Using Carbonation Drops for Efficient Beer Brewing
Carbonation drops have become a popular choice among brewers for secondary fermentation during the beer bottling process. Traditionally, brewers would add sugar to each beer or cider bottle using a spoon, or they would opt for batch priming.
In contrast, carbonation drops offer a quick, error-free alternative. By placing a carbonation drop inside each bottle before sealing, secondary fermentation is initiated. This occurs as the yeast consumes the sugar present in the drop.
One well-recognized brand in this domain is Coopers Carbonation Drops. Another commendable brand is Mangrove Jacks. Both have garnered popularity and trust in the brewing community.
Ingredients of Carbonation Drops
The primary ingredient in carbonation drops is sugar, specifically sucrose. Thus, fundamentally, there's no stark difference between using a carbonation drop and adding sugar. The key advantage of using these drops is their convenience, ensuring consistency in the sugar dosage for each bottle. This uniformity is pivotal in achieving a consistent brew and preventing 'gushers', which are over-carbonated beers that overflow upon opening.
How to use Carbonation Drops for secondary fermentation
The procedure to use these drops is straightforward. Once the beer is transferred to sanitized bottles, a carbonation drop is added to each. The bottle is then sealed, allowing carbonation to commence as the CO2 remains trapped.
The number of drops per bottle varies with the bottle size. Here are some general guidelines:
The number of drops per bottle varies with the bottle size. Here are some general guidelines:
- 1 drop for a 350 to 375 ml or 12 OZ bottle. This also covers bottles up to 500 ml.
- 2 drops for a 750 ml bottle or 25 OZ.
- For bottles larger than 1 liter, 2.5 to 3 drops are recommended.
However, caution is advised to prevent over-carbonation.
Carbonation Tablets as an Alternative
Carbonation tablets, or conditioning tablets, serve as another route to achieve carbonation. Unlike carbonation drops which primarily contain sucrose, these tablets comprise dextrose, dry malt extract, and heading powder. They introduce additional flavor and body to the beer. The application depends on the desired carbonation level; for a 12-ounce bottle (350 ml), 3, 4, or 5 tablets are used for low, medium, or high carbonation, respectively.
Valuable Insights for Using Carbonation Drops
- Carbonation drops can be employed to carbonate apple cider, adhering to the same measurements as beer.
- Over-priming should be avoided. Excessive sugar can result in over-carbonation, leading to 'gushers' upon opening the bottle.
- The brewing environment, especially temperature, influences the carbonation process.
- For those who prefer adding granulated sugar, using a kitchen funnel can be efficient and less messy.
- Carbonation drops can also be used for ginger beer and possibly hard seltzer.
- When purchasing drops online, consider buying in bulk to optimize delivery costs.
- A Soda Stream machine can be used for carbonation, albeit with caution.
How do carbonation drops actually work?
Carbonation drops operate on the principle of priming sugar. During secondary fermentation, the yeast metabolizes the sugar, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2) as a byproduct. This CO2 dissolves in the beer, inducing carbonation. Each carbonation drop contains a calibrated amount of sugar that yields a specific carbonation level. As the yeast processes this sugar, it releases a predetermined volume of CO2, ensuring the desired level of carbonation in the beer.