1 Gallon Batch Priming Sugar Question

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by WallMatt, Mar 29, 2016.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    I've been doing 1 gallon batches for a while now though I never know if I'm using right amount of water for boiling corn sugar. I typically use around .7 oz of corn sugar with about 3/4 to a cup of water. Is this too much?
     
  2. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

  3. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    I mean how much water to boil with? I use the calculators for sugar, but there is nothing for water. Wasn't for sure if it mattered or not.
     
  4. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    Usually you use 2 cups of water for 5 gallons, so about a half cup of water for a gallon should work.
     
  5. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    Thanks. So I've been using more than that. I'll cut back and see if that makes a difference in anything.
     
  6. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    The key is to add just enough water to dissolve all the sugar. Otherwise the extra water might dilute your beer too much. Dissolving the sugar in a quarter cup of water for 1 gallon is fairly standard. Also, use the smallest pot you have for boiling. If there's too much surface area, you might boil off too much water.
     
    #6 OldBrewer, Mar 29, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 29, 2016
    PapaGoose03 likes this.
  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    @OldBrewer is right, but another point to make is that if your beer is a pint short of your intended 1-gallon batch, then boil the sugar in a pint of water so that you hit the mark for what the recipe is written. If your beer is already at one gallon, then boil the sugar in as little water as you can so that you don't go too far over the intended batch size. Keep in mind that this isn't rocket science, so if you're off a little, don't sweat it. Just don't scorch the sugar when boiling in a small amount of water.
     
    inchrisin likes this.
  8. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    A 1:1 ratio is a simple syrup in cooking. This is the maximum amount of water I'd use. I would try to use as little water as possible. and don't be afraid to boil it down a touch.

    One gallon of beer would only be a few T of sugar, wouldn't it? You might be able to pull this off in a glass measuring cup and a microwave if you want.
     
  9. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    I didn't think about a microwave. Might have to try that as it is so little water that by the time it boils the water is nearly gone unless I use 3/4 to a cup of water. Which helps in keeping me around my batch size due to crud in the end.
     
  10. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    It is typically .7 oz of corn sugar.
     
  11. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    You should really try to measure your priming sugar by weight and not volume. It is more accurate that way. Even a small variation can make a difference, especially with a 1 gallon batch size. Use an online calculator to figure out the desired weight.

    Just enough water to dissolve the sugar is all that is needed. You want to boil to melt the sugar and also to drive off the oxygen present in the water.
    Cheers.
     
  12. WallMatt

    WallMatt Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2016 Virginia

    Online calculator says .7 oz. I did find another calculator that estimates .72 oz to be 20.53 g. Though the calculator I've been using was only doing oz.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.