Can I Measure Dissolved co2?

[gnutz2]

Just thinking out loud how to control the ammount of dissolved co2 in my beer, i'll be force carbonating using a pub gas bottle and my new 30l kegs.

I'm assuming the fastest way of carbing the beer is through an air stone but there must be a more accurate way of testing the beer other than tasting it.

I'm aware of the pressure versus temp, carbonating charts but they assume the beer is stable and no more co2 is being absorbed.

Hope that makes sense.

Cheers Baz.

[jaroporter]

get a dissolved CO² meter..? i'm not sure how easy they are to get hold of, or even the price, but they do exist. some homebrewers use dissolved O² meters to check aeration, so it might be a viable option..?

[gnutz2]

From reading another thread, if I attached a pressure guage to a filled bottle then gave it a shake, the resulting pressure should be an indication of the carbonation level.

I could then directly compare the results with bottles that have a known carbonation.

I'm probably grossly overcomplication the matter.

Good idea about a meter, i bet they're expensive.

Baz.

[gnutz2]

This interesting link has a solution some pro brewers seem to use.

http://discussions.probrewer.com/showth ... solved-CO2

A pierce tester (by zahm and nagel) for packaged beer and a bright tank tester which works in a similar way with a pressure guage, temp gauge and a shake of the hand to release the co2. All mechanical so fairly reliable with no electronics to go wrong.

[CO2man]

Just bubbling CO2 via a tube into beer in a keg or tank is very inefficient and will produce disappointing results
Natural carbonation acquired by beer in a sealed bottle from continuing yeast action can work - but you need strong bottles and maybe chilling - like champagne method
Best injection CO2 result, with fine bubbles well bound into solution, needs a suitable tank/keg with an inserted sintered stainless steel or ceramic beer stone
Preferably the beer should be cooled down or chilled to maximise solubility of CO2, together with some method of controlling flow and pressure of CO2 (valve/gauge)

To test the volumes of CO2 in your beer you need a CO2 tester - basically measuring pressure and temperature and reading result off a chart
For in tank measurement you need to draw off a sample into a pressure container without losing any gas - then shake, measure temperature and pressure
(kit costs around £1200 to £1500)
For in-can or in-bottle (after bottling and sealing with crown cork) you need to use a device which pierces the lid while sealing in the liquid and gas
(kit costs around £750 to £1000)
Shake the can or bottle (to release CO2 gas and achieve equilibrium pressure), press down the piercing needle, read off the pressure/temperature
Then look at the beer CO2 volume/pressure/temperature chart for result

There are some simpler pressure gauge testers which clip onto the bottle mouth from Germany or Czech manufacturers
Some of this kit is available from a UK specialist instrument supplier www.bearwell.co.uk

an overview of the type of kit used by micro and maxi brewers can be found at
http://www.zahmnagel.com/products/tabid/57/default.aspx

and a Youtube video showing how the test kit is used can be seen at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_CwmL_HaPI

and a typical beer CO2 volumes chart from the American Society of Brewing Chemists can be found at
http://www.zahmnagel.com/LinkClick.aspx ... D&tabid=81

Happy brewing