I used to be a complete prude when it came to sterilizing my bottles when it came time to bottle my brews. However, there have been numerous times in the recent past that I had simply run out of sterilized bottles during a hardcore bottling session, and substituted un-sanitized glass bottles (and PET bottles) in place. While I expected blackish-green globs of mold and bacteria to permeate the bottles, bringing the worst tastes and flavors imaginable, it has yet to happen.
Keep in mind that these bottles, while not at all sterilized/sanitized, had been rinsed completely clean of residues MULTIPLE times, and were allowed to dry for days to weeks. They simply had not undergone proper chemical/temperature cleansing.
Despite the lack of active sanitization, these bottles somehow managed to carbonate and age exactly like the sterilized bottles did. After trying to smell and taste the difference between my unsanitized bottles vs the sterilized ones, I came to the conclusion that I could not tell the difference, and I was wasting my time by baking 50 bottles at 250ºF for 12 hours.
Since then, I decided to try bottling an imperial IPA, a scotch wee heavy, and an imperial stout into unsanitized bottles, and all batches have ended in great success.
Ergo, I ask you non-professional-but-awesome brewmasters out there: is sanitizing/sterilizing bottles REALLY necessary? That is, if you're a prude when it comes to rinsing them out after each use?
Other pertinent disclosures:
1) All beers were > 9% ABV. Ethanol kills baddies.
2) All beers were consumed within 3 months of maturation.
3) Beers were bottled in re-used amber glass AND clear screw-top PET bottles (for simple carbonation monitoring).
4) I always sanitize my primary/secondary/bottling/siphoning equipment with iodophor.
5) Love the iodophor. Brown stains are just proof that it works. No aroma/flavor imparted. StarSan can go to hell with its bubbles and acidity.
Keep in mind that these bottles, while not at all sterilized/sanitized, had been rinsed completely clean of residues MULTIPLE times, and were allowed to dry for days to weeks. They simply had not undergone proper chemical/temperature cleansing.
Despite the lack of active sanitization, these bottles somehow managed to carbonate and age exactly like the sterilized bottles did. After trying to smell and taste the difference between my unsanitized bottles vs the sterilized ones, I came to the conclusion that I could not tell the difference, and I was wasting my time by baking 50 bottles at 250ºF for 12 hours.
Since then, I decided to try bottling an imperial IPA, a scotch wee heavy, and an imperial stout into unsanitized bottles, and all batches have ended in great success.
Ergo, I ask you non-professional-but-awesome brewmasters out there: is sanitizing/sterilizing bottles REALLY necessary? That is, if you're a prude when it comes to rinsing them out after each use?
Other pertinent disclosures:
1) All beers were > 9% ABV. Ethanol kills baddies.
2) All beers were consumed within 3 months of maturation.
3) Beers were bottled in re-used amber glass AND clear screw-top PET bottles (for simple carbonation monitoring).
4) I always sanitize my primary/secondary/bottling/siphoning equipment with iodophor.
5) Love the iodophor. Brown stains are just proof that it works. No aroma/flavor imparted. StarSan can go to hell with its bubbles and acidity.