Bottle washing and head retention.

[swampbrewcrew]

When I first started brewing almost two years ago I bought 10 cases of new bottles. Now a few years into it my bottles are old and there are plenty of commercial bottles in the mix. Lately, perfectly carbed bottles are not holding a head. I'm guessing my washing practice is to blame. Here it is.

1. Drink beer (this step is nonnegotiable.
2. Rinse with hot water until the gunk is gone.
3. Fill the bottle with hot water and a bottle cap full of oxyclean free
4. It sits out until dishes get washed, usually overnight.
5. Rinse inside and out with water and into the dishwasher.
6. Remove from washer and put it in a jury-rigged "fast rack". (1 milk crate cut in half upside down, then normal milk crates stacked so everything drains down to a plastic tray at the bottom.
7. On bottling day, they all get a quick rinse and a shot of starsan.

Anything stand out that would be causing the head retention issues?

 

[swampbrewcrew]

I don't use dish soap or bleach for any step of cleaning or sanitizing.

 

[swampbrewcrew]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1475458592.554650.jpg

 

[mongoose33]

Low carbonation?

I triple rinse my bottles then put them in the dishwasher. They come out sparkling. I store them upside down.

Day of bottling, they get a couple squirts of Star-San from a vinator, and fill 'em.

I fill from a keg when I bottle so there's no gunk in the bottom of the bottles.

 

[swampbrewcrew]

Carbonation is fine. Your process sound like mine except I let mine soak overnight on oxyfree before the dishwasher. Maybe that steps the issue.

 

[EDF713]

Does your dishwasher have a rinse-aid dispenser? That stuff could hurt head retention, and it may take more rinsing or cleaning to get it off.

 

[swampbrewcrew]

Not that I know of. I've bought this house just over a year ago and never refilled anything like that so surely if it does it's not funtioning

 

[EDF713]

I would check to rule it out. Most dishwashers have a little reservoir that takes forever to empty.

 

[swampbrewcrew]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1475461127.028690.jpg

Bingo. I will hand wash with the oxy and forgo the dishwasher the next few batches and see if that's the fix

 

[EDF713]

Hope that solves it, brew on.

 

[Brownalemikie]

Hmmm, I only do steps 1,2 and 7. After 14 refills my bottles work great and my beer is wonderful. The only thing I do different is on bottling day I submerge the bottles in a tub of Starsan.