In need of neutral opinions.

[cmmcdonn]

I have just kicked off my first batch of homebrew 2 days ago and I have two questions to which I would like some forum input on.

First, how often can you sniff your airlock before it's considered creepy (even for homebrewer standards)? It smells soo damn good.

and secondly...

On a scale from 1-10 how wrong is it to overcarb one bottle on purpose to silence a sibling who makes fun of you for homebrewing, yet drinks craft beer.


For what it's worth, I'm going to do it anyway... I'd just like to see which level of hell I'll be sent to.

 

[Sparky]

Congratulations on your first batch! I would be very concerned if:
- you did not sniff the airlock every bubble-burst
- you did not mark your calender to the exact days of primary, secondary, bottle, finish
- you did not examined, tasted, tested every step and portion of this process
- you did not drink half the batch after secondary, before bottling

Now, regarding your overcarb question, why? Just make the batch to your liking and the others (including riff-raff) will follow.

PS - after 10+ years of homebrewing, I still sniff the airlock

 

[Zamial]

1. until you actually get a huge lung full of CO2 and it almost takes you to your knees. Then you will have had "enough".

2. Really uncool. This may turn into a bottle bomb...I am pretty sure nothing is funnier than glass shrapnel...

HOWEVER...filling up a bottle full of mostly yeast from a stout cake into a stout and watching them drink it after a few to many...priceless...

 

[cmmcdonn]

Well to answer your question sparky...

I have no freakin idea how a person can insult the craft/art of homebrewing yet only drink craft beer. I tried to think of a metaphor for this situation for the last few minutes and just couldnt...its just plain awful.

So I'm going to throw 3 or 4 carb tabs into one of my bottles and give him one to sample. I don't mind the cleaning as long as he is miserable for being covered in my beautiful mess.

 

[Sparky]

Well to answer your question sparky...
I have no freakin idea how a person can insult the craft/art of homebrewing yet only drink craft beer. I tried to think of a metaphor for this situation for the last few minutes and just couldnt...its just plain awful.

Naw, they're not worth it. It's just jealousy. Don't worry, once your friends find out what you are up to, they will be lurking in the bushes. Hell, it took my SWMBO to beat em off.

 

[cmmcdonn]

My friends are indeed awaiting arrival of my IIPA. This particular sabotage bottle is dedicated to my brother. I realize it's not the most mature solution this forum will come across....but it will sure be a great story some day!

 

[northernlad]

I am not sure the concept of a bottle bomb has quite reached you so I will say it again. Bottle bombs aren't cool and I can't even think of how an overcarbed beer makes any sort of stament to anyone.

Oh- I have never sniffed my airlock.

 

[DeafSmith]

The bottle bomb will likely blow up before you give it to the intended victim, leaving you with a real mess to clean up, even if no one is injured by flying glass.

 

[erock2112]

I'll go ahead and repeat it: intentionally overcarbing is a BAD idea. The bottle could explode at any point (before or after you hand it off, not only when it's opened but at ANY time), leaving you, at best, with a big nasty mess. At worst, you could seriously injure yourself or someone else with glass shrapnel. Even if the bottle doesn't explode, an overcarbonated beer makes you look like you're incapable of making good beer. I think the better call here is to make the best beer you can and earn the respect of your sibling that way. When he realizes you're making awesome beer, he'll shut up.

And yes, I sniff my airlock all the time.

 

[RIT_Warrior]

It would be OK to overcarb if you were using those carb tabs that Muntons has. Using those, you could carb a single bottle of, say, an APA like a wheat and enjoy the fun when your friend pours it. You would have to be careful not to exceed the recommended dosage, though, or you might end up with a bomb.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

IMO it's a terrible idea to in any way compromise/contaminate your homebrew and then give it to...anyone.

Plus it could start an endless stream of retaliation. How are you gonna feel if that sibling tells you, after you've consumed an entire batch, that he/she pee'd in the fermenter as payback?