Priming bottles with DME

[Fuggled Mind]

I always prime my beers with DME. I used to use sugar but I'm far happier with the results that DME give. In the long-term, I feel the flavour is much improved.

However, I have to say, as of late, I'm slightly over-carbonating my beers. I have a few that I think are a tad under-carbonated too. I generally brew English styles (bitter and best bitter).

Is anyone else priming their bottles with DME and if so, how much are you using per 19/23L batch?

Cheers

Jason

[EoinMag]

I tend to use 80-100g in a pressure barrel, and 100-120g when doing bottles. For my Pilsener recently I actually made a 5l minmash the same as the original recipe, hopped it and all and then primed with that, 5l wort to 50l of beer---ish.

[Uncle Joshua]

I use household sugar for priming. as a rule I use one tea spoon per bottle or 90g in a keg.

[Rick_UK]

For bottling I would recommend about 200g for high carbonation, 150g for medium and 100g for low.

I agree DME beats white sugar hands down for priming bottles.

Rick

[De-Geert]

I agree DME beats white sugar hands down for priming bottles.

Can you explain why? What is the difference in taste?

Thanks!

[Rick_UK]

I agree DME beats white sugar hands down for priming bottles.

Can you explain why? What is the difference in taste?

Thanks!

DME tends to give a softer creamier carbonation with smaller denser bubbles. Sugar tends to give a harsher more soda like carbonation with bigger bubbles. Not entirely sure about the science behind it but I thinks it's due to the DME fermenting more slowly.

I haven't noticed any difference for kegged beer mind.

Rick

[De-Geert]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

[De-Geert]

I just read this on howtobrew.com

Be aware that malt extract will generate break material when boiled, and that the fermentation of malt extract for priming purposes will often generate a krausen/protein ring around the waterline in the bottle, just like it does in your fermenter.

Do any of you notice this? If yes, is it a problem or don't you boil the DME first?

Another question, do you adjust for temperature when cold crashing? My beer is around 0C and according to the beer recipator calculator (link) I need to add around 40g of DME to 20L of beer. Does that sounds about right?