coeceo

Recipes 

So I bottle my second kit and used a few growlers in the mix. Two of which I had already bottle with (plastic caps) with no problems. Third one was a new one I got second hand (metal cap with some foam to seal). I go down to chek on them after a little under a week and see a weird beer spray like arc around this third bottle. Looks weird and is not fresh because its already a little sticky. I touch around the cap assuming it blew its gasket (literally) and its dry, I go to pick it up and the bottom stays on the shelf, emptying 64 oz onto my socks.

Sounds like an uneven mix of priming sugar perhaps leading to an over charged growler (I will do the gentle stir while bottling technique next time.

Also the break was weird, it was like the bottom was cut off, almost a perfect line right around the very bottom of the jug, leaving a flat little glass dish behind (a little bit curved up on the edges).

Anyone seen this happen? Bad growler design? Defect? Should I return the other ones from the same brewery?

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Next: Witbeir (AG)
Primary: Stout (extract)
Secondary:
Bottled: Hoppy Irish Red (AG)

jezter6

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That's pretty common for broken bottles from my experience. It's highly likely the weakest point in bottle/growler design.

You gotta just get some Sam Adams and use the empties instead of bottling with growlers. They're expensive and better used for other things than bottle bombs.

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blacklab

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bummer. pics?

Poorly mixed priming sugar-too much in the growler?

Weak growler? Weird b/c usually they offgas before busting since the lid is not so airtight as a bottle.

david_42

Recipes 

I was surprised the first time the bottom dropped out of a bottle, but the corner is a focus for stress. Also, you are more likely to have flaws, bubbles, etc. in the corners.

Sounds like you have a solution to poorly sealing growler caps, though.

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jds

Recipes 

Growlers aren't really designed to handle the pressure from bottle-conditioning. While you can make it work sometimes, I don't think you'll have very good results.

Others have reported very good results bottle conditioning in 2l soda bottles, which are designed for pressure.

coeceo

Recipes 

Yeah I've got mostly Sam Adams bottles, just much easier to clean a couple growlers instead of a dozen bottles.

I've heard about that 2 liter move and may do that for a batch made for a camping trip. Also going to keep some plastic 16 oz Miller Lite bottles sold at the store near me, I think they will work just like any reusable PET.

I'll see if I can link a pic when I get home.

__________________
Next: Witbeir (AG)
Primary: Stout (extract)
Secondary:
Bottled: Hoppy Irish Red (AG)

RegionalChaos

Recipes 

Bottle in 22s. I stopped bottling in 12 ozers a while back. Too much work. 22s and some 16oz flip tops in the mix.

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How I brew: Stir plate starters, Extract, Full boil in a Keggle, 10 gallon batches.
Brewing upgrades in progress: temp controlled ferment, stir plate re-work, building mash tun, milling station

Planned House Ales: an Amber, an IPA, a dark IPA, a Mango Ale, a blueberry oatmeal stout, a dry Irish stout, a honey wheat, Apfelwien

What kind of R-Value does your ferm chamber need? - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/what-kind-r-value-ferm-chamber-190459/

Gremlyn

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Holy thread resurrection, Batman!

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RegionalChaos

Recipes 

Saw this thread linked from some other one, and didn't stop to look at the date before I posted. Yea, super old thread!

__________________
How I brew: Stir plate starters, Extract, Full boil in a Keggle, 10 gallon batches.
Brewing upgrades in progress: temp controlled ferment, stir plate re-work, building mash tun, milling station

Planned House Ales: an Amber, an IPA, a dark IPA, a Mango Ale, a blueberry oatmeal stout, a dry Irish stout, a honey wheat, Apfelwien

What kind of R-Value does your ferm chamber need? - http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/what-kind-r-value-ferm-chamber-190459/

Flyin

Recipes 

Well, its back from the dead soooo....

I was looking at growlers a while back and found out that the screw top ones are not made to hold pressure. Only fliptop ones are (something like 50psi).