Add more yeast to Bottled beer?

[MightyMouth]

I bottled my Coopers IPA this past Thursday with half a teaspoon of brewers sugar per bottle. It has been sitting in my kitchen since at about 18c-20c. When I bottled it, it seems exceedingly bright and now I have opened one to see the progress and there was absolutely no pressure in the bottle and the beer is totally flat (but still taste amazingly good). I think maybe there wasn't enough yeast for the secondary fermentation. Can I open each bottle and add a pinch of yeast to each bottle to try to get it to carbonate then reseal?

[stevezx7r]

I wouldn't add any more yeast as you may end up with a bottle bomb. As it was only bottled last thursday I'm not surprised it hasn't got any carbonation yet. Mine has been in the (2 litre) bottles for 3+ weeks and it's only just starting to carb up. I think mine was due to being left at too cold a temp than I normally leave it.

As a rule of thumb I go for the "leave it in the cold takes longer to carb up but tends to drop clear quicker, leave it in the warm and the opposite happens". I usually try a mix of the two, first in the warm to carb up then in the cold to drop clear, then in the fridge for a few days minimum to put the gas in the beer.

Steve.

[MightyMouth]

Hmm, I am pretty sure the is no danger by adding more yeast as yeast alone cannot cause over pressurisation and I only added half a teaspoon of sugar to each. I am more worried about the beer being exposed to air and going stale. I bottled my Cider and it was fully carbonated in 5 days.

[sparky Paul]

Personally, I wouldn't mess about with it at this stage. I'm sure there'll be enough yeast carried over to carbonate it, it just might take a while to get going - I've had them take two weeks plus to get carbonation going when bottled really bright.

[MightyMouth]

What happens if I leave it 2 weeks and they still haven't carbonated? Would it be too late then to add yeast? I would rather add a few grains of yeast now if it means leaving it might mean I have to pour it down the drain.

I guess I am just impatient as this brew tastes fantastic and I can hardly keep my hands off it even as flat as it is. I am off on Holiday on the 26 so I won't get a chance to enjoy it until I come back on the 12 or march.

[sparky Paul]

What happens if I leave it 2 weeks and they still haven't carbonated? Would it bee too late then to add yeast?

I wouldn't think there's any reason why you can't add the yeast at a later stage, after all some people leave beer in a secondary for weeks or longer.

Then again, I wouldn't think there would be too much risk opening the bottles now either, if that makes you feel happier.

[MightyMouth]

I'll give it 2 weeks and if it isn't carbonated by then I'll add a few grains of yeast to each bottle.

[sparky Paul]

You could try somewhere a little warmer, say 20-25°C, to try and give it a kickstart.

[MightyMouth]

You could try somewhere a little warmer, say 20-25°C, to try and give it a kickstart.

No where warmer to put it unless my neighbour lets me put it at his house. My wife likes to keep the house at a balmy 12 to 14c and its only my B*tching and moaning that keeps it at 20c.

[booldawg]

I had this trouble with a Milestone IPA. After a week and still flat I gave each bottle a little shake just to rouse things up and left it another week in the warm. It came good after that.

[Grantie]

I bottled mine a few days before yourself chief : i noted that it was pretty flat after a week, but left for a fortnight and tried one a couple of days ago, it was a lot more lively.

Mine sat for a week and a half at approx 18-19 degrees and has since been moved up to the loft.

I used 1/2 teaspoon per pint of brewing sugar and added it via solution.

I think it'll be ok.

[MightyMouth]

Thanks for the info guys, I have resigned myself to leaving it until next thursday then Ill have a taste and see how its going.

[oxford brewer]

Just leave the beer at 12-14c until the 12th of March then chill a bottle and try it.I am sure that after that long, even at those temps you will get an acceptable level of carbonation.

[MightyMouth]

Well, I lied or rather I didn't lie but couldn't keep my promise and I opened a bottle of my Coopers IPA tonight and I am happy to report it had begun to carbonate. In fact its better than that and the beer tastes unbelievable, much better than I ever thought a kit could. I drank the bottle just after drinking a Summer Lightning and there honestly wasn't much in it. The Coopers is beautifully hoppy and clean tasting with no trace of HBT.