Ginger beer not carbonating

[old_no7au]

Hi, new to brewing and my first try at ginger beer has resulted with very little carbonation. I used 740ml bottles and put two carbonation drops in each however no bubbles. Any ideas to why?

 

[Mr. No-Tip]

We will need a tad more info. Did you use a kit or your own recipe? What was the OG and FG? Most importantly, how long has it been? I've found GBs taking a few weeks to carbonate in the past, while beers next to them at the same temperature were done in ten days.

 

[old_no7au]

We will need a tad more info. Did you use a kit or your own recipe? What was the OG and FG? Most importantly, how long has it been? I've found GBs taking a few weeks to carbonate in the past, while beers next to them at the same temperature were done in ten days.

I used a kit from OZ brews. They have been bottled for 4 weeks. OG & FG? Sorry not that clued on yet, what does it stand for?

 

[carniebrew]

What yeast did you use? Did you test your original gravity (OG) before sprinkling the yeast? Did you test your gravity again to see if it was ready for bottling? If so, what was the final gravity (FG) at bottling?

 

[old_no7au]

Ok so I didn't test the OG before the yeast and it was 1.000 when I bottled it. Not sure what type of yeast I used just the one that came with the kit.

 

[carniebrew]

My best guess would be that your yeast was dead (or dropped out of suspension) when you bottled, because 2 carb drops should have given you plenty of carbonation. Can you see any yeast sediment in the bottom of each bottle?

Are they PET bottles? You could try opening each bottle and adding some yeast, then sealing them back up again. A few ways to do it, randomly sprinkle some dry yeast in each, or re-hydrate some dry yeast, shake it up in a jar of some sort, then use a sanitised pipette or syringe (i'd go pipette) to squirt some into each bottle.

What temp have you been storing the bottles at? It just struck me you might have them too cold (in which case the yeast is asleep), or too hot (in which case it may have killed the yeast).

 

[old_no7au]

Thanks carniebrew, think I will just tip them out and start again, I think it might off been too hot as I live in darwin. Have set it up in the store room now which sits at around 26 - 28 degrees. Fingers crossed this on works.

 

[old_no7au]

Ok I have started on my 2nd ginger beer brew. The reading after 3 days was 1.008 next day 1.005 than 1.004 2 days later 1.000 7 days all up. I have to go out of town for 5 days. Is it ok to leave fermenting?

 

[carniebrew]

Yep, 5 days shouldn't do any harm. Where's the fermenter, and at what temp are you fermenting?

 

[old_no7au]

It's in the store room under the house. Sitting at 28deg.

 

[carniebrew]

That's pretty warm, but ok for a GB...any chance it'll go much over that while you're gone?

 

[old_no7au]

I don't reckon it will. Should I just bottle today? Or will that affect the GB

 

[carniebrew]

Nah you need to be sure its finished, leave it til you get back.

 

[old_no7au]

Thanks

 

[old_no7au]

About to bottle my ginger beer, should I stir it before bottling?

 

[carniebrew]

No, if bulk priming just rack on top of the sugar solution. If bottle priming, don't disturb the trub, no need to stir.