Confused.

[Asahikun]

I've only recently started brewing with kits made by English manufacturers. I've made batches where the extract was produced by Woodfordes and Muntons and the carbonation instructions have been the same with both:

After adding DME or sugar......

"Stand bottles or barrel in a warm place for 2 days then allow 14 days in a cool place or until the beer has cleared."

Is there something magical about this country that means carbonation will be done in 2 days???
I'm still waiting for my Woodfordes to properly carbonate after 15 days and it was flat after 10. Why are they giving wrong instructions?

[wortchillergoal]

You need more than two days at room temp for the yeast to carbonate.

As for the beer still flat after 15 days, what temp is it at and for how long? What style of beer and what was you FG at bottling time?

[Asahikun]

Originally posted by wortchillergoal
You need more than two days at room temp for the yeast to carbonate.

As for the beer still flat after 15 days, what temp is it at and for how long? What style of beer and what was you FG at bottling time?

That was my point - that you need more than 2 days to carbonate. I'm wondering why 2 separate ( I think) companies are giving instructions that are obviously wrong.

As for my beer, it's called Norfolk Nog strong dark ale. I saw it described as a porter on one site earlier, but to be honest, I'm not really sure what a porter is.
FG was 1012. Temp, not sure, but I've been trying to warm up my brewing "cubby hole" and it feels quite snug in there now.
The beer isn't flat, it's just not done yet and has no head.

[Heycock]

"Stand bottles or barrel in a warm place for 2 days then allow 14 days in a cool place or until the beer has cleared."

The way I read this was keep it in a warm place for two days for yeast to get a good start, then move to a cool place like a dark corner in your basement for 2 more weeks to finish carbonating. Unless it said something else, I don't think this infers that it should be done in 2 days, but 16 days or until the beer is cleared meaning maybe longer.

[wortchillergoal]

Did you use corn sugar or DME? How much of which did you use?

The beer needs to stand between 65-70 for the yeast to work well or it could take a long time to carbonate.

Also, what was OG on this beer?

[Asahikun]

I forgot to measure the OG unfortunately.
I used regular sugar because I have some handy little 5g packs which makes it really easy to prime. I've always primed with this and have never had any problems in the past.
I don't remember what the temp was 2 weeks ago when I bottled but it has turned colder and I have increased the temp so I'll just have to wait till it's done.

[stronk]

Norfolk Nog is an old ale, and a damn good one at that! My experience of the Woodeforde's extract kits is bad, though. I brewed two mediocre batches from them and then gave up. Don't let the bad brewing kits put you off buying their beers, which are some of the best in England.

When the instructions say 'warm place', they mean an actually warm place, not just room temperature. A sort of drying cupboard temperature, I suppose. The carbonation carries on whilst the beer is clearing as well.

Nog won't have a head, so don't bother trying.