Can I add the priming sugar, then put it into a keg, and let it self carbonate in the keg?? Or does this only work in bottles, due to the amount of head space in the bottles?
It works, but you need to make sure the keg lid is seated first. I have a couple that won’t seal until they’re hit with 20-30 psi for a few minutes. If you add the sugar without sealing the lid all the CO2 will just escape as it’s produced.
Personally, I’d think it’s all downside. Force-carbonating with CO2 is faster, costs about the same as the sugar, and leaves less sediment.
Yep, if you need the CO2 system to set the seals anyways, why not go ahead and use that same CO2 system to carb. Unless, of course, your CO2 “system” is just a little paintball type gas cansister.
It works great. A tool to be used if desired. I sugar prime most of my beers that will be consumed fairly quickly. That’s almost all of them… If you want to “store” a keg for an extended period it would be wise to get the beer off the the yeast completely and force-carb.
What if I added maple syrup to the keg, and force carbonate? I’d like to add a little for flavor
I’m assuming it’ll then be kept cold… It’ll still probably ferment very slowly at kegerator temps provided there’s no preservatives. Back-sweeten with the maple syrup. Why not? It’s your beer to do with as you choose.
I sugar primed in a keg ONCE. Just once. Thats all it took. Never again. What a mess that creates inside your keg! First few glasses are all yeasty. I just personally didnt like it. CO2, from a tank is the way to go for sure.