Adding priming sugar directly to bottles

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by HelloMyNameIsHuman, Aug 29, 2017.

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

    HelloMyNameIsHuman Aspirant (257) Mar 6, 2017 New Hampshire

    i have brewed and bottled 2 , 1 gallon batches reciently and with the equipment I have it is somewhat of a pain in the ass to go from fermenter to secondary pot to mix in the priming sugar . Since I only get 6-8 bottles from my 1 gallon batches I want to add priming sugar directly to the bottles. I have read a bunch of post and different opinions . I have fizz drops but I don't want to over carbonate. So I'm wondering how much to add to each 12oz bottle and also how to keep everything sanitized in the process. I brew IPA's and prefer them to be lighter on the carbonation side
     
    dmtaylor likes this.
  2. csurowiec

    csurowiec Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2010 Maryland

    Domino sugar cubes will get you to about 2.4vols with 1 cube per 12oz bottle. I keg most of what I brew but this works great for the occasional bottles that get filled.
    Just drop a cube in the filled bottle and cap.
     
    fuzzbalz and GreenKrusty101 like this.
  3. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    I've used 1/2 teaspoon per 12 oz bottle in the past with good results. It's "close enough". If you find carbonation is too high or too low on one batch, you can use a little more or a little less the next time.
     
  4. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You could always make the prescribed amount of priming solution, portion it equally between bottles, and then go from there.
     
  5. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    I've been considering this method for my next NEIPA bottling attempt -- and bottling straight from primary -- to reduce the risk of oxidation and color change (only one attempt so far, and it went brown after a month). Seems straightforward, as long as you know how much liquid you have after boil and mix everything up extremely well. I already have syringes for use with acids, so there's just the added time factor of sanitizing the syringe(s) and dosing each bottle.

    There's also this thread on the AHA forums that is a twist on this method of priming.
     
    MrOH likes this.
  6. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Carb/fizz drops are just sugar...how can they be so controversial?
     
  7. mattviator

    mattviator Zealot (640) Jul 9, 2005 Louisiana
    Society Trader

    I often add priming sugar(regular cane sugar) directly to the bottles and have had consistent results. I use 1/2 teaspoon to get around 2.5 volumes. A little more or less depending on the style.
    For your IPA, I'd use slightly less than 1/2 tsp, just eyeball it. Sanitize your bottles like normal and just drop in the sugar, I use a small funnel.
     
  8. HelloMyNameIsHuman

    HelloMyNameIsHuman Aspirant (257) Mar 6, 2017 New Hampshire

    Thanks for they replies , I think I'm going to make my normal priming solution then sanatize a syringe and then I will be able to make sure I add the same amount to each bottle . I've done some research and found about 2.5-3 ml per bottle equals around the recommended 1/2 teaspoon of dry sugar . Like I said I like my IPA's on the slightly lighter side carbonation wise
     
    frozyn likes this.
  9. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    Let us (me?) know how it goes. I have a bit of time before my next IPA and am interested in your results/how easy the process is.
     
  10. HelloMyNameIsHuman

    HelloMyNameIsHuman Aspirant (257) Mar 6, 2017 New Hampshire

  11. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    @HelloMyNameIsHuman, have you had a chance to try this yet?

    I bottled an Imperial Stout tonight and -- as a bit of practice before trying it on style that might really depend on it like a NEIPA -- used this method of syringe-dosing my bottles and filling from primary. The process was extremely easy, and added 10 minutes to the process. Actually, once I'm done cleaning, I'll be it will come out even since I don't have to clean a bottling bucket or that extra length of hose between primary/bottling bucket.

    Anyway, I took the precaution of preparing extra solution to make sure it was easier to pull the priming solution into the syringe, which I think was worth the extra 5g of corn sugar. The first few bottles took a bit as I got the hand of grabbing the syringe from a bowl with sanitizer in it, filling the syringe to 5 ml (I made my own calculations here, will reduce to 3 ml/bottle next time as long as the sugar dissolves), grabbing a bottle, dosing it and returning the syringe to the sanitizer, etc. As with general bottling, it became a rhythm and I was done before I knew it. I'm pretty much an expert at filling a syringe to 5 ml, to boot!

    I'll follow up to let everyone know how it went when I try the beer in 2-3 months. Well, let's be honest: I'll probably try one in a few weeks and check carbonation levels "for science".
     
  12. dbell032

    dbell032 Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2009 Utah

    How did syringe filling bottles turn out?



     
  13. frozyn

    frozyn Maven (1,435) May 16, 2015 New York
    Trader

    Great! I've achieved really consistent carbonation and it doesn't add time to bottling day -- instead of waiting for the sugar to mix and reach equilibrium, I'm just dosing bottles as I go to fill them. I'm also diluting the beer less as for my 2.5 gallon batches, I end up boiling ~2.5 ounces of water to create the priming solution vs. a full cup of water.
     
  14. maleasy

    maleasy Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2019

    Ok I'm going to give this a shot, I really hope this works. I'm going to use C&H sugar cubes but it is the same weight of sugar so should be equivalent. Fingers crossed.
     
  15. Silver_Is_Money

    Silver_Is_Money Devotee (337) Jun 4, 2017 Ohio

    I don't believe that C&H cane sugar cubes weigh 2.291 grams per cube like Domino Dots technically do. I think C&H cubes may weigh twice that amount.

    PS: On my scale Domino Dots weigh in at 2.31 grams. There are 198 cubes in one pound.
     
    Peach63 likes this.
  16. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    C and H cubes are about 3.6 grams each.
     
    dmtaylor and Peach63 like this.
  17. Peach63

    Peach63 Pooh-Bah (2,442) Jul 17, 2019 New York
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope he read this post otherwise.......BOOM!
     
    PapaGoose03 and dmtaylor like this.
  18. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Not necessarily. He'd be looking at about 3.5 volumes, give or take, depending on residual CO2 from fermentation. That's not going to explode a standard 12 oz homebrew bottle, unless it is defective or damaged.
     
    Peach63 likes this.
  19. Silver_Is_Money

    Silver_Is_Money Devotee (337) Jun 4, 2017 Ohio

    A C&H cube likely isn't going to fit through the neck anyway.
     
  20. Peach63

    Peach63 Pooh-Bah (2,442) Jul 17, 2019 New York
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hope not. I still remember the first time I blew one. It sounded like a shotgun and what a glorious mess!:dizzy_face:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.