How do I flame bottlenecks and what does it really meant to achieve?

[Elysium]

I am planning to sanitize my bottles the night before bottling and let them drain in normal beer rack (the 5*5 bottle plastic beer crates I am talking about), but I am slightly worried about things that might get on the openings of my bottles from the bottom of the rack (although I wash these crates....I dont think they are completely clean) or even from the air. So...this is why I'd like to flame the bottlenecks before putting the beer in it and capping them.

Flaming means I just light a candle and run the opening through the flame for a few seconds? That sanitizes properly them?

 

[mcbaumannerb]

Are you going to use StarSan to sanitize? If so and the bottles are inverted then the draining of the residual StarSan should sanitize the base of the crate and as long as there isn't any air blowing around where they are stored I wouldn't worry about anything getting into the bottles (and if there is air blowing, then cover the inverted bottles with clean plastic to keep air from stirring around the bottles.) That said I usually bottle within an hour or so after sanitizing

 

[Darwin18]

When I bottle I usually sanitize an hour or so before bottling. I suspect that you'll be just fine if you do it the night before. I honestly I don't see much value in flaming the bottle if you're already sanitizing it. You're just asking to burn yourself.

 

[Elysium]

Are you going to use StarSan to sanitize? If so and the bottles are inverted then the draining of the residual StarSan should sanitize the base of the crate and as long as there isn't any air blowing around where they are stored I wouldn't worry about anything getting into the bottles (and if there is air blowing, then cover the inverted bottles with clean plastic to keep air from stirring around the bottles.) That said I usually bottle within an hour or so after sanitizing

I use chemipro OXI (hydrogen peroxide based) sanitizer. Really strong stuff.

 

[DocnSun]

If it is that big of an issue why not sanitize the bottles and caps and just cap the bottles till bottle time?
You said they were plastic so I would venture you have screw on caps.

 

[unionrdr]

I sanitize the bottles & caps right before filling them.

 

[mcbaumannerb]

If it is that big of an issue why not sanitize the bottles and caps and just cap the bottles till bottle time?
You said they were plastic so I would venture you have screw on caps.

The crates he sits them in are plastic - the bottles aren't (since he wants to heat them with a flame)

Based on what I read on the Chemipro OXI I think you're fine with sanitizing, inverting the bottles in the crates and covering them to keep airflow out. I wouldn't bother with flaming - sounds like a major PIA at bottling time.

 

[flars]

Draining and drying is a requirement when using Chemipro. The night before is good. The draining through the plastic crate should also sanitize the crate where the bottle mouth rests. A clean cover to restrict air flow and you should be good to go.

Try to find Starsan. Bottles and equipment can be used even with the foam still present. It is so much more convient to use. Starsan solution in a spray bottle can also take care of the small items on a moments notice.

 

[unionrdr]

Not to mention flaming with a candle leaves carbon or "soot" behind. Kinda defeats the purpose.

 

[Hello]

Using star san, I sanitize bottles and caps right before I bottle. In fact, that is what I'm doing now.

 

[brewsnthelou]

I sanitize the bottles & caps right before filling them.

+ 1

Works like a charm

 

[mattd2]

I use chemipro OXI (hydrogen peroxide based) sanitizer. Really strong stuff.

Sounds like you are using a product similar to Oxyclean - a sodium percarbonate that disolves in water to sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Most here use it for a cleaner as it is good at removing organic solids.
There are a lot of better sanitisers to use, most suggest Starsan as it is easy to use, no-rinse and does not stain. The other common one is Idophor.

 

[Elysium]

If it is that big of an issue why not sanitize the bottles and caps and just cap the bottles till bottle time?
You said they were plastic so I would venture you have screw on caps.

My beer racks (crates,,,dont know what else they can be called) are plastic...not my bottles. My bottles are normal, cristal bottles.

 

[GrogNerd]

flaming is more for sterilizing the bottles of commercial beer if you're harvesting yeast from them

and you wouldn't use a candle. a BIC will do