To prime or not to prime?

[Buzz]

I’m a recent convert to AG brewing after a few years of kits.

As a complete novice, the attraction with kits was the simple instructions on the side of the box which, if followed carefully would get you a reasonable brew. Every kit I’ve made has been primed, as per the instructions, either in the barrel or when bottling.

Now I’m learning a bit more with the full mash, I read from various sources that a properly brewed/conditioned beer doesn’t need priming.

On occasions in the past, my kit brews have got very fizzy in the bottle and sometimes the barrel goes mad when you open the tap. This makes me wonder if I’ve over-primed or haven’t let the beer mature enough before bottling/barrelling.

This gives me a quandary – my second AG brew will be ready to come out of the FV soon and I’m wondering whether to prime. It’s the best beer I’ve made and I don’t want to spoil it.

I’m also undecided whether to risk it in my Beersphere (which has a leaky tap) or to bottle it.

My initial thought is to give the barrel a service, check the 0-rings and tap etc and barrel the brew WITHOUT priming. I guess I could pour it into another vessel and prime/bottle at a later stage if it doesn’t produce enough carbonation in the beersphere - any thoughts??

[Jimberbob]

I bottled a couple of AG brews without priming a little while back, I left a month to condition, opened one, no fizz whatsoever. I would advise priming bottles.
I have never primed my barrels and my beer was always fine.
I hope this is some help to you.

[Buzz]

Thanks, I'll think I'll try the barrel without priming and see how it goes.

Cheers.