Hello, and help!

[BenB]

It's a very good point. I was going to charge in and say "I used them and it was fine" but then I remembered I did have some dodgey tasting beers early on in my AG career. I put it down to contamination. Never quite found the cause.... it might have been the drops. You never know. I only ever used a new packet but still.... you'ld hope they're that sugary it would prevent contamination due to osmotic forces.

[Gavlar]

Cheers Guy, Ben, that's another good variable to play with.

So, we're on again for this Saturday. I'm going to get some bottled water from Tesco for brew day, I'm upping my washing & rinsing game before I transfer to the fermenter, then priming with sugar instead of drops when I bottle. Fingers crossed

[BenB]

If you use sugar make sure it's boiled with water and cooled in a sanitised container before use. Starsan'd foil over a saucepan will suffice. An Erlemeyer flask for bling value is traditional though...

[WalesAles]

If you use sugar make sure it's boiled with water and cooled in a sanitised container before use. Starsan'd foil over a saucepan will suffice. An Erlemeyer flask for bling value is traditional though...

Ben,
Why not thoroughly dissolve the sugar in a pint of beer from FV1 ( I don`t like saying wort) on a gentle heat, put it in to
FV2 still warm, then syphon brew onto primer?
That`s what I`ve always done. Never a problem.

WA

[sbond10]

Yep i also disolve sugar in 200ml of water and lobbed it into bottling bucket not had an issue

[BrannigansLove]

I find batch priming with sugar solution the best way to bottle. Also using a tap to hose to little bottler setup has sped things up massively.

[BenB]

My rationale was that the funny taste the OP has experienced could be infection and boiling priming solution removes one place for this to be introduced. I like the idea of a post fermentation decoction though

[Onthebrew]

I have had similar issues but found time helps. Some ales have taken About 4 or 5 weeks to carbonate using drops. I also have a problem with oily mouthfeel with all ales, although others have said they don't detect it. Maybe I should look at rindng more as I just rinse one or twice then star San.