Forced Carbonation

[3guysandabeerd]

carbonation

http://discussions.probrewer.com/sho...l-to-2-volumes this the thread that changed the way I look at carbonation
hope it help out cheers
matt 3GB

[omearabros]

http://discussions.probrewer.com/sho...l-to-2-volumes this the thread that changed the way I look at carbonation
hope it help out cheers
matt 3GB

Yeah, I read this thread yesterday. I think I understand glitchegummee's process except setting your flowmeter to "half scale" I just don't know the term. I understand setting the head pressure for your desired volumes and then bubbling-co2 through your stone, but I don't quite know where I should set the flow through my stone, or what he means by half-scale. Can you fill me in?

Cheers,
Tim

[gitchegumee]

Every application is different

There is no one single way to do this. You may have a very nice stone, or you may not. Put your stone in a bucket of water and watch what the flow of bubbles/mist looks like with different flow rates. Set your stone flow rate to what you think will carbonate without foaming your beer. Half scale on my flow meter is what I found to work IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION. If your flowmeter shows maximum of 1 liter/minute (this is full scale), then half scale would be 1/2 liter/minute. Be sure to check your BBT after the first few carbonation cycles to examine for signs of foam ring. You don't want that.

[omearabros]

There is no one single way to do this. You may have a very nice stone, or you may not. Put your stone in a bucket of water and watch what the flow of bubbles/mist looks like with different flow rates. Set your stone flow rate to what you think will carbonate without foaming your beer. Half scale on my flow meter is what I found to work IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION. If your flowmeter shows maximum of 1 liter/minute (this is full scale), then half scale would be 1/2 liter/minute. Be sure to check your BBT after the first few carbonation cycles to examine for signs of foam ring. You don't want that.

Thanks a lot GG! That's what I thought. You've become quote the resource for this method! One more thing -- after I check using water in a bucket, it seems like I wouldn't actually NEED a flowmeter if I know my flow rate at the c02 regulator. Do you think it's absolutely necessary - or could I just set, for example, 5psi on my regulator every time?

Cheers,
Tim

[gitchegumee]

I would not...

IF you know your flow rate at your regulator, then you could. Do you HAVE a flowmeter at your regulator? If not then you cannot accurately infer a flow rate from a pressure. Not unless you are extremely experienced and take into consideration the beer volume, beer style, starting carbonation level, etc, etc. Then it would be possible. But I'd still use a flow meter to know what I'm doing for sure. Use the flow meter to accurately know that you are pushing CO2 into the beer slowly and gently at a rate that both carbonates quickly and does not foam your beer. Cheers!

[omearabros]

IF you know your flow rate at your regulator, then you could. Do you HAVE a flowmeter at your regulator? If not then you cannot accurately infer a flow rate from a pressure. Not unless you are extremely experienced and take into consideration the beer volume, beer style, starting carbonation level, etc, etc. Then it would be possible. But I'd still use a flow meter to know what I'm doing for sure. Use the flow meter to accurately know that you are pushing CO2 into the beer slowly and gently at a rate that both carbonates quickly and does not foam your beer. Cheers!

Got myself a flowmeter. Thanks for the input. Cheers!