Brew/Bottling woes....

[Prenderb]

Hi guys, I'm in the middle of bottling night. A disaster has struck. A bunch of bottles that I was given has turned out to be rancid, and the one or 2 that I'd checked when he handed them over were the exception rather than the rule.

Now, I'm left with about 13l of bottle capacity for a 23l brew. I know I've let myself down by not washing or checking the bottles before tonight, so I don't need any of that, but the question I'm asking is whether or not I can leave the remaining beer in the bottling bucket (which has been primed already...) for a while until I generate enough bottles? What do you guys think?

I'm going to go ahead and fill the bottles I've washed and sterilised so far, but any thoughts you have on leaving the beer or chucking the remainder down the sink will be gratefully received....

[ashbyp]

it'll be ok in the bottling bucket till you get the bottles. even better if you keep the bucket somewhere cold.

[Prenderb]

Thanks for the reply. Got all but about 8l bottled. How long do you think I have to get the remainder out of the bucket and bottled? I'm a little silly, not checking the bottles before I got stuck into bottling! I'll have to get one of those nice bottling trees with squirty no-rinse sanitiser, and taps on all my buckets so I don't have to siphon.

Edit: Apologies for being in the wrong forum, could a mod please move me? Sorry....

[steve_flack]

What's wrong with the bottles? I've had bottles that have been left in the rain for weeks with mould and dead wasps in them. Nothing a good long soak in strong antiformin solution won't shift. They come out spotless.

[Prenderb]

I suppose it was just the fact that they weren't suitable last night for use - that's what threw me. They'd obviously come from a party, some of them had ciggy butts and ash in them, which has put me off them altogether. I'd really rather not use those ones anyway!

[maxashton]

They're glass, they'll be fine. Antiformin, or any of the nice brewing cleaners will soak anything right off there. Cleaner than your kitchen counters!

[edit1now]

Soak in strong washing soda solution. Rinse. That'll remove anything soluble. Rinse with dilute thin bleach. That'll kill anything still clinging-on to the sides. Rinse. Rinse with sulphite solution. That'll kill any remaining bleach so as to not taint the beer. Drain. Fill with beer.

Have a look here. I have the "Avvinatore" for rinsing with bleach or sulphite, the "Blast" rinser and the bottle draining tree. The only complaint I have is that the bottle draining tree has the odd sharp edge if you try to pull it apart (it's made from interlocking sections).

I might buy another Avvinatore so I can get more of a production line going with the bottle sanitising. I think they're about £12.

[Prenderb]

I finally have enough bottles,almost 2 weeks after running out!

Should I add a little yeast, if I can find some, to the 8l of beer to be reprimed? Also, whether or not to add the same suger - I'm thinking i will...

[edit1now]

If you think the beer was a bit cloudy, with yeast still in suspension, when you racked it, it should still prime in the bottles OK. If it's really bright then you'll need some more yeast.

Did you prime the bottling bucket? If not, then use half a teaspoon (for ale) or a level teaspoon (for other brews) of granulated sugar per 500ml bottle.

[Prenderb]

I had primed the bottling bucket...and it was a little cloudy, so I think there'll be yeast in it. Fingers crossed!