Homebrew is flat - some of it - update
The fridge looks like it is not to blame for the beer being flat. Some are flat, some are not. I think the problem is I did not have a bottle rinser and was rinsing by hand after cleaning in B-Brite. I probably left some amount of the sanitizer in a few bottles and this killed the yeast so that it could not feed on the priming sugar and carbonate the beer.
This is my first batch - no biggie, I won't make that mistake again! (I've ordered a bottle rinser)
So far about 40% of the bottles were not carbonated.
I just home my growler was rinsed well because that would be an aweful waste of beer!
Question for the brewers: If I put all the (clean) bottles in the dishwasher and run a load on "sani-cycle" just before I bottle - is this enough cleaning? Can I skip the B-Brite?
This is my first batch - no biggie, I won't make that mistake again! (I've ordered a bottle rinser)
So far about 40% of the bottles were not carbonated.
I just home my growler was rinsed well because that would be an aweful waste of beer!
Question for the brewers: If I put all the (clean) bottles in the dishwasher and run a load on "sani-cycle" just before I bottle - is this enough cleaning? Can I skip the B-Brite?
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Aw he11, it'll drink![;)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by slipgate
Question for the brewers: If I put all the (clean) bottles in the dishwasher and run a load on "sani-cycle" just before I bottle - is this enough cleaning? Can I skip the B-Brite?
Two things I found from mine. If your bottles are screw tops (instead of crimp tops) they might leak air (lost 2 cases that way and then got smarter). [xx(] The dishwasher idea works well but you still need to use something (B-Brite, Clorox, etc) to get the "stuff" out. Tried that too, lost another batch... then got smarter. [xx(]
I usually make lagers, red ales and the occassional stout (once I had 6 batches lagering and fermenting at the same time). [:D]0 -
Clean bottles is paramount to good carbonation. I've never used the screw on tops. I have never had a batch not carbonate. I buy a sanitizer from the home brew supplier and make sure you rinse good. I just fill all the bottles with clean water and shake well and repeat one time. I've always rinsed by hand and never had an issue. Keep trying. My favorite brew is a honey brew. Add 1 cup of the lightest sourwood honey you can find while in the boiling stage and the extra sugar makes for tight carbonation bubbles, a golden finish and a boost in octane. Around 7 %. Its powerful stuff. Good luck and don't give up.[:)] 0 -
After I drink a home brew I rinse the bottle out and let it stand upside down until dry.
When it is bottling time, next batch, I soak all the bottles for ten minutes in hot soapy water. I scrub the inside with a bottle brush. Rinse a few times.
For sterilization, I use BTF. It is a dark brown liquid that you mix 2/3 tablespoon to a gallon of water. I fill a bottle half way with BTF and let set while I wash the next bottle. Then I pour the half bottle of BTF into the next bottle and set the first bottle upside down to drain.
I get 100 percent carbonization.0 -
I don't think I even used sanitizer in the bottles. I just rinsed them really well after drinking and ran the whole lot of (essentially clean) bottles through a dishwasher cycle immediately before bottling.
edit, heh: just re-read your post and that's exactly what you were asking. so: yes.
more edit: these were the regular beer-bottles. No twist off or anything like that.0 -
I've had poopy luck with screw on caps i use those snap on kind that look like Grolsch bottles. As a matter of fact i had to cut down on the amount of Dextrose when priming. 0
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