1st AG brew ends in disaster

[todd_k]

So I finished brewing my Rogue Mocha Porter and had a hard time with the Phils CFC. Wort was leaking out the input so I had to pinch it with my hand so I shut off the hose to make sure I had the leak under control. I finished emptying the wort into the carboy and was cleaning up with hose when for some reason, I hit the carboy with hose and CRACK!. Nothing leaked out so I thought I could salvage it. I ran onto the deck and grabbed the bucket with the sanitizer, dumped the sanitzer, and ran back over to the carboy. I was pulling on the carboy cap when the carboy split in two leaving me holding the top half while half the wort dumped on my shoes. I then proceeded to swear..... a lot.

I'm such an idiot. 4 hours down the drain.

I learned that I need those metal screw on clips for the cfc to stop the leak and I also learned that cold air plus warm wort plus even colder water equals disaster.

 

[the_bird]

Oh.





F*ck.

Dude, that sucks. I mean, at least you didn't get cut up when the carboy broke, but that's pretty friggin' cold comfort, I know.

Can you say "Better Bottle"?

 

[Flyin' Lion]

Sorry to hear that, man. At least others can learn from your misfortune.

x2 on the better bottle.

You still managed to save the bottom half of the batch?

 

[Orfy]

Bummer.
Well just put it down to a test run......Sounds like it went well uptill then.

Chin up, whens the next time?

 

[faber]

My deepest sympathies are with you and your family during this difficult time of sorrow and loss.

I don't even own a Better Bottle and I haven't lost a carboy--yet, knock on wood--, but I now find myself recommending them.

 

[todd_k]

thanks guys. I could have probably saved the bottom half but I would have been too worried about small pieces of glass in the beer. Besides, kicking it over was much more therapeutic at that point.

 

[the_bird]

Gotta get back behind the mule, friend. Get a BB (or just a bucket), get your ingredients together, and brew again ASAP. How was the AG experience, pre-disaster?

 

[Willsellout]

After almost dropping my 6.5 gal carboy because the carrying handle slipped off, I've decided to go back to bucket fermenting until I can get a BB for my primary. The glass js just an accident waiting to happen IMO!




Dan

 

[Dude]

Bummer!!!

As the boys said, at least you didn't get cut.

 

[todd_k]

things went fine up until then end of the boil, then it went downhill from that point. I only got the OG reading so I don't know how well it actually went.
I'll probably head out to the LHBS tomorrow to get a BB and ingredients. At roughly 4 hours, I think I can brew after work since I get home around 3:45. If not, I have to wait 2 weeks to do it again.

 

[Dude]

things went fine up until then end of the boil, then it went downhill from that point. I only got the OG reading so I don't know how well it actually went.
I'll probably head out to the LHBS tomorrow to get a BB and ingredients. At roughly 4 hours, I think I can brew after work since I get home around 3:45. If not, I have to wait 2 weeks to do it again.

PM sent. :fro:

 

[david_42]

Losing a batch of Rogue Mocha Porter has to be a Crime Against Nature. (at least in the PWN, it is)

 

[Tony]

Glad you didnt get hurt man, thats what counts first. It definately sucks that your session went south like that. No matter what, get another batch going as soon as possible. Dont dwell on it, just learn from it.

Every time I brew, I try to remember the dangers of glass carboys, and do my best to be as careful as possible. I do love glass carboys, and know their limits, so I try so darn hard to make sure they are treated with care. Heavy bastards for sure.

 

[vtfan99]

A moment of silence for the recently departed.

Glad to see you made it through in one piece. Best you can do it give it another shot...don't quit now. Heres to your second shot....a smashing success....everyone raise a glass...

 

[Tony]

....everyone raise a glass...

Raising my glass of HIPA to you man!

 

[dibby33]

No claret is a good thing. No beer is a bad thing. Experience is always good no matter if it is bad. No, wipe away those tears, take a day off work and get down to the LHBS and do it all again as if it was your first time.

Actually taking a day off work is a mighty fine idea, now where are those forms (on day 8 of 12 in a row just now!)....




EDIT : Claret is a slang term for blood here.

 

[todd_k]

No claret is a good thing. No beer is a bad thing. Experience is always good no matter if it is bad. No, wipe away those tears, take a day off work and get down to the LHBS and do it all again as if it was your first time.

Actually taking a day off work is a mighty fine idea, now where are those forms (on day 8 of 12 in a row just now!)....




EDIT : Claret is a slang term for blood here.

If only I was paid for my days off..... but I'm working on changing that!

 

[perry]

You know, I know a lot of folks are saying it's good that you didn't get hurt, but, well... I'm thinking a really good scar from a piece of broken..... Aw hell, never mind.

I had a fermenter blow up on me two days into fermentation... I feel your pain, Bro.

cheers- jp

 

[RichBrewer]

I feel bad for you. All that work to end up with a sticky mess on the floor. Sorry to hear it.

 

[todd_k]

I feel bad for you. All that work to end up with a sticky mess on the floor. Sorry to hear it.

thankfully this happened outside so I just had to hose down the area a little bit.

 

[uglygoat]

that sucks... i would have lost it big time!!!

however, i'll stick with my glass carboys... knocks on wood.

 

[Walker]

n00b!













Seriously though... that ****ing blows. Sorry, man...

 

[SAS98M]

Sorry for your loss dude... I've had a few near misses using glass primaries/secondaries-I wouldn't trust nor do I use those "clamp-on" carriers.
Two words though----->MILK CRATE<----- great carriers and You can still look at all the fun bubbles. just my 2c. Shane

 

[BierMuncher]

Condolences.

I've had that premonition before. I guess that's why I prefer move everything into a primary "bucket", transport, aerate and then rack into my glass carboy. Everytime I set a glass carboy on concrete, a tingle would shoot up my spine. So now everything my carboy comes in contact with is padded or carpetted.

One other (too late) hint...buy a plastic nozzle sprayer for your hose. My hose is always "tapping" the glass, that's why I replaced the fittings on both ends of the hose with plastic.

Don't dispair. Get back on the horse and you shall brew again. :rockin:

 

[the_bird]

Todd, I'm starting to think that maybe it's the poltergeists... you're having a real sh!tty string of luck lately...

 

[Rhoobarb]

You have my deepest symptahies. What you described is one of my worst fears/scenarios! Fortunately (knocks wood), I haven't had it happen. I, too, always set my carboys on carpet or a folded towel.

Good recommendation on the plastic nozzle sprayer, KalvinEddie. I never thought about it before, but I have one and, now that I think about it, I'm always tapping the thing against the glass carboy!

From time to time I've thought about fashioning some sort of 'boot' for the bottoms of all my carboys. Something that would be rubber with a foam lining and conform to the carboy, yet would be removable for cleaning. Hmmm...

 

[todd_k]

Todd, I'm starting to think that maybe it's the poltergeists... you're having a real sh!tty string of luck lately...

that damn ghost was back yesterday....I'll have to post in the other thread if I have time.

 

[Ó Flannagáin]

That sucks, Todd. I'm about to do my first AG in a few days, but I bet something is gonna happen as well. I have a plastic bucket though, so I know I can avoid the breaking glass. I also have 2 batches worth of ingredients, so if I screw one up, I'll start on another right away.

Better luck next time, bud!

 

[todd_k]

I brewed again on Wednesday and things went much better except for the stuck sparge. Lessons have been learned from both batches.

 

[BierMuncher]

From time to time I've thought about fashioning some sort of 'boot' for the bottoms of all my carboys. Something that would be rubber with a foam lining and conform to the carboy, yet would be removable for cleaning. Hmmm...

I have a couple of those plastic milk crates. They are a perfect fit for the 6 1/2 gallon carboys. I use them to drain as well by simply placing the rinsed out carboy upsidedown. They are perfect and the plastic is much more forgiving on glass than concrete.