First bottling experience - finished with a bang

Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

tonyscha

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
65
Reaction score
2
I just bottled my first 5 gallon beer YEAH :mug:. I have done several Mr. Beers in the past, but those were all using plastic bottles.

Thinking it wouldn't take more then an hour and a half, I started getting all my bottling supplies prepared. I got 54 bottles ready, sanitized them using star-sans, boiled my 5oz of sugar, transferred my Irish red from the carboy to the bottling bucket (sanitized). I started bottling, spilled a little here and there, but I thought overall pretty good.

I ended up with 51 bottles, which I thought was awesome for my first batch.

Took the first 36 bottles down stairs to my unfinished basement (had boxes from previous 12 packs). Then I was going to take the last of the bottles down stairs. I had 12 bottles which were in two 6 packs (in a plastic bag) in one hand, and in the other hand a 6 pack (3 full/3 empty). I made it about 1 step and the bottom of the 6 pack gave away. All six bottles went down the stairs, 2 of the full ones broke, and I think 1 of the empty ones broke. Beer and glass all over, good thing the basement is unfinished, but still made a huge mess and this is at about 10:15 at night, and I was ready to go to bed. Over an hour later, I am finished cleaning up the mess.

I was too frustrated to take any pictures of the mess!

The bad, I lost two bottles of beer.
The good, I still have 49 bottles of beer.

I put them all in totes just in case of bottle bombs, taking no chances with this.


Just wanted to share my first bottling experience.
The end
 
Bump

I figured I would get at least one this is why you should keg post. Guess I need to take pictures to make this thread interesting!

Anyway it has been a few days since this has happened so overall it wasn't a big deal.

In a week or two, I will be ready to crack open a bottle!
 
Just consider it part of the angel's share, along with what you lose due to the trub. :)

BTW, you might want to consider putting those bottles upstairs. Heat rises, it's winter and they'll carbonate up better at room temperatures in the 70's f range. Even then, you're probably looking at three weeks before they'e completely carbed up, and be sure to chill them at least 24-48 hours before drinking to maximize the CO2 absorption in the liquid.
 
hey good luck, i just did my first bottling attempt before headn out on a vaca. irish red as well, looked tasted and smelled great 4.8% ABV. i used 3cases of 16oz ezcaps with 3 12 oz bottles left over. and with nothing worse than an idle fermenter, brewed 1/6 barrel of pale ale... im giving the bottles 3weeks room temp then 2 days cooling and see what i got... cheers
 
Back
Top