OK, so this was a batch of quick cider that I fermented down only to about 1.030, bottled and then bottle pasteurized several hours later, to have a sparkling sweet cider. I must not have hit the right temperature or held it long enough, because I just had a really major bottle bomb.
I noticed that the bottle was missing some of its contents (it was a couple inches low), so I pulled it out and put it on a counter, planning to dump it. I guess the contents got disturbed by being moved, and released gas, because a couple minutes later, while I was in the next room, I heard a deafening explosion.
It smashed a mason jar a few feet away, and a double-glazed window about 10 feet away. Glass was embedded in all four walls of the room, including hardboard cabinet faces. If anyone had been in the room, let alone holding the bottle, it would have been an ER visit, at least.
So... my question is, what's the best way to move the remaining bottles outside and at least open them and recap? I'd be fine dumping the batch, actually, since I'm not in love with it anyway. I'm afraid if any of the other bottles are close to blowing, the disturbance of picking up the bottles might be enough to set them off.
Any ideas? Safety goggles and long gloves, obviously, but this was a pretty major bomb... I really want to minimize the chances of another one, especially while I'm holding the bottle.
I noticed that the bottle was missing some of its contents (it was a couple inches low), so I pulled it out and put it on a counter, planning to dump it. I guess the contents got disturbed by being moved, and released gas, because a couple minutes later, while I was in the next room, I heard a deafening explosion.
It smashed a mason jar a few feet away, and a double-glazed window about 10 feet away. Glass was embedded in all four walls of the room, including hardboard cabinet faces. If anyone had been in the room, let alone holding the bottle, it would have been an ER visit, at least.
So... my question is, what's the best way to move the remaining bottles outside and at least open them and recap? I'd be fine dumping the batch, actually, since I'm not in love with it anyway. I'm afraid if any of the other bottles are close to blowing, the disturbance of picking up the bottles might be enough to set them off.
Any ideas? Safety goggles and long gloves, obviously, but this was a pretty major bomb... I really want to minimize the chances of another one, especially while I'm holding the bottle.