Unwanted explosions!

[thestingers]

I have now bottled my nettle beers, last Sat. Now I have put them in the warm and I can feel from the one plastic bottle they are very tight! I have about 30 glass bottles full. I don't want to relase the presser if I dont have to. So my question is this. If I stand them outside in the cold (in a cool box) will it stop them from fermenting further and risking an explosion? I will test one bottle soon, but the last one I tried (2 days) ago tasted fine, but not quite fizzy enough.

thanks

[Matt]

What gravity was the beer when you bottled it stingers? 1040?

If it was you are in all kinds of trouble IMHO. Sorry to be negative, but you will have incorrectly fermented (and thus tasting) beer as well as potential bottle bombs on your hands.

Matt

[thestingers]

It was 1030. I know it had some work to do, but it was just remaining the same. I was also told that you are supposed to bottle nettle beer early so its extra fizzy.

Cheers

[flything]

Get them in a cold place asap imo.

Although I'd be a little wary of going near them to be honest, 1030 is very high and could mean there are lots of fermentables left.

I'd be testing one a day, if you get any that gush then you're probably going to need to vent them all (after chilling as low as you can go).

[thestingers]

Blimy, they do have some pop to them. Half the drink flew out like champers! Nice and fizzy though. I have stuck two in the fridge and the resk in the garden to be on the safe side!

[thestingers]

For a low alc beer these nettle beers pack a heck of a punch. One bottle and im red in the face and feel like I have had about 5 pints (honestly). So much for a ginger beer like drink!

[Carpking]

What was the gravity before you added yeast? I would be really careful with glass bottles mate.
Good to know it gets you drunk though!

[thestingers]

What was the gravity before you added yeast? I would be really careful with glass bottles mate.
Good to know it gets you drunk though!

Because im new to it, I didn't check im afraid. I will do next time. I'm handling them as if they are grenades at the moment with a towel firmly wrapped around each one when I pick it up LOL.

Maybe small plastic bottles next time! I will buy some cheap fizzy drinks and sterilise the small 250mm bottles I think.

Cheers

[MartialAnt]

Tape crosses on the bottles like people did in the war to there windows. might help

Also who do you really really dislike? If there is a said person you could tell em to put 1 or 2 on there fireplace for a week before they drink them.

[Carpking]

Thats a good idea. I drink 1 litre of fizzy water everyday at work and i keep the bottles. They are a handy size, sometimes you think you want more booze and open a 2 litre bottle and dont want it and it goes flat. Once you keep a record of your gravity it will be much safer to use the glass bottles, after all it looks so much better in a nice bottle with a cap.

How much sugar did you add initially to what amount of liquid? What else went in?

I make wines too and have never had a gravity that high at the end even starting with 3lbs of sugar in a gallon.

[thestingers]

Tape crosses on the bottles like people did in the war to there windows. might help

Also who do you really really dislike? If there is a said person you could tell em to put 1 or 2 on there fireplace for a week before they drink them.

Now thats an idea my boss did seem interested in nettle beer too

[MartialAnt]

...... and open a 2 litre bottle and dont want it and it goes flat.

2L is a fairly decent size bottle. Very manageable. In fact ive cut down from 4 - 5 crown capped glass bottles to 2 2L pets a night

[Carpking]

Dont you ever open a third....?
I like me keg most, you takes what you needs....

[thestingers]

Thats a good idea. I drink 1 litre of fizzy water everyday at work and i keep the bottles. They are a handy size, sometimes you think you want more booze and open a 2 litre bottle and dont want it and it goes flat. Once you keep a record of your gravity it will be much safer to use the glass bottles, after all it looks so much better in a nice bottle with a cap.

How much sugar did you add initially to what amount of liquid? What else went in?

I make wines too and have never had a gravity that high at the end even starting with 3lbs of sugar in a gallon.

I have the recipe at home. But off the top of my head it was 1.5 KG of sugar to 13 litres of water and 15gram of yeast (I think the amount of yeast may have been what gave it its kick, plus a mixture of temps along the way).

It dosent have a bad taste though, but is too sweet for me so I will mix it with a little fizzy water.

[Carpking]

I would be interested in trying nettle beer next year maybe. If you can be arsed would you post your recipe and method when you find it?
Happy drinking anyway.
I'm of home now for a pint of my stout.