Beer Forum

Hello all,
I understand that some people over carbonate thier beer just slightly when using the beer gun, is this common practice? And if so, is there a rule of thumb generally followed as too how many more volumes to add?

Thnx
GK

Honestly, it comes down to your process. If you have the beergun setup correct, you can get little to no foam (i.e. minimal CO2 loss). After you have done it enough and see the result, you'll get a better idea on whether or not you need to bump up the beer's CO2.

If you are concerned, just carbonate on the high end of the range (if your brewing to style) - if you have any loss, it will put you at the middle or the low end of the range, either of which is ok.

Personally, for me, I just use the beer gun without adjusting the CO2 - seems to work fine so far.

-Okt

There are two ways to lose c02 when filling with a beergun, both modest.

1. Foaming is, obviously, c02 leaving solution.
2. Any headspace left will take a portion of c02 from the beer.

If the bottles and beer are cold and you go slow you will get little foam on most beers. With little foam you can fill practically to the top if you want (I have literally capped bottles on beer), and if you ask me this is ideal and represents nearly zero c02 loss. Judges sometimes think too hard about bottles filled right to the top so consider that if you enter competitions.

To answer your question, assuming you leave a normal amount of headspace and don't foam up very much, maybe one or two tenths of a volume? This is barely noticeable but I tend to think higher than desired carbonation is lower than desired. You can always shake some out in the glass, it doesn't work the other way around.

I agree with JohnF. When I first bought my Beer Gun, I overcarbed as everyone told me to. I ended up with a bunch of overcarbed beers that had to be taken down to almost freezing to keep the foam out. I'd carb as usual, get the bottles real cold, dispense with low pressure, and you'll be fine.

If they aren't for competition, I fill them almost all the way to the top.

Eric