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jpr210 · 06-28-2011, 12:14 AM

So I bottled my first brew about two weeks ago now, I had one explode a day or two after bottling, and two more just exploded today. Now, I know that it's a product of over-carbonation that this happens, but is it a concern for all the beers I currently have bottled, or is it just random chance? Are there precautions I can take to make sure none explode in my next batch?

**bluemoose** · 06-28-2011, 12:19 AM

Your best bet for this batch is to put on some protective clothing and eye protection and move them to the fridge. This should cold crash the yeast and prevent further bottle bombs. You might consider putting them in cardboard boxes inside trash bags. Otherwise SWMBO might kill you, after you clean the fridge.

Next time make sure to take two hydrometer readings 3 days apart to make sure that you are done fermenting. Also make sure you only use 5oz of corn sugar for a 5 gallon batch.

Moose

**NordeastBrewer77** · 06-28-2011, 12:51 AM

+1 bottle bombs usually happen when beer is primed and bottled before fermentation is complete. Always make sure you're at FG before bottling and don't use more sugar than you need. 5 oz is the max for five gallons, I find that 3.5-4 is usually enough for the 4.75 -5 gal I finish with. In my experience, 5 oz makes the beer a bit to carbed for my tastes

birvine · 06-28-2011, 12:54 AM

They're not kidding about the protective gear by the way. If a bottle explodes in your hands it would not be a good thing.

B

**NordeastBrewer77** · 06-28-2011, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birvine

They're not kidding about the protective gear by the way. If a bottle explodes in your hands it would not be a good thing.

B

Fer sher!!! Like li'l glass grenades they are..... Ouch!

jpr210 · 06-28-2011, 01:00 AM

thanks for the tips guys. now, how do i take an FG reading (or two) without contaminating the wort? should i buy a beer thief, or will a turkey baster do the job? also, someone told me to put my wort sample into a pint glass and stick the hydrometer in there to take the reading, but when i did that it just sunk to the bottom, and when i put the sample in the plastic that the hydrometer came in, all the beer overflowed out of it when i dropped the hydrometer in...suggestions?

**NordeastBrewer77** · 06-28-2011, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpr210

thanks for the tips guys. now, how do i take an FG reading (or two) without contaminating the wort? should i buy a beer thief, or will a turkey baster do the job? also, someone told me to put my wort sample into a pint glass and stick the hydrometer in there to take the reading, but when i did that it just sunk to the bottom, and when i put the sample in the plastic that the hydrometer came in, all the beer overflowed out of it when i dropped the hydrometer in...suggestions?

A turkey baster is fine as long as it's sanitized.
I use a graduated cylinder to take readings in but I've heard guys using the tube the hydrometer comes in. Any tall container should do.... My Trumer Pils glasses worked great before I got a graduated cylinder.

choffon · 06-28-2011, 01:06 AM

Don't fill the plastic full just about halfway

jaycount · 06-28-2011, 01:06 AM

Pint glass is probably too short. Just buy a thief or use a turkey baster and a graduated cylinder. Alot of things can cause bottle bombs: bottling too soon (incomplete fermentation), using too much priming sugar, incomplete mixture of priming sugar.

Give us some details about how you determined it was time to bottle and how you primed and bottled.

**bluemoose** · 06-28-2011, 01:08 AM

Just use the hydrometer tube if you have it. It is a small amount compared to a pint glass.