Downsides of Using Carb Stones
Carbonated beverages were first invented in 1772 by the English chemist Joseph Priestly, and soon after popularized by his contemporary J.J. Schweppe. Over the next few centuries, fizzy drinks’ popularity soared, and inventors developed dozens of devices to improve Priestly’s process.
Carbonation stones are among the most popular of these inventions. But what makes them so helpful? How do they work? And what are the downsides to using these stones in brewing—particularly when compared to alternatives?
What Are Carbonation Stones?
A carbonation stone is a CO₂ diffusion device. It’s a porous ceramic, stone, or sintered steel object, typically a cylinder or sphere. It functions when connected to a source that pumps in pressurized CO₂.
To use it, brewers position the stone so it’s submerged in a bright tank, keg, or serving tank of beer, close to the container’s floor.
How Does A Carbonation Stone Work?
Once the source is on and pumping, the pressure forces the gas through the small pores in the stone. The pores’ size and placement determine the size and distribution of the carbonation bubbles in the drink.
A carb stone must coordinate with a CO₂ tank, a regulator, and a beer container in order to function. These must be purchased separately.
How Carb Stones Are Helping Smaller Brewers
Carbonation stones help small brewers save time and money, while usually improving carbonation precision.
Save Time
Carb stones help small brewers cut down the time it takes to add “fizz” to a tank of beer. Using a carb stone is a faster method than:
- Bottle conditioning
- Force carbonating by pressurizing a whole keg, then letting it sit
- Using a carbonation shaker device to shake the pressurized tank
Enhance Carbonation Precision
Moreover, unlike bottle conditioning and shaking, carbonation stones allow for precise pressurization and carbonation-level adjustment. As long as the brewer integrates the stone into their setup correctly, they should have fairly precise control over the resulting carbonation level.
Limit Upfront Costs
For home brewers and hobbyists, the lower upfront cost often makes a carbonation stone more appealing than an inline carbonation system.
Inline carbonation systems offer even greater precision than carb stones, and they can carbonate a tank faster. However, a carb stone is, initially, the more affordable option between the two. Compared to stones, inline carbonation systems aren’t typically a worthwhile investment for a home-based, small, or personal enterprise.
Cleaning A Carb Stone: Complicated Requirements
The intricate cleaning and maintenance requirements may be the most-vented-about downside to using a carb stone. Regularly cleaning and maintaining a carbonation stone is crucial to keep it functioning properly. If it’s unclean, damaged, or clogged, it’s useless and can easily break.
Carb Stone Cleaning Rules
The following general maintenance rules protect the fragile stones’ utility. Necessary as they are, it’s easy to see why they’re a serious drawback to this carbonation method.
1. No Bare Hands: Only Manipulate Stone With Gloves or Tongs
Both naturally porous rock carb stones and the sintered metal variants should not be handled with bare hands. The oil on hands, plus irregular pressure, can nick or degrade the stone. Sharp sinters can also pose an injury risk to the hands of barehanded brewers who touch them.
To move it safely, grasp the tri-clamp end; do not touch the sintered body. Then, lift and maneuver the stone gingerly, keeping it from touching or scraping against walls or similar surfaces.
2. Pores Are Easily Clogged, So Frequent Cleaning Is Mandatory
Minerals, grains, sugars, and oils can all cause significant clogs in the stone’s pores. Once they solidify, the pressure required to remove the clogs begins to pose some risk to the stone. So, it’s vital to rinse carb stones immediately after each use and begin the cleaning cycle promptly.
3. Use Correct Cleaning Tools (Not Bottle Brushes) To Avoid Causing Damage
Typical pore and tube cleaning tools, like bottle brushes, are too harsh for carb stones. Instead, experts recommend cleaning with ultrasonic baths, pressurized acid/caustic rinses, or devices to boil and flush/blow out the stone. Some combine multiple tools.
4. Backflush, Sanitize, and Boil—But Don’t Over-Soak!
Multi-stage cleaning is unavoidable when maintaining a carb stone. Note: it will rust or degrade if it’s left soaking overnight, particularly in water. The right sanitizer varies by stone type, but it must be an acidic rather than alkaline wash, and it should be food grade. Specialty “brewery washes” are often the most pragmatic option.
Carb Stone Brewing Drawbacks: Assembly, Maintenance, Position, and Lifespan
Carbonation Stone Assembly Challenges
Fit and connection issues make carb stone assembly a challenge for many brewers. There are no universal carb stone components, and using the wrong components for a model can cause scrapes or gaps—the latter of which leads to loss of CO₂ gas.
Maintenance and Repair Trouble
Carb stones can easily get damaged from inappropriate CO₂ pressure, inconsistent temperature, inexpert handling, and clogged pores from high beer turbidity or hard water. This necessitates frequent maintenance and repairs. Neither task is simple, nor intuitive.
Proper Positioning Difficulties
Positioning the carb stone can pose a challenge, as setting it directly on the bottom of the tank can scrape or damage it. Yet, the lower a stone is beneath the surface, the more evenly carbon is distributed. Finding the right tools and tactics to place the stone correctly can take time, and trial and error can lead to costly mistakes.
Carbonation Stone Fragility and Limited Lifespan
Because carbonation stones are relatively fragile, they’re easily degraded. The average carbonation stone only has a lifespan of 6-12 months before it needs to be replaced.
Inline Carbonation: The Best Alternative to Carbonation Stones
As noted earlier (under the heading “How Carb Stones Are Helping Small Brewers,”) carbonation stones still offer significant benefits that can offset drawbacks—particularly when contrasted with bottle conditioning, tank shaking, and force carbonating a pressurized keg.
However, one alternative offers all the benefits of a carb stone and much more without the downsides: inline carbonation. Is it the right choice for your brewery?
Inline Carbonation System Considerations
Inline carbonation systems infuse CO₂ into a drink as it flows through a pipe, rather than a tank. Thus, the pressurized gas is directionally aligned with the liquid’s movement.
It enables hyper-precise control over the degree of carbonation, a streamlined continuous process, and incredible workflow efficiency. The nature of an inline carbonation system’s injector is adaptable, allowing a single device to infuse a wide range of beverage types—often simultaneously.
When considering inline carbonation, it’s important to weigh the higher upfront cost against long-term gains in productivity, time savings, longevity, and the tool’s lifecycle.
Kick Carb Stones To The Curb With QuantiPerm
Ready for better carbonation in your brewery or pub? Investing in an inline carbonation system can elevate your drinks, granting greater power and control over each drink’s sparkle.
If you’re considering your carbonation system options, give our team a call at (602) 903-2158. We’ll work with you to determine the right tools and strategies for your space.
