Brite tank carbonation

A forum to discuss the various ways of getting beer into your glass.
Post Reply
timtoos
Piss Artist
Posts: 129
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:49 am

Brite tank carbonation

Post by timtoos » Thu May 12, 2022 7:51 am

I have a SS Brewtech brite tank that I always struggle with carbonation levels.

I have a beer sat in at the moment, at 3.5C. I want about 2.3 volumes of CO2 so using the carbonation stone fed in CO2 until I reached about 9psi, doing this slowly over 2 days. I achieved 9psi on 10/5. Today I have checked, 12/5, and the pressure is 8psi.

Is this drop due to the beer absorbing some of the CO2 held above it?

What do I do now? Leave it or add more CO2 until 9psi is reached again?

Regarding storage. Do I leave a top pressure of the carbonation level I want for the batch or reduce down to say 3-5psi?

PS, I can feed CO2 into the top of the brite tank or through the carbonation stone.

Thanks

f00b4r
Site Admin
Posts: 1528
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:54 pm
Location: Berlin

Re: Brite tank carbonation

Post by f00b4r » Thu May 12, 2022 3:34 pm

CO2 will continue to go into the beer until it is in equilibrium, so it looks like it was not at the level that you wanted. You can drop the pressure but why would you want to? If you drop the pressure the CO2 will equalise to the headspace in the other direction.
The above is only true at a constant temperature, if it is fluctuating the CO2 will be jumping in and out of solution and your carbonation levels will change.
3.5C is pretty cold, is that for a reason or just to carbonate it faster?

timtoos
Piss Artist
Posts: 129
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:49 am

Re: Brite tank carbonation

Post by timtoos » Sun May 15, 2022 11:36 am

Hi, I thought the colder the better when carbonating, using less CO2? Is this incorrect?

f00b4r
Site Admin
Posts: 1528
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:54 pm
Location: Berlin

Brite tank carbonation

Post by f00b4r » Sun May 15, 2022 12:50 pm

It will absorb faster so carbonate quicker and it will require less pressure at colder temperatures but are you then planning to serve at that temperature?
Last edited by f00b4r on Sun May 15, 2022 12:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Brain fart

timtoos
Piss Artist
Posts: 129
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:49 am

Re: Brite tank carbonation

Post by timtoos » Sun May 15, 2022 4:45 pm

Probably not, but will probably chill it at the very least.

Will it be over carbed at my serving temperature?

Thanks

f00b4r
Site Admin
Posts: 1528
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2014 10:54 pm
Location: Berlin

Re: Brite tank carbonation

Post by f00b4r » Sun May 15, 2022 8:18 pm

It won’t be overcarbed at a higher serving temperature but you will need to adjust the pressure to hit the same CO2 volumes at the new temperature.

Post Reply