Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Alcoholic beverages which are not classified as spirits.

Moderator: Site Moderator

Post Reply
mr_kris_kringle
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:38 pm
Location: Anywhere HD is legal.

Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by mr_kris_kringle »

Hello fellow hobbyists, long time reader, first time poster here. I have been watching Moonshiners (for entertainment obviously, not for learning) and I saw Digger using a mason jar with a tube from his fermentor into a mason jar with water in it as an interlock system. I thought it was creative and could be an interesting alternative for carbonating home brew beer instead of using additional yeast that gets gross at the bottom of a bottle or using a CO2 tank. Carbonating in a mason jar seems dangerous, so I am looking into alternative vessels, but I was wondering if anyone had ever tried it before? Or is this just a pipe dream? Please let me know what you think, and if no one has tried I would love to share my results.
Last edited by mr_kris_kringle on Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Mashing

Post by shadylane »

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Mashing

Co2 is made during fermentation, not mashing. :ewink:
I'm thinking Ya need to be careful, not to have problems with infecting the beverage you're carbonating.


Re: Carbonating in a mason jar seems dangerous, so I am looking into alternative vessels.

Your 100% right. :shock:
SS beer kegs and Cornelius soda kegs are a very good option.
Ya never see beer brewers using mason jars.
mr_kris_kringle
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:38 pm
Location: Anywhere HD is legal.

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Mashing

Post by mr_kris_kringle »

Yes I worded that poorly, I meant fermentation, thanks for catching that! And thanks for the reminder about infection, I hadn‘t thought of that. I guess I am really looking for a more efficient way to do it. To avoid infection, would it reduce the risk to use the same type of yeast?
User avatar
Salt Must Flow
Distiller
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:06 pm
Location: Wuhan China (Novel Coronavirus Laboratory)

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by Salt Must Flow »

You would be better off using a small co2 tank and a regulator to carbonate beverages. It takes a good deal of pressure to carbonate beverages.
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by NZChris »

It is done by some in the industry. Some NZ craft breweries were recently caught out by a nationwide CO2 shortage and are now importing expensive equipment so that they can use their own in the future.

I've never tried it. I don't have a suitable food grade compressor, or the ability to clean any undesirable bugs, molds, moisture, VOCs, lubricants, etc. out of the gas.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Mashing

Post by shadylane »

mr_kris_kringle wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:20 pm Yes I worded that poorly, I meant fermentation, thanks for catching that! And thanks for the reminder about infection, I hadn‘t thought of that. I guess I am really looking for a more efficient way to do it. To avoid infection, would it reduce the risk to use the same type of yeast?
Use beer brewing practice, where the wort has been boiled before pitching.
That would negate 99% of possible infections.

The problem is, store bought Co2 is cheap.
Trying to capture the Co2 from fermentation isn't labor or cost efficient.
Trust me, I've tried using a hand pump. :lol:
User avatar
Salt Must Flow
Distiller
Posts: 1920
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2022 2:06 pm
Location: Wuhan China (Novel Coronavirus Laboratory)

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by Salt Must Flow »

A few days ago I had my 5 lb co2 tank refilled and it cost just over $20. A few years ago it was $10 or less if I recall correctly.
hawkwing
Swill Maker
Posts: 230
Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2022 5:57 am

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by hawkwing »

I do this regularly when I make beer. Pressure fermentation however, will affect the flavors developed by the yeast. Beer brewers use pressure fermentation when they don't have the ability to cold ferment to get a similar outcome.
howie
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 627
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2020 7:34 am

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by howie »

i've never used extra yeast when i used to bottle beer, just added carbonation drops that continue the fermention with the existing yeast that is still in suspension.
i just use co2 bottles on my corny kegs and blanketing backset in half full cubes.
thinking aloud.....
to collect the co2 at any reasonable usable pressure, wouldn't you have to ferment in a pressure vessel?
then you would be using a spunding valve anyway, to carbonate the beer naturally?
i suppose excess co2 could be collected in a spare keg, but the recommended max pressure of a spunding valve is 10-15psi (so the internal pressure doesn't stress the yeast) .
TBH seems like a lot of pissing about :think:
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by shadylane »

Before deciding it was a waste of time.
I used a plastic trash bag connected to the fermenter.
And a hand pump to pressurize and carbonate corny kegs of red wine.

Edited.
The carbonated red wine was a great idea. :thumbup:
mr_kris_kringle
Novice
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2023 5:38 pm
Location: Anywhere HD is legal.

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by mr_kris_kringle »

Thank you all for your imput! So many more variables than I had considered (I guess it comes with the territory of being new). I think it may be worth a try on a leftovers run in case it doesnt work. Theres a weird relationship with these hobbies where you want to takr away as much labor as possible, but the feeling of making something with your two hands can’t be beat. When the leftover run xomes up, I’ll update the thread
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by NZChris »

Most of my hobbies are labor intensive and hands on.

I used to recycle CO2 when brewing wine and beer, but I've never tried pressurizing it for gassing up a product after the ferment, only using it for purging fermenters and bottles.

I have successfully fermented under pressure and bottled the products, but I don't think that's what you are talking about.
User avatar
shadylane
Master of Distillation
Posts: 10363
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Location: Hiding In the Boiler room of the Insane asylum

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by shadylane »

NZChris wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:34 pm

I used to recycle CO2 when brewing wine and beer, but I've never tried pressurizing it for gassing up a product after the ferment,

That got me to thinking.
Is there any high proof booze that's carbonated :?:
I can't think of any, so there must be a reason. :problem:
User avatar
NZChris
Master of Distillation
Posts: 13062
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2013 2:42 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by NZChris »

The highest ABV I've done in a carbonated beverage is 18%. Kind of like fizzy port wine. Not very pleasant, or popular.
User avatar
Saltbush Bill
Site Mod
Posts: 9675
Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:13 am
Location: Northern NSW Australia

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by Saltbush Bill »

NZChris wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:34 pm Is there any high proof booze that's carbonated :?:
I can't think of any, so there must be a reason.
I'm thinking Rum and Coke, Scotch and Sodawater or Ginger-ale , Bourbon with what ever fizzy thing folk choose to mix it with......carbonation comes with the mixer.....but obviously that's not for everyone some like it on the rocks or just with water.
Archee72
Site Donor
Site Donor
Posts: 292
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2020 7:58 pm
Location: Queensland

Re: Carbonating Beverages with CO2 from Fermentation

Post by Archee72 »

shadylane wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 11:09 pm
NZChris wrote: Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:34 pm

I used to recycle CO2 when brewing wine and beer, but I've never tried pressurizing it for gassing up a product after the ferment,

That got me to thinking.
Is there any high proof booze that's carbonated :?:
I can't think of any, so there must be a reason. :problem:
Are Seltzer’s that Shady??
Post Reply