Austin Home Brew Cream Ale Bottling Catastrophe

[ENS]

So the other day I was bottling a AHS Cream Ale, came out pretty good. I got down to the bottom of the bottling bucket and tried to get the last little bit out of the bucket. I tipped the bucket over and it was almost all out when the bucket fell and knocked over half of my bottles.

At first I was in total shock, but then I started picking them up and tried to salvage what was left. I combined the bottles and ended up losing 16 or so.

I am now wondering if that beer is going to taste like crap since I had to pour the beer from one bottle to another. That is going to suck because AHS is expensive and the unbottled cream ale smelled and tasted pretty good.

Did this ever happen to anyone else? How did it turn out?

 

[gunner65]

What is left of it will be fine.

 

[Pappers_]

Sorry to hear about your disaster, that really stinks.

 

[birvine]

I know it is after the fact, but fear of exactly what happened to you is why I fill some, then pause and cap. That being said, I use screw-on caps which is easier...

B

 

[ENS]

I usually set out about 12 bottles and fill and cap and then repeat. This time I set out about 50 or so. It was very sad indeed.

 

[petey_c]

So far, (knock on wood) I haven't had any major spills or accidents. I use either screw on caps (PET bottles) or swing tops. My sympathies are with you. I trust you will pay homage to the fallen beers soon.

 

[GreenDragon]

I do mine a case at a time, but I do them in an old case with the insert in it to where the bottles can't tip over. This also makes it easier to move them over to our bottling station so the wife can cap em (she likes capping them, no clue why, just glad she's involved).

 

[ENS]

my wife likes drinking them, but has never gotten involved in the process. We have a 3 yearold, so that makes it tricky anyway. When ever I do something beer related, it has been a solo mission. I have thought of inviting a friend, but then I'd probably have to share the loot.

I thought about using a case with the insert. Sometimes I get spillage though and like to get use out of those case boxes for storage. Thanks for the idea. I will give that a try.

 

[cappy]

I enlist my girls (3 & 5) to put the stickers on the freshly capped bottles. They also like hanging around while I brew, and they are fascinated by a bubbling airlock!

 

[ENS]

Did this ever happen to anyone? Did anyone ever pour from one bottle to the other? How did it come out?

 

[Pappers_]

Did this ever happen to anyone? Did anyone ever pour from one bottle to the other? How did it come out?

No, I haven't, but I think you run two possible risks: 1) oxidation and 2) contamination. I think neither is a big risk. I read somewhere that the effects of oxidation become more pronounced or noticeable over time, so that would be a good excuse to drink it up early

I think your beer will turn out just fine. Sorry about the disaster, though, it sucks to loose all that beer when you were so close to the finish line!

 

[ENS]

homebrewing is a constant learning curve. I worried about the oxidation, but, cream ale is a fast drinker.

This was my 10th brew and so far no infections. This is the first time since November I have nothing in a fermenter in my basement. I have to kits though.

thanks

 

[Austinhomebrew]

That totally sucks. Ill send you a new Cream Ale kit with your next order. It is one of my personal recipes and people really like it. Just PM me your name and I will note it. Thanks for your business and let me know what you think of the kit.

Forrest

 

[ENS]

Thanks, but this was in no way the fault of AHS. ompletely my own clumbsy fault. AHS, you go a long way to provide great customer service! I appreciate it!