Bottled Beer Problem...

[snakebräu]

Recently we bottled a brew we reckon is around 7.7% (Problem is we don't have a decent thermometer or hydrometer to be definate).

We bought a Young's bottle capper and washed out San Miguel 275ml bottles (as they're unbranded, once the label is off)

Problem is when we open them they just explode. Leaving a fewe dribbled unless you try and take the cap off gently and let air out slowly etc ...

This is the 1st time using a bottle capper, have we done something wrong or is just because the strength is ridiculous and the bottles aren't so big?

 

[oldbloke]

Did you prime the bottles, and with how much?
Sounds like too much priming sugar, or a lot of fermentables left in the ale when you bottled it.
How much headspace did you leave in the bottles?
Tried chilling one before attempting to open it?

 

[snakebräu]

most of the neck was probably left as it was our first glass bottled beers we didn't wanting them exploding. Maybe we should have left them in the FV for a while longer. Bottles were batched with one teaspoon of sugar each. We did brew with 2 kilogram bags of sugar as well as some fruit though ...

 

[Dave1970]

1 tsp in a 275 ml bottle is a lot...that will be your problem. That would give a fizzy result in a 500ml bottle
Only option now is to get them really cold & see if that helps

 

[carl_saint]

Could also have problems with exploding bottles too!

 

[snakebräu]

Could also have problems with exploding bottles too!

That's not happened yet butif any beer was going to explode I'd hope it would be this one. The taste is a bit acquired..

The bigger plastic bottles with the screw tops and the longer necks don't quite "explode" on opening in the same way, but lesson learned.

 

[gurtpint]

Please be extremely careful when you handle these bottles! You might be in for some explosions, as had already been pointed out. It might seem like I'm exaggerating but do wear protective goggles when you're dealing with them. Beer is great but not really worth losing your sight for. Never had a bottled explode in my face but as a young 'un one of my brew bottles blew up in my feet when I was wearing shorts and left a bloody mess.

 

[calumscott]

I think your issue stems from firstly, as others have pointed out, the tsp of sugar in 275ml. The going rate for bottle conditioning ale is 1/2 tsp per pint (568ml). You are 4 times that and that really will build a bit of pressure!

Secondly your choice of bottle is suspect too. IIRC San Miguel 275's are pretty lightweight glass and so not particularly strong. You would be a whole lot safer with reused bottle conditioned ale bottles or cider bottles like magners or bulmers which are a good bit tougher.

Take care with these!!

(All that said, that's gonna be some serious burping juice if you can get it out of the bottles safely!!!)

 

[shocker]

I have had similar problems with too much headspace , if you look it up you will find it explained better than I can that air holds more CO2 and holds it more readily than the beer . The prime IS very large but some beers like lagers call for a higher prime rate....although not that much higher - maybe double that of ales . This is to allow for lager to be served very cold and still fizz.....because the low temp supresses the CO2 .

Soooooo....given that fact , try cooling those bottles as cold as you can without actually freezing and then you might have a chance of opening one and still having some left in the bottle . Might ......

 

[Baz Chaz]

I batch prime and have reduced the sugar to 70g for 23 ltr after finding 90g was a bit lively for me :thumb:

would suggest reduce the sugar next brew you bottle :idea:

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Please be extremely careful when you handle these bottles! You might be in for some explosions, as had already been pointed out. It might seem like I'm exaggerating but do wear protective goggles when you're dealing with them. Beer is great but not really worth losing your sight for. Never had a bottled explode in my face but as a young 'un one of my brew bottles blew up in my feet when I was wearing shorts and left a bloody mess.

+ 1 on this.
You could try piercing a bottle wih small nail and leave the nail in place until all the gas has escaped.
Pleas be careful...Its just not worth taking a gamble

 

[calumscott]

piercing a bottle wih small nail

:nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:

Don't to ANYTHING percusive to these bad boys, that'll defo make them pop!!!

 

[graysalchemy]

I would chill and open upside down over a sterilized fv. Doe this to all of them and rebottle without any priming. Chilling the beer will hold some of the co2 in the liquid so when you re bottle and serve at normal temp they should still have some pressure but not the explosive force. In future you are best batch priming at about 5-6g per litre.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

piercing a bottle wih small nail

:nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:

Don't to ANYTHING percusive to these bad boys, that'll defo make them pop!!!

NO IT WONT...First of ll be very careful. Cover the bottle with a tea towel. Get a small nail and tap it in through the tea towel, leave the nail in place. leave it for 30 mins and the slowly remove the nail.
The weakest part of these potentional bombs are the caps, not the glass.

 

[teriyakimonkey]

Sorry to hijack the thread but is more or less headspace more likely to produce safer (non-exploding) beers?

I'm yet to bottle mine and am scared of making a huge mess and killing the Missus (bottles will most likely be stored under her computer desk).

 

[snakebräu]

less beer in bottles = more headspace = safer

Least I would assume, but I'm not a science kind of guy

 

[Dave1970]

More headspace will mean less chance of bombs because air is much more compressible than beer BUT it will also mean more chance of oxidation of your beer and a short measure every time you serve.
Have a look at the headspace that bought bottled beers have and aim for that...avoiding overpriming or bottling before fermentation is properly finished is what you need to be careful to avoid.

 

[snakebräu]

I'm not dead!!

Glad it's the end of our worst brew though.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

Please be extremely careful when you handle these bottles! You might be in for some explosions, as had already been pointed out. It might seem like I'm exaggerating but do wear protective goggles when you're dealing with them. Beer is great but not really worth losing your sight for. Never had a bottled explode in my face but as a young 'un one of my brew bottles blew up in my feet when I was wearing shorts and left a bloody mess.

I cant over-stress this point enough

 

[Swift Pint]

I know its probably too late now, but would it be possible to get the bottles really cold (bot now freezing), slowly tap the caps off, sit for a while to let the co2 escape, and then re-cap? Is this an approach that would work?