Bottling while sick

[bpac]

I have strep throat and am stuck in the house. I have a dark mild ale that is ready for bottling and I am super bored with nothing to do.

If I ensure proper sanitation techniques are followed (which i would anyway, really) and take extra care not to breathe into the bucket. do you think i'm good?

or is the risk not worth it?

 

[Golddiggie]

I have strep throat and am stuck in the house. I have a dark mild ale that is ready for bottling and I am super bored with nothing to do.

If I ensure proper sanitation techniques are followed (which i would anyway, really) and take extra care not to breathe into the bucket. do you think i'm good?

or is the risk not worth it?

Ding ding ding ding... We have a winner...

I didn't bottle when I had a simple head/chest cold... Unless you have a hazmat suit hanging around you can use, I would just wait until you're 100% better... Even though most things won't survive IN the brew, doesn't mean you can't infect the bottles, caps, etc... Unless you don't mind giving strep to other people that is..

Besides, the extra time won't do the brew any harm...

 

[theredben]

No problem. Clean and Sanitize as usual. Your beer can't get strep.

 

[HSB]

Streptococcus won't survive in the beer even if you did introduce it. Assuming you don't suck on the hose to start a siphon, I'm not sure what bottling step would introduce it anyway.

 

[Xalwine]

here is one thing that I have learned here...

Nothing can grow in beer that can hurt you.

short of you spitting into your beer you really cant do anything to it that would destroy it. the alcohol will kill bacteria and your yeast will live to carb your bottles. I say throw on a small mask, and bottle. The mask will help ease your mind. Plus it will keep your beer from becoming "Bpac's Ail-Ale"

... on second thought thats a cool name...

 

[MalFet]

No worries man. Even if something infectious got into the beer, everything bad will be long dead by the time the bottles carbonate. As far as contact with other surfaces go (bottles, caps, etc.), you are no more at risk with those than all the other objects in your house like door knobs, tv remotes, etc. Besides, in all likelihood, you'll bottle and then stick the beer in a corner for a few weeks, right? Strep can't live outside of a host for nearly that long. Bottling beer is pretty much the least likely way for you to infect somebody else. Wash your hands, etc, etc, and feel better!

 

[Golddiggie]

Wasn't sure how long Streptococcus could survive outside of a host... I would suggest finding a definitive answer on that before bottling it up...

I know that I'd feel pretty bad if I bottled a batch while sick, and then found out someone I gave a batch that I bottled while sick, came down with the same thing shortly after I gave them the brew. Even if they got it from another source, I'd feel pretty bad about it.

 

[theredben]

Not exactly a definitive source, but Wikipedia states dried dust contaminated with Strep is not viable. Only bacteria kept in a moist environment like toothbrushes. And as stated it can't grow in beer. Absolutely no worries. Have Fun!!

 

[bpac]

WOW! I wasn't expecting anyone to tell me it was fine. I was expecting a lot of these:

Ding ding ding ding... We have a winner...

I didn't bottle when I had a simple head/chest cold... Unless you have a hazmat suit hanging around you can use, I would just wait until you're 100% better... Even though most things won't survive IN the brew, doesn't mean you can't infect the bottles, caps, etc... Unless you don't mind giving strep to other people that is..

Besides, the extra time won't do the brew any harm...

Then again, I do like this idea:

Plus it will keep your beer from becoming "Bpac's Ail-Ale"

 

[Wberry]

Ah I woke up this morning 4 hours early with a 12 hour day ahead of me ... after 4 cups of coffee and 3 hours, my 5 gallons were bottled and my yeastie beasties were washed ... I would simply change the coffee in the recipe for Dayquil and bang it out!