ssabin
Well-Known Member
OK,
I used the dishwasher to sanitize the bottle for my first batch of beer, and although the dishwasher was very crowded, it worked very well and went quickly.
However, my dishwasher has Jet Dry in it, and there doesn't appear to be a way to disable its use. I figured, what the heck and washed the bottles anyways.
And when I bottled I intentially went light on the priming sugar as this was an American Amber (extract kit), and I think most American beers are over carbonated.
So, it's been 4 weeks + in the bottle, and the carbonation is a bit low. Not horribly so, but lower than I would like.
The question I'd like to ask is whether the lack of head in my beer is due to the Jet Dry on the bottles, or the lower carbonation, or both? I've purchased 4 new 20 oz pint glasses to rule out the drinking glass itself, and there wasn't much of an improvement to the head. If I pour the beer agressively, I get some head in the glass, but it dissipates rather quickly.
I've hand-washed my bottles in anticipation of the next 2 batches which may be bottled at the same time. This was a lot more work! I washed in Oxyclean (those bottles from my previous batch - the rest are brand new and were simply rinsed), then rinsed out each with Star San. I poured out the liquid from the bottles several times and let them air dry overnight. This was a lot more work than the dishwasher!
So now I'm wondering if it's worth it? I'll know in a few weeks, I guess, but maybe I should put a couple in the dishwasher before I bottle, so that I have the different methods in the same batch of beer?
Anyone else test this before?
Thanks!
I used the dishwasher to sanitize the bottle for my first batch of beer, and although the dishwasher was very crowded, it worked very well and went quickly.
However, my dishwasher has Jet Dry in it, and there doesn't appear to be a way to disable its use. I figured, what the heck and washed the bottles anyways.
And when I bottled I intentially went light on the priming sugar as this was an American Amber (extract kit), and I think most American beers are over carbonated.
So, it's been 4 weeks + in the bottle, and the carbonation is a bit low. Not horribly so, but lower than I would like.
The question I'd like to ask is whether the lack of head in my beer is due to the Jet Dry on the bottles, or the lower carbonation, or both? I've purchased 4 new 20 oz pint glasses to rule out the drinking glass itself, and there wasn't much of an improvement to the head. If I pour the beer agressively, I get some head in the glass, but it dissipates rather quickly.
I've hand-washed my bottles in anticipation of the next 2 batches which may be bottled at the same time. This was a lot more work! I washed in Oxyclean (those bottles from my previous batch - the rest are brand new and were simply rinsed), then rinsed out each with Star San. I poured out the liquid from the bottles several times and let them air dry overnight. This was a lot more work than the dishwasher!
So now I'm wondering if it's worth it? I'll know in a few weeks, I guess, but maybe I should put a couple in the dishwasher before I bottle, so that I have the different methods in the same batch of beer?
Anyone else test this before?
Thanks!