Lightning struck and I was in the Dog House

[whinton]

Just thought I would quickly share a recent experience.
I brew and cask in 4.5gal Pins. Recently I thought of making a slightly stronger Ale and have a go at bottling. I looked through recipes and decided on Hop Back Summer Lightening. Despite the name this is a nice year round beer.
As my OG was 1050 and recently experimenting with Mangrove Jacks yeast, I went along with the recommended 2 sachets. My plan was to ferment then cask for 2 weeks before bottling.
5 days of fermenting and my FG was down to 1011. This was a Friday evening and where my mistake was made. I was in a rush as we had a wedding reception to attend. The weekend was already busy. 1011? Sounded like it had finished fermenting to me. I had just enough time to sterilise the cask and top it up before going out.
All went well………. Until the weather mysteriously warmed up. My casks sit in the Utility/Laundry room on a worktop. The Summer Lightning had been sitting in the cask for 4 days.
I didn’t hear the bang in the night! The bang that was my Shive hitting the opposite wall.
It was my wife that noticed the smell of beer the next morning. She wondered into the laundry to the sight of the floor flooded with about 2.5 gallons of beer. She also kindly pointed out the beer marks on the walls (and ceiling)!
There are many lessons to be learned here. Amongst them,
· I have two sets of shives. One type are a right bugger to hammer home. The others are slightly easier (but apparently come out easier and sometimes unexpected too).
· Don’t rush the fermentation process. Make sure its steady for a day or two before casking.
· Don’t leave the casks in rooms with varying temperatures.
· Always be the first one in the Utility/Laundry to check the beer hasn’t exploded.
· Satin wipe down paint really does work and beer can easily be removed from it.
· Is there a market for beer smelling air fresheners? If so then our Utility is an excellent place to sample it.

Hope my mistakes help others.

Cheers

Wayne.

 

[Simonh82]

I've only had one bottle bomb so far but i intend not to repeat the experience. I can only imagine the mess that a whole cask would make.

 

[Personal91]

Just thought I would quickly share a recent experience.
I brew and cask in 4.5gal Pins. Recently I thought of making a slightly stronger Ale and have a go at bottling. I looked through recipes and decided on Hop Back Summer Lightening. Despite the name this is a nice year round beer.
As my OG was 1050 and recently experimenting with Mangrove Jacks yeast, I went along with the recommended 2 sachets. My plan was to ferment then cask for 2 weeks before bottling.
5 days of fermenting and my FG was down to 1011. This was a Friday evening and where my mistake was made. I was in a rush as we had a wedding reception to attend. The weekend was already busy. 1011? Sounded like it had finished fermenting to me. I had just enough time to sterilise the cask and top it up before going out.
All went well………. Until the weather mysteriously warmed up. My casks sit in the Utility/Laundry room on a worktop. The Summer Lightning had been sitting in the cask for 4 days.
I didn’t hear the bang in the night! The bang that was my Shive hitting the opposite wall.
It was my wife that noticed the smell of beer the next morning. She wondered into the laundry to the sight of the floor flooded with about 2.5 gallons of beer. She also kindly pointed out the beer marks on the walls (and ceiling)!
There are many lessons to be learned here. Amongst them,
· I have two sets of shives. One type are a right bugger to hammer home. The others are slightly easier (but apparently come out easier and sometimes unexpected too).
· Don’t rush the fermentation process. Make sure its steady for a day or two before casking.
· Don’t leave the casks in rooms with varying temperatures.
· Always be the first one in the Utility/Laundry to check the beer hasn’t exploded.
· Satin wipe down paint really does work and beer can easily be removed from it.
· Is there a market for beer smelling air fresheners? If so then our Utility is an excellent place to sample it.

Hope my mistakes help others.

Cheers

Wayne.

May we all raise a glass in memory of the beer that was yet to reach its valhalla - let us the remember the yeasties (beastly yeast ) that has been lost in this tragic event. they may be lost , but never forgotten.

 

[DoctorMick]

· Always be the first one in the Utility/Laundry to check the beer hasn’t exploded.

:lol: That's definitely the lesson to take away.

 

[Brewmarc]

what a shame I bet it was going to be your fines ale yet:-o

Some time ago I put my beer into a quite old pressure barrel that had spent several years in the shed. Thinking it would be ok I placed it in the consevatery befor going on holiday.
On returning discovered that the barrel had split dumping the whole contents. It took me about a week to clean up the mess. Never again:nono::nono:

 

[braziliain]

Reminds me of this...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh2qapdp_4Q"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh2qapdp_4Q[/ame]

:lol:

 

[pms67]

Thats why i brew in the shed,ita amazing what you can fit into an 8x5 shed!

 

[pms67]

We have ordered a new 10x 8 shed,22mm thick panelling, two windows and dounle doors for £880 supplied and fitted, not bad i think.
Swmbo says it will be good for storing tumble dryer and excess stuff from the house,aye right........