Quantitative carbonation charts

Retailers carrying PrimeTab

Ordering and contact information

General homebrewing information

PrimeTab is a convenient tablet form of corn sugar. Each tablet contains 500 milligrams of corn sugar. Use 2 PrimeTabs per 12 ounce bottle for a low carbonation level, typical of a true British draught beer. Use 3 PrimeTabs for a more moderate carbonation level. Use 4 PrimeTabs for a typical carbonation level, and 5 PrimeTabs for a higher level. Different bottles of the same batch can have different carbonation levels, customizing for personal preferences. Each package will prime a 5 gallon batch.

PrimeTab makes brewing more enjoyable. The typical beer bottling procedure is tedious. It involves mixing and boiling the priming sugar solution, pouring it into the bottling bucket, then siphoning the beer from the fermenter into the bottling bucket. Bottles are then filled from the bottling bucket. Unfortunately, this procedure exposes the beer to air which encourages oxidation, decreases shelf-life, risks infection, and often results in uneven carbonation.

	With PrimeTab: No priming solution is needed No bottling bucket is needed Less siphoning More carbonation control Bottling is easier and faster

With PrimeTab no priming solution is needed. With PrimeTab no bottling bucket is needed. Sanitary PrimeTabs are dropped into each cool, sanitary bottle and then the bottles are filled directly from the fermenter. This eliminates the siphoning step from fermenter to bucket. The precise nature of PrimeTab means that you have much more control over carbonation levels. Bottling is easier, faster, and more consistent. Reduction of oxidation and reduced risk of infection means that your beers are better and have a longer shelf-life.

Instructions:

For best results with PrimeTab the green beer should be as flat as possible. The CO2 generated during fermentation creates a solution that may contain more CO2 than theory would predict. This can create a supersaturated solution of CO2 that will easily foam. Filling bottles with such a solution could cause excessive foaming. To flatten the green beer swirl the carboy aggressively morning and evening for a few days to drive off excess CO2, then allow the beer to sit undisturbed for a day before bottling. Bottling can then proceed according to the PrimeTab package instructions. This technique is termed ?rousing the yeast? and will not only drive off excess CO2, but will also help drive the fermentation to completion. Do not use this technique if you are using an open fermenter. If you are using a typical closed fermenter with airlock the fermenter will contain only CO2 and swirling will NOT promote oxidation.

If you like PrimeTab, please ask for it at your favorite homebrew supply store.

Last modified: Fri Oct 28 15:44:48 PDT 2005