Infected Bottles

[sj90]

I've been brewing for about a year and a half now, so still a newbie compared to lots on here, but for the last few batches I've had some issues with my bottles.

Some of my beers are coming out with a darker almost red tinge to them, with a bit extra tang that shouldn't be there. I've noticed it with 3 batches I've bottled, but only some of the batch, while the others taste great. Is it common to have the color shift like this with an infection?

I'm using the same equipment to Keg other brews and they have turned out fine, so I'm leaning towards the bottles being the source or the bottling bucket. I'm planning on replacing the bucket and my auto-siphon just to be sure, any other sources I should replace? Also, apart from hot water followed by star san, is there a better way to make sure they are clean? Right now I just hold them up to the light and look for any marks.

Thanks,
Spencer

 

[seatazzz]

If it isn't in all of the bottles, just some of them, then yes it could be the bottles. You can get a vinator on Amazon for cheap, they are great for both cleaning and sanitizing your bottles. Another thing to look at is how you are adding your priming sugar, and making sure it is completely mixed into your beer before bottling. That extra "tang" could be from too much sugar in that particular bottle. If that's the case you need to be vigilant for bottle bombs as well.

 

[IslandLizard]

Clean bottles with a bottle brush and hot water with some washing soda (soda ash), Oxiclean Free (or some generic), or PBW added. Water alone is not a good cleaner. Rinse well, then sanitize by submerging them in a bucket with Starsan solution. Spraying Starsan doesn't sanitize them properly, IMO. The vinator mentioned above is great too, but you don't absolutely need it. I prefer dunking.

The spigot in your bottling bucket needs to be removed, taken apart, cleaned, and sanitized. There are one or 2 rubber washers and a threaded nut that can hold onto germs. The main spigot body that turns without turning the nut can be removed from its surrounding plastic barrel by submerging in boiling water for 30 seconds to soften the plastic, then pushed apart. That crevice in between can hold onto bacteria (showing as black slime).

Really, if it's a sanitation issue, review every step and make sure nothing gets skipped. Clean, clean, clean, then sanitize right before use.

 

[ong]

Darkening sounds more like oxidation to me. Is there a chance that’s what you’re tasting, also?

 

[sj90]

Currently I fill each bottle about 1/4 way with hot water and shake to get any dust out. Then hold them up to the light and check for any marks. If I see anything, bottle brush until they're gone. Then fill 1/4 with starsan solution and shake for a few seconds. Drain and they're ready to fill.

I bought some washing soda and will use that next batch. Does the vinator do anything different than just filling and shaking well? Apart from being easier.

As for the taste, tang might not be the best word. It's a unpleasant bitter bite. From reading online Astringency sounds close, but I don't find it dry. Also no mention of colour change.

Can oxidation cause a flavour like that? It would make sense, I've had some issues with air getting sucked in through my auto siphon. That another reason I've replaced it.

Thanks for the help. And sorry for the slow reply, home computer crashed and I've been swamped at work.

 

[seatazzz]

Astringency sounds more like a dirty bottle than oxidation to me. Advantage of a vinator is the water and/or sanitizing solution is forced to the bottom of the bottle at higher pressure than you can get with just your sink tap.

Another thing you can try, if you own a dishwasher, is put your bottles in that (bottom rack) and run the dishwasher with no detergent. The higher heat and pressure should get rid of any nasties left in the bottles.

 

[Transamguy77]

I like to use a bottle washer that goes on your faucet, it uses a lot of pressure to blast away stuck on stuff the bottle.

And I second the vinator, i found it shortened my bottling time and does a good job of coating the inside of the bottle.

 

[kbaggen]

If you suspect the bottles to be the problem then after good cleaning where all visible left-over must have gone (else no use) put then in oven prior to bottling at 120´C for 20min, let them cool down slowly, and take them from oven just before you fill them with beer! This way even you did not thoroughly clean them they will be as clean as possible coz to the heat!

Please notice the oven is not to cut corners on clearing but is a fast and easy way to heighten the sterility! This is way better than no-rise solution of starsan or whaetever people do.......and you dont get chemicals in the beer then!

(Bottles in rotation: Prior to oven I just rinse my bottles with tap water 2 times after pouring the beer by sharking, put a blow of starsan in them and a stand for 10min, re-rise with tap water twice agian, put them on shelf for later use. )