Are my bottles going to exlode and kill my family with...

[lium]

...glass shrapnel?

I made my second ever batch recently. It's a lager - it was past it's best before date in the shop and I thought it would be fine at this experimental stage for me.

I bottled it on Sunday, having started it in the bucket the previous Sunday - the tin said 4-5 days so I thought 7 days would be plenty.

My problem was that it foamed a lot when I was syphoning it into bottles,meaning I had a load of half filled bottles and I was topping them up when the froth settled down. Seems to be quite carbonated. Also my syphon kept failing and the tube filling with gas - not sure if it was air or CO2 but I checked and double checked the joins so I reckon it must've been CO2.

The gravity had gone from an initial 1.050 to 1.005 over the 7 days - I didn't check if it was stable - I just did the 2 readings.

I used a variety of bottles - 500ml and 660ml ones - some are strong brown bottles but some are green or clear and I suspect they're not as strong. Currently in a warm place in our house - about 20C

My concern is that my brew might still be fermenting and that they will start exploding - at best messy and at worst lethal!

Is it normal for lager to be so foamy when bottling?

 

[Sean_Mc]

Only way to find out what the carbonation is like is to try one

Your gravity readings look good and as long as you've primed with correct amount of sugar, they'll be fine.

Saying that I like to condition mine in cardboard boxes, firstly to keep the light out and secondly to contain any eruptions

 

[lium]

Only way to find out what the carbonation is like is to try one

Your gravity readings look good and as long as you've primed with correct amount of sugar, they'll be fine.

Saying that I like to condition mine in cardboard boxes, firstly to keep the light out and secondly to contain any eruptions

Mine are in cardboard boxes as well, bar three that didn't fit - the cupboard is dark anyway. I primed the bottles with about half a teaspoon of sugar... about a level teaspoon I think... I wasn't being overly scientific with it. I'm hoping that they don't explode that violently if they do go - I thought I heard of someone who deliberately set bottles to explode and the glass went through a wooden door! I hope that's not normal.

 

[Aleman]

I have actually seen a hole in a plaster ceiling caused by an exploding bottle . . . Which was in a cardboard box 3 feet below the ceiling. . .. the neck failed and the top 2 inches of the bottle top fit the ceiling with a considerable amount of force. . . . . Having said all that I wouldn't worry about yours, as with a gravity of 1.005 that is pretty much finished, and even with priming (Unless you significantly overprimed) it shoudln't be an issue. . . . I have a bud mini bottle carbonated to 3.5Vols for 2 years now stored at 20C (and warmer) adn it hasn't popped yet.

If you are still worried, drink the thinner bottles first, and leave the stronger bottles for longer.

 

[lium]

I have actually seen a hole in a plaster ceiling caused by an exploding bottle . . . Which was in a cardboard box 3 feet below the ceiling. . .. the neck failed and the top 2 inches of the bottle top fit the ceiling with a considerable amount of force. . . . . Having said all that I wouldn't worry about yours, as with a gravity of 1.005 that is pretty much finished, and even with priming (Unless you significantly overprimed) it shoudln't be an issue. . . . I have a bud mini bottle carbonated to 3.5Vols for 2 years now stored at 20C (and warmer) adn it hasn't popped yet.

If you are still worried, drink the thinner bottles first, and leave the stronger bottles for longer.

OK, I think I'm reassured!

 

[lium]

Why did my beer foam so much though? Is it because it's a lager? My only other brew was a 'mild' and it's not the fizziest, even 4 weeks after bottling (primed with half a teaspoon of sugar as well) - takes a bit of coaxing to get a head on it and it disappears in a few minutes. Nice enough beer but I prefer blonder ales.

I love wheat beer - I wonder if there are decent kits for that? I guess that's a different topic!

 

[Baz Chaz]

Here you go .............

wheat beer :thumb:

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=10569

 

[Sean_Mc]

Why did my beer foam so much though? Is it because it's a lager? My only other brew was a 'mild' and it's not the fizziest, even 4 weeks after bottling (primed with half a teaspoon of sugar as well) - takes a bit of coaxing to get a head on it and it disappears in a few minutes. Nice enough beer but I prefer blonder ales.

I love wheat beer - I wonder if there are decent kits for that? I guess that's a different topic!

Storing the beer cool will help the liquid absorb the co2, less froth and more bubbles in the beer

 

[Mark1964]

Might have been advisable to bottle into 2 litre coke bottles thy can withstand great pressure therefore not shatter :

 

[lium]

Thanks for the tips re wheat beer and coke bottles.

I opened one of the beers last night to test the carbonation - there was a wee fsst but that was it, and it didn't froth up much when pouring. Even though it only had 3 days conditioning in the bottle it wasn't bad! Pretty clear as well. I chilled it beforehand.

So my fears have abated - I don't think they're going to explode any more.

 

[mickeyt69]

I have had a bottle explode and go through the side of a really thick cardboard box and hit the opposite wall it went with a big bang too i thought someone had come in the house and got my rifle (i **** myself) :rofl: but i had over primed and bottled at a higher gravity than you much higher. 1005 sounds like it will have brewed out and i agree with above if you haven't over primed they should be fine just be sure to keep opening them and test drinking :drink: that they arnt too over carbonated.