I have reported problems with getting my beers down to quarter gravity in the past - now I have the opposite problem!
I brewed a Pedigree at 1043 and bottled at 1011, priming with 1/2tsp of sugar. I used a Pedi yeast. After 14 days at 20C two bottles have burst, both incidentally Newcastle Brown bottles - the rest appear ok and are ordinary brown beer bottles. I have not yet opened any of the others.
The other problem with this batch that I have never had before was that although I filled the bottles leaving 1/2inch head space, after a few days the head space on most of them seemed to have decreased to almost nothing. The beer was fermented at 20C so the temperature has been constant throughout. I have turned off the heater to reduce the temperature but obviously have to move the remaining bottles and clean them to remove the beer residue. I could move them to a cold place.
Any suggestions as to what I do now?? Am I in danger of setting off any more bombs whilst moving them?? How could this have happened??
BOMBS AND EXPLOSIONS !!
-
MARMITE
Thanks for the reply Daab. I opened a bottle yesterday and it was fine with no excess carbonation at all. I also tested the gravity and it was still at 1011, exactly the same as I bottled it at. I am wondering if there could be two other explanations:
1. The bottles were old and had been stored in an outbuilding for approx 15/20yrs. I am wondering if the various changes in temp had weakened them.
2. Primary and secondary conditioning was done in a purpose made heated cabinet set at 20C within a lean to, with no insulation or heating. When I bottled the beer was left outside the cabinet on a fairly cold day for several hours before bottling. I only allowed 1/2 inch head space and placed the bottles back in the cabinet at 20C. As I mentioned previously the head space had almost disappered in most cases, so I am wondering if the change in temp had allowed the liquid to expand and burst the bottles. I think I am going to allow at least 3/4 inch head space in future.
PS Both bottles broke in exactly the same place ie the base became detached about 1/2 inch up the bottle.
1. The bottles were old and had been stored in an outbuilding for approx 15/20yrs. I am wondering if the various changes in temp had weakened them.
2. Primary and secondary conditioning was done in a purpose made heated cabinet set at 20C within a lean to, with no insulation or heating. When I bottled the beer was left outside the cabinet on a fairly cold day for several hours before bottling. I only allowed 1/2 inch head space and placed the bottles back in the cabinet at 20C. As I mentioned previously the head space had almost disappered in most cases, so I am wondering if the change in temp had allowed the liquid to expand and burst the bottles. I think I am going to allow at least 3/4 inch head space in future.
PS Both bottles broke in exactly the same place ie the base became detached about 1/2 inch up the bottle.
Suitable Bottles
In view of the problems that Soberish Sandra has had and bearing in mind the latest eco-nonsense about putting beer into bottles made of thinner glass, is it worth putting together a "sticky" of a list of bottles that are A) strong enough, probably because the've had bottle-conditioned ale in them, B)will take a crown cap without having to resort to a bench capper, C)have labels that soak off without having to resort to abrasive cleaners, and D)are made of brown glass to avoid skunking.
I'll start the list going with those that I think comply: all Fullers beers, all Youngs beers, all Badgers, Nethergate Old Growler, Duckstein, Magners cider, although the gold foil can be a pig to get off and you'll have to get someone else to drink what's inside.
Any other offers
I'll start the list going with those that I think comply: all Fullers beers, all Youngs beers, all Badgers, Nethergate Old Growler, Duckstein, Magners cider, although the gold foil can be a pig to get off and you'll have to get someone else to drink what's inside.
Any other offers
-
Buzz
-
mitch
-
JohnJeye
Had abit of a discovery on this last night when my mum gave me a couple of pear cider bottles for the beer. From the feel I thought it wasn't thick enough but she was sure they would be. After closer inspection of the bottle I found a measurement in mm next to the volume.
I went and checked other bottles I had and sure enough it seems that its the thickness of glass. Guess the question is whats the min thinkness as it seems every bottle has this printed along the bottom somewhere or right on its base. GOtta take the kitty to the vet now though, shes had abit of a nasty injury so will have to leave the research until later
A few examples:
Bombadier - 76mm (Chunkiest Bottle I have)
Co-Op Ownbrand - 64mm (Marked Bottle Conditioned)
Pear Cider - 46mm
Thwaites Brand - 58mm
and so on, forgotton the exact numbers since I ran upstaires but go have a look and you'll get the idea
Now wheres that vet number !?
I went and checked other bottles I had and sure enough it seems that its the thickness of glass. Guess the question is whats the min thinkness as it seems every bottle has this printed along the bottom somewhere or right on its base. GOtta take the kitty to the vet now though, shes had abit of a nasty injury so will have to leave the research until later
A few examples:
Bombadier - 76mm (Chunkiest Bottle I have)
Co-Op Ownbrand - 64mm (Marked Bottle Conditioned)
Pear Cider - 46mm
Thwaites Brand - 58mm
and so on, forgotton the exact numbers since I ran upstaires but go have a look and you'll get the idea
Now wheres that vet number !?-
JohnJeye
I bottle in standard European brown glass 500ml bottles, from e.g. dark Budvar, Thatcher's Katy cider, Duché de Longueville Cidre de Recoltant, Waitrose (Arcobraue) Dunkel Hefeweizen and other things I'm prepared to pay for...
When I measured the 500ml level I got about 3 cm below the top of the bottle, which seems to be safe when primed with a level 5ml teaspoon of sugar per bottle.
Other, more ornamental bottles e.g. Fullers or Wychwood go into the recycling.
When I measured the 500ml level I got about 3 cm below the top of the bottle, which seems to be safe when primed with a level 5ml teaspoon of sugar per bottle.
Other, more ornamental bottles e.g. Fullers or Wychwood go into the recycling.
-
ChrisG
Furstenburg bottles are excellent, they are exactly the same ones my Home Brew shop sell for 70p!
http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog ... rg_73.html
Aldi have a lot of the same bottles of various countries but using the same bottle and they have them for 99p
I went to a local restaurant who sells Furstenburg and asked if I could take the empties, I got around 50 of them along with some Caledonia 80 which still seem to be thick glass.
http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog ... rg_73.html
Aldi have a lot of the same bottles of various countries but using the same bottle and they have them for 99p
I went to a local restaurant who sells Furstenburg and asked if I could take the empties, I got around 50 of them along with some Caledonia 80 which still seem to be thick glass.