Carbonation during fermentation?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by bbarnumboy, Apr 18, 2012.

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  1. bbarnumboy

    bbarnumboy Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2009 Washington

    I was wondering. I am in primary fermentation of a supplication clone. I know it is silly, but i have never sampled my beer during the brewing process before. That has all changed with this beer, I tried the wort, I will try it when primary is done and i will try it every few months as it sours with age.
    Been scared before i guess but i am over that now.

    So my question is this. Does beer carbonate at all while in primary or extended fermentation? It should a little bit since it is in a closed container correct?

    I was just having a thought about that today and figured those of you who have been sampling your beers along the way, would be able to shed some light. I don't expect it to be carbonated, this is why you have to force or naturally carbonate when kegging or bottling, but is there any co2 pressence?
     
    #1 bbarnumboy, Apr 18, 2012
  2. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,915) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Some CO2 will remain dissolved in the solution for a couple weeks max but then it dissipates. Even though the container is closed there is an airlock on it to release the pressure from the CO2. If the pressure were to be held in (Cap on a bottle or the lid on the keg) then the CO2 would be forced to dissolve into the beer.

    I can see when I take samples from the primary when its still really young that there are some bubbles that rise to the top of my graduated cylinder.
     
    #2 OddNotion, Apr 18, 2012
  3. LeeryLeprechaun

    LeeryLeprechaun Savant (1,094) Jan 30, 2011 Colorado
    Trader

    The beer will be able to hold as much carbonation as the air lock is able to resist. Meaning the water in the airlock is applying some pressure to keep CO2 in the container but not near enough to force enough CO2 into solution to notice much carbonation in the beer.
     
    #3 LeeryLeprechaun, Apr 18, 2012
  4. bbarnumboy

    bbarnumboy Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2009 Washington

    Thanks
     
    #4 bbarnumboy, Apr 18, 2012
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