My second batch turned out semi-flat and I’m looking for answers because the first batch turned out excellent in all regards. Details:
• Cooper DIY kit received last Christmas.
• First batch was Cooper Dark Ale placed into PET screw-top bottles. Great taste, lots of carbonation. Per instructions, used 2 of the Cooper carbonation pills in each 22oz bottle.
• Decided to buy an antique, cast iron, Meyer capper off Ebay just because I like old things. What a steal at $9.
• Second batch was Cooper Lager that came with the kit. Wort percolated for 3 weeks. Everything looked great. Decided to use my capper. Got new brown 12oz glass bottles and new caps from the local brew store. Sterilized bottles with a washer/spritzer and placed them on a red tree stand to dry. My brewing room is not heated so I can’t be absolutely sure the StarSan was fully dry, but they dripped for 2 hours on the drying tree. Capper worked great.
• 3-4 weeks later the bottles are very low on carbonation and there is just enough head to cover about 3/4 of the surface in a standard 3-1/2 inch beer glass. This is consistent from bottle-to-bottle.
Prime suspect is the capper because every aspect of sanitation, brewing temp, water, yeast, was done as carefully as a former R&D engineer could muster. Same lot of carbonation pills, instruments, etc as first batch.
Just wondering if the die on the capper is worn and not completely closing the cap. My installed caps measure 1.145" across the sharps of the teets. Thinking here is that a smaller diameter would mean the cap is drawn down lower (tighter) onto the lip.
Or maybe Cooper Lager is just a flat beer ?
Want to get this worked out before batch #3, an expensive Mountmellick brown ale, comes rolling out. Any insights would be appreciated.
