman · Post by **Paleman** » Monday Jun 05, 2006 8:22 pm

Thats ok Wassa,

I still love your work on this site.

Two Wassa's, bit of a coincidence.

Wassa · Post by **Wassa** » Tuesday Jun 06, 2006 12:39 pm

Must be luck having two of me......LOL

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Tuesday Jun 06, 2006 3:08 pm

I have recently done a Bavarian Lager and after 2 weeks in the botle was a bit flat. It's now at about 4 weeks and has a bit more carbonation to it but still too young to call. Sit and wait patiently.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Thursday Jun 08, 2006 12:56 pm

I'm Wassa. No, I'm the real Wassa. No I'm Spartac... Wassa.

The Carbonator · Thursday Jun 08, 2006 12:59 pm

hey hambone, did you rack?

I have to wait ages for carbonation if I rack.

pixelboy · Post by **pixelboy** » Thursday Jun 08, 2006 5:25 pm

Ahh so thats it.. racking

The first batch that I racked (bottled about 6 weeks ago) is still flat...

Ill be patient

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Thursday Jun 08, 2006 7:35 pm

I haven't found racking to affect carbonation

The Carbonator · Post by **The Carbonator** » Friday Jun 09, 2006 12:58 pm

man, you're lucky

da_damage_done · Post by **da_damage_done** » Friday Jun 09, 2006 1:47 pm

Tipsy wrote:I haven't found racking to affect carbonation

Same here

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Friday Jun 09, 2006 2:00 pm

Me either. I racked a beer for 6 months and it gassed up in a week.

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Saturday Jun 17, 2006 1:09 am

hey guys.. on topic..

i brew beer in kegs, and my wheat beer that i have been gassing for about 2 weeks now is flat. I have used the same process as all the other beers i have done and they all turn out beautifully.

So... is this common for wheat beer? i was running at about 100kPa.. i have since bumped it up to 120kPa and the fridge is at 4deg

seems wierd? the brew itself seemed weird during the storing phase, as most beers have produced further CO2 and swelled the storage containers and required pressure release every so often, where this one sucked it in?

Tastes alright.. just very small bubbles and no head at all

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Tuesday Jun 20, 2006 10:01 pm

Stangas wrote:hey guys.. on topic..

i brew beer in kegs, and my wheat beer that i have been gassing for about 2 weeks now is flat. I have used the same process as all the other beers i have done and they all turn out beautifully.

So... is this common for wheat beer? i was running at about 100kPa.. i have since bumped it up to 120kPa and the fridge is at 4deg

seems wierd? the brew itself seemed weird during the storing phase, as most beers have produced further CO2 and swelled the storage containers and required pressure release every so often, where this one sucked it in?

Tastes alright.. just very small bubbles and no head at all

If this is the only beer that has not gassed up it sounds to me like you have developed a leak in the system or in the keg.

Have you sprayed all fittings and connections with soapy water to see if there is a leak?

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Wednesday Jun 21, 2006 4:13 pm

cheers for the reply shaun

there is definately no leaks, but uping the pressure has made an instant difference, and the head is now beaudiful

i have now returned my pressure to pouring pressure, so i am guessing that it is the style of beer that required more time, and/or pressure.

All is good.