We've got a gusher!!!

[Jed]

Hello everyone,
I’m a new member to this forum but have been popping in for a read for about a year now.
I started my 1st AG back in April 07, it is a Porter style ale the recipe of which I made up by ‘crossing’ several other published recipes. I propagated the yeast from a bottle of Ringwood Porter. Its OG was 1045, over the next 6 days the G dropped to 1014 where it stayed for about 3 days. I then transferred it to a conditioning Barrel and left it. After 2 weeks it looked quite flat with nothing happening so I bottled it. I primed each pint with 2.5 grams of caster sugar then stored it at about 16C. When I opened a bottle a month or so later there was no fizz and it sill looked flat. Over the next couple of months things did not improve much, a very slight phut when the caps were released. That was back in July…. I opened a 2pint bottle last night, 10/03/08, things have changed a lot and I now have uncontrollable gushing…. Guess I bottled too early? I left some in a glass and it still had odd bubbles rising in it tonight.
Can anyone advise me on how to turn this around as I would like to ‘save’ this brew if possible.

[Jed]

Thanks DaaB.

I tryed your 'freezing' suggestion as i have no CO2. I tried 6 bottles. 1 bottle was still rather lively the other 5 were 'flat'! I decided to open all the remaining bottles, the result was disappointing as only 2 had any life in them the rest were 'flat'.

I've put an end to this brew, its time to move on, start planning for my 1st successful AG.

Cheers Jed.

[Jed]

No worries DaaB I didnt freeze them solid, just as you say near freezing.

I still want to propagate yeast from a bottled beer, can you suggest a reliable one?

[Jed]

Thanks for that. I will try the Hop back for sure and its about time I had an excuse to buy something from the Ringwood Brewery shop.

Cheers Jed.

[johnh]

Hi Jed, the gushing you're describing could be the result of bacterial infection. If the other bottles were flat then you probably underprimed. Both of these conditions can result from adding sugar directly to bottles. Try boiling the sugar first in a little water and add to the FV, stir gently (with a sanitised spoon) and leave to settle before bottling. This will sterilise the sugar and distribute it evenly through the batch.

[Jed]

Hi Johnh.
I must admit i did wonder if there may have been some sort of infection, which is another good reason to ditch it and start again. Thanks for the advice about priming, i will try it in my next attempt.
Cheers Jed.

[BarryNL]

Hi Johnh.
I must admit i did wonder if there may have been some sort of infection, which is another good reason to ditch it and start again. Thanks for the advice about priming, i will try it in my next attempt.
Cheers Jed.

I'd consider using a commercial yeast for your next brew - propagations are notoriously difficult and your sanitation has to be perfect. You should also consider using the yeast from 4 bottles or so rather than just one if you must use a bottle yeast.

I'd really go for a pack of Wyeast or similar though - you should get much better results.

Regarding the gushers, as some gush and some don't it sounds like your bottling sanitation may be the problem. Make sure your bottles are as clean as possible and then rinse with a sanitiser; also sanitise your bottle tops and consider mixing the priming sugar in a sanitised bottling bucket before bottling.

Basically, get really anal about your sanitation - it's the only way to make good beer.