Bottle tree

[tattroy]

I was getting ready to bottle my last batch. Just sanitized the bottles and put them on the tree. One of the kids came through and knocked over my bottling bucket! Five gallons gone. So I cried a little, then started my next batch.

My question is, how long can the bottles sit on the tree, before you re-sanitize them?

 

[BPal75]

I personally wouldn't sit them on the bottling tree at all after sanitizing, especially If you haven't sanitized the tree. I would just sanitize and then rinse and bottle without drying. Or, if using a no rinse sanitizer, skip the rinse and go straight to bottling.

 

[tattroy]

I use Star San , I also spray down the tree before I put the bottles on it

 

[BPal75]

My understanding about starsan is that once it dries, the bottle is at risk of bacteria. The longer the time period that goes by before bottling, the greater the risk. So, I don't think there is a hard and fast rule such as you have 2 hours and then it's at risk, it's a progressive risk based on your comfort level. Personally I'm paranoid so I prefer to bottle while still damp from the starsan.

 

[kapbrew13]

My understanding about starsan is that once it dries, the bottle is at risk of bacteria. The longer the time period that goes by before bottling, the greater the risk. So, I don't think there is a hard and fast rule such as you have 2 hours and then it's at risk, it's a progressive risk based on your comfort level. Personally I'm paranoid so I prefer to bottle while still damp from the starsan.

Correct. Only effective while wet and something about the ph of the water for starsan needs to be at certain level.

 

[HibsMax]

Interesting point about santizing the tree, I didn't do that. I *think* I will be OK because the bottles are sanitized and I bottle when they are still wet. That said, for the few seconds it will take I will definitely spray the tree first from now on. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Lennie]

I don't sanitize the tree, what drips out of the bottles does that for me.

I would definitely squirt them down again right before bottling.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[mpcluever]

Ya I make sure my tree is clean and then the foam dripping out sanitizes anything it touches.

 

[tattroy]

I always planed on re-sanitizing bottles. I have had a couple of bad batches in my life, and I am way to paranoid not to re-sanitize. I was just seeing if anyone had tried this and had success.