Hey y’all! Let’s talk sugar. If you brew with kits, sugar plays a big part in your beer, both during brewing and when you bottle condition. The one I use most is corn sugar (dextrose).
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What is dextrose?
Dextrose, also called corn sugar, is a brewing sugar that is finer than regular granulated sugar. In my cost breakdown I called it the most commonly used brewing sugar, and it’s the one I keep coming back to.
Why I use it for priming
In my post on how to prime your beer for bottle conditioning, I explain that you can absolutely use plain granulated sugar to prime your bottles or batch. It works and you’ll get a carbonated beer. But dextrose is the sugar I use for my bottle conditioning. I feel it makes for a better end product, and I’ve had great results with it. I don’t like to fix what isn’t broken, so I’ve stuck with dextrose for most of my brewing journey.
Don’t overdo it
Whatever priming sugar you use, measure carefully. In that priming post I quote Charlie Papazian’s The Complete Joy of Home Brewing, which warns about exceeding the recommended priming sugar dosage per 5 gallons. Follow your kit’s instructions and your recipe.
Brew sugar versus regular sugar
In my gift ideas post I mention that all-inclusive kits usually include brew sugar, which I think is better than plain old regular sugar and makes a better-tasting final product. If your kit doesn’t come with it, picking some up is an easy upgrade.
If you want to stock up, there’s also a larger bag of dextrose. Either way, it’s a simple way to take your kit beer up a notch. You can brew it!
Read more: How to prime your beer for bottle conditioning, Brewing with kits cost breakdown: how much will it cost?, Give brew kits as a gift: ideas for every brewer