Coopers lager flat as a far...sorry pancake

[Nero]

First brew in FV for 17 days. Bottled with carbonation drops one and a half to a 500ml bottle and kept in a warm place for 14 days. Just getting ready to move to a cool place and thought I'd try one. A very small hiss and the beer is virtually flat, just a few small bubbles :cry: I know its a bit early for drinking, but I thought it would be better than that. Is there anything I can do to save my first ever brew. I'm gutted. :sick:

 

[PD]

leave it alone if tops are well fitted it will carb

 

[ScottM]

Carbonation drops are the devil.

 

[jamesrt2004]

id use 2 for 500ml bottles if pet..

also make sure its cold, if its warm it will seem flat :)

 

[abeyptfc]

what was the final gravity before bottling? 17 days and the yeast could have dropped out of suspension which could mean there isnt enough yeast left in suspension for secondary carbonation in the bottle

 

[ScottM]

what was the final gravity before bottling? 17 days and the yeast could have dropped out of suspension which could mean there isnt enough yeast left in suspension for secondary carbonation in the bottle

Surely there's always enough yeast in suspension to cover bottle carbing? If not, why would sitting cider for 6 months in a secondary to mature before bottling be recommended?

I sat a richies cider in the secondary for 2 months without touching it and didn't have any issues :hmm:

 

[Nero]

Well, I emptied the bottle just before I went to bed last night expecting a layer of sediment and guess what...hardly a thing. Is this to do with the warm temp. not being warm enough, or something else. Is there anything else I can do to save my pride. Beer tastes fine. :?

 

[ScottM]

You're looking for about 20 degrees for 2 weeks, when as low as you can get it without freezing for another 2 weeks. That deals with the carbonation side of things.

If you've got nothing by the end then there's something wrong. Is it possible your "tester" didn't have any drops in it? Can you check the other bottles for evidence of sediment?

 

[Nero]

Bit early for me to 'test' another one. I will try one tonight and get back to you. Funny thing is, I bottled on a Saturday evening, and being tight, I squeezed the last drop out of the FV and managed to half fill the last bottle together with some sediment. Thought I'd give it a taste on the Monday evening and it was full of fizz.

 

[mmaguy41]

It should carb up eventually it does take a little longer when you bottle the beer clear but it will get there

 

[kentmark]

I had a similar problem with a Geordie bitter. First couple of bottles tasted great, flat as roadkill!

Left it another couple of weeks and there was an acceptable level of fizz. By the end of the batch there was a lot of fizz! Time is your friend I think!

 

[ScottM]

Bit early for me to 'test' another one. I will try one tonight and get back to you. Funny thing is, I bottled on a Saturday evening, and being tight, I squeezed the last drop out of the FV and managed to half fill the last bottle together with some sediment. Thought I'd give it a taste on the Monday evening and it was full of fizz.

I wouldn't bother opening another till you see sediment on the bottom of the bottle. That's the easiest way to check imo.