Hitting Target CO2 Volumes when force carbing.

[mcgster]

Just curious to see how everyone hits their target vol of co2 when force carbing.

My method is a test and tweak, and i rarely hit my desired co2 level right away. I normally force carb at 30 PSI for 2 or 3 minutes, leave it over night then check, if its low i hit it with the co2 and repeat.

[LeafMan66_67]

I use the carbonation charts and control via psi, temperature and time.

[mcgster]

Derek - so you just use the set it and forget it approach with the charts? Do you find them pretty accurate, i have always force carbed my beer because of the time difference.

[LeafMan66_67]

Derek - so you just use the set it and forget it approach with the charts? Do you find them pretty accurate, i have always force carbed my beer because of the time difference.

Yep - set and forget, usually good to go in a week to 10 days. Or if I'm really patient, I will prime the keg with corn sugar and let it sit for a month. Works great if you don't have space in the kegorator.

[mcgster]

I envy your patients lol, with the small batches i always end up turning them around quick.

[denislemieux]

I prefer to use the set and forget method. As long as you have accurate temperature reading the charts generally hit right on.

But I have in the past used the method of forcing at high PSI and giving it a shake in order to carb faster when beer was needed. I have had pretty good success with that method as well, but I generally aim to slightly under-carb when doing it this way. And then letting it sit at serving pressure for a few days in order to finish up carbonation and mellow the carbonic acid bite that I find I get from high pressure carbing.

If you have the 10 days available to you, follow the charts and you will get the best most consistent results. If you only have a few days, then other methods can work.

[mcgster]

Yah thats the problem i never have 10 days, i'm really looking for some tips on how guys dial in their pressure using the force carb method. I completely understand that the best way to carb beer is the set and forget method. I have kegged about 40 batches force carbing it so there is no doubt it works, and quite well at that, but the key to dialing it in to a specific vol of co2 is more difficult.

[denislemieux]

Unfortunately there really is no way to really dial it in, it is all about trial and error when trying to speed up the process. Just remember that under carbed is much easier and faster to correct than over-carbed.

So if you can get the majority of the way to proper co2 volume by using the high pressure and/or a shaking, you can then lower the pressure to a 12psi or so and it will equalize the pressure and finish carbing to the proper volume in a few days instead of the 10 or so.

[mcgster]

I don't think i have ever had an over carbed beer in a keg, i have certainly had many back in the days of bottle conditioning but that is probably because you can easily check this way by pouring a pint!

I had read awhile back an article on using constant agitation and low pressure force carbing to hit targets but i can't seem to find it now, i was thinking something along these lines for dialing it in.

[RossBee]

I set my regulator to target pressure (usually 15 psi), play "Stairway to Heaven" and shake. Generally 2/3rds of the way through the song, you can hear the regulator stop adding CO2. Leave it hooked up for 2 days at 4C. Works for me.