F bomb!!!

[CrAzYmOuSe]

Yep, no head space + over carb + Phoenix without AC in the summer = KABOOM!

 

[scottmd06]

Wish someone would have told me before. LMAO. I was taught to fill the bottles all the way to the top, by multiple homebrewers, because air is our enemy lol So the combination of the heat and no headspace probably did it then. So is it a general rule of thumb to leave the space left behind when I remove the bottling wand? Ive been topping every bottle off thus far.

 

[Yooper]

Wish someone would have told me before. LMAO. I was taught to fill the bottles all the way to the top, by multiple homebrewers, because air is our enemy lol So the combination of the heat and no headspace probably did it then.

No, I still think it's because of about twice the priming sugar the rest of us use. The heat just finally put it over the edge.

 

[scottmd06]

Well Im very appreciative of everyone's insights. Thanks to all. The AC is working great and now I have well over 100 brews nice and chilled in my fridge to enjoy at will. Shall I keep all of this brew cold henceforth and next time use less sugar and leave headspace?

 

[Yooper]

Well Im very appreciative of everyone's insights. Thanks to all. The AC is working great and now I have well over 100 brews nice and chilled in my fridge to enjoy at will. Shall I keep all of this brew cold henceforth and next time use less sugar and leave headspace?

Yes.

 

[marubozo]

Wish someone would have told me before. LMAO. I was taught to fill the bottles all the way to the top, by multiple homebrewers, because air is our enemy lol So the combination of the heat and no headspace probably did it then. So is it a general rule of thumb to leave the space left behind when I remove the bottling wand? Ive been topping every bottle off thus far.

If you're using a bottling wand, typically if you fill the bottle all the way to the point beer is coming out the top, once you pull the wand out of the bottle you'll have the perfect amount of head space for your beer. No need to top up or make any other adjustments.

 

[passedpawn]

Gases are very compressible, liquids not at all. So, with some "gas" headspace you should be able to contain much more CO2 in a bottle.

 

[scottmd06]

Okay great. Thanks guys.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Okay great. Thanks guys.

Use the link from my earlier post.

 

[scottmd06]

Will do. I ran out of bottles for my current brew so I racked it to secondary to buy me some time until I can empty more bottles I will purchase a scale and use that calculator when that time arrives.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Will do. I ran out of bottles for my current brew so I racked it to secondary to buy me some time until I can empty more bottles I will purchase a scale and use that calculator when that time arrives.

Excellent!

Oh and +10000 to what marubozo said

 

[bad coffee]

On brew/bottle days I make up a couple gallons of Star-San at the dilution rates on the label that everything gets soaked in for at least 15 minutes, and sprayed down just before each handling. Bottles are OxyCleaned with a bottle brush, rinsed, Star-Saned and air dried.

Two things: Starsan lasts a LONG time. I've got a batch that I made in February and it's still good. I did use DI water for it. If you're using straight tap, then it's not gonna last long. Get a gallon of distilled water for your next starsan batch, and keep it around. Get a 99 cent spray bottle and it will come in very handy. As long as the starsan is clear (not hazy/milky) it's good to go. (Actually you should test PH, but I'm guessing you don't have strips or a meter.)

The second thing really caught my eye: You let the bottles dry. Starsan should be used wet. Once it dries the sanitizer is pretty much useless. Use that $.99 sprayer full of starsan on the bottles right before you bottle. Or spend $20 and get a vinator.

But like Yoop said, buy a scale first.

B

 

[scottmd06]

I have a desperate hypothetical to run by you boys. If I were to sanitize my bottling wand and use it to displace some liquid in these over-carbonated bottles and recap them, would that be a terrible idea? Id really like to be able to bring the yeasties back to room temp to finish doing their thing and let the brew mature a bit.

 

[passedpawn]

I have a desperate hypothetical to run by you boys. If I were to sanitize my bottling wand and use it to displace some liquid in these over-carbonated bottles and recap them, would that be a terrible idea? Id really like to be able to bring the yeasties back to room temp to finish doing their thing and let the brew mature a bit.

I've done this. It'll work fine.