Upon completion of fermentation, a certain amount of CO2
remains in the beer. This amount of "residual CO2" depends
upon the temperature of the fermentation. An ale fermented at
65°F will have 0.9 volumes of residual CO2 while a lager
fermented at 50°F will have 1.2 volumes. To get the same carbonation
in these two beers would require different amounts of priming sugar.
For the same weight, the various priming sugars generate different amounts of
CO2. To add one volume of CO2, you
need to add priming sugar at the following rates:
Priming Ingredient
Attenuation
grams/liter
Apparent
Real
Cane or table sugar (sucrose)
-
100%
3.82
Corn sugar (glucose/dextrose)
-
100%
4.02
Dried malt extract (DME)
Munton & Fison
75%
60%
6.8
Northwestern
70%
56%
7.2
Laaglander
55%
44%
9.3
Please note that DME varies in its fermentability.
Some example brand names are given with their approximate apparent
attenuation (AA) values. Typically, DME has an AA of 70% to 75%,
with the notable exception of Laaglander brand at 55%.
Caution
Please exercise caution in using the results from this
calculator. If the amount of priming sugar recommended
seems excessive then use common sense and only use the amount
you're accustomed to using, because it's quite likely you made
a mistake when entering your numbers. Too much priming sugar
or bottling a batch of beer that is not done fermenting can cause
exploding bottles! Also, some bottles are capable of holding more
pressure than others, so don't carbonate bottles to higher pressures than
the beer that came in them. This information is provided "as is" and the
author assumes no liability for the use of the results from this calculator.
My Home Brew Shop
NEW LOCATION!
625 Paonia St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
719.528.1651
Email: dlujan@MyHomeBrew.com Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday: Closed to consume beer!