Massive Fizziness

[WillyB]

So, I let my Nut brown ale ferment for two weeks and then I went to bottling it. It's been a week since a i bottled it. I planned on letting it sit for two weeks before I chilled it, but today I just wanted to have a taste. I opened up my first bottle and basically all the beer shot out from the top. So I ended up tasting what little was left in the bottle and it tasted just a little weird but not too bad. What's the deal with all of my beer shooting out of the top of the bottle? Where do I go from here? Should I let my beer sit in the bottles for another few weeks and see how they're doing then?

 

[WillyB]

Also, I used the recommended amount of priming sugar (came in a kit) and the beer fermented around 78 F. (Middle of the desert)

 

[RugenBrau]

How big was the batch and how much sugar did you use to prime it?

 

[scrambledegg81]

Those questions ^, and did you take gravity readings?

 

[mlg5039]

What the first two said and in addittion, try refrigerating them for a few days before opening them. It'll allow the co2 to better absorbed in the beer.

And yeah wait two more weeks. But I understand you needed to taste it for scientific purposes.

 

[dnslater]

Read up here on bottle conditioning. I'm guessing you did not wait 3 weeks and you did not chill for at least 24 hours before drinking to ensure that the carbonation is fully absorbed into the liquid. If it is not chilled long enough I believe it can come shooting out.

 

[KayaBrew]

If I were you, I'd get the rest of the bottles in a large plastic tote with a lid. Just in case you have bottle bombs.

 

[phenry]

You need more time for the CO2 to go into solution. I've had a beer that did this (but to a smaller extent) three weeks into bottle conditioning. Giving it more time fixed the problem.

 

[WillyB]

i used 4 oz. of corn sugar for a little less than 5 gallons. also, the hydrometer reading a took during bottling was just under what the expected reading was 1.050

 

[KayaBrew]

I hope you are mistaken. Your gravity reading before fermentation should have been 1.050-ish, not after fermentation. Your terminal gravity should have been in the 1.016-1.010 range.

 

[Maxkling]

i used 4 oz. of corn sugar for a little less than 5 gallons. also, the hydrometer reading a took during bottling was just under what the expected reading was 1.050

If you bottled a beer at 1050 then read below.

 

[scrambledegg81]

If that was the bottling gravity...oh my...

Un-cap those suckers ASAP. You have bottle grenades on your hand. Do it gingerly over an open tub that's easy to clean out. (giggady)

 

[WillyB]

I AM mistaken, it was 1.050 before fermentation!

 

[paulster2626]

I'd watch this:

 

[NigeltheBold]

I'd watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlBlnTfZ2iw

That's a cool video. It's interesting see see (and hear) the beer's progress throughout carbonation. Maybe I'll stop opening beers early when I get impatient... but probably not

Like everyone else said, it's probably just too early and you need to chill your beers before opening them. Give them an opportunity to let the CO2 dissolve into solution so they don't explode. I had a gushing problem with a beer recently, but it was due to bacteria being present in the bottles. I don't think that's your problem though (yet).

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I did a brewers best smoked porter that I bottle conditioned for 4 weeks. Chilled 24 hrs and when I did my standard pour, (down the side) got a thin head that disappated quickly. Now a month later the head is thick enough to float a bottlecap ( yes I tried) and it makes lacing that is truly a beauty to behold. The CO2 needs time to dissolve into the beer. Seems it makes smaller bubbles. I suspect I'd have been in a similar situation if I had opened one after a shorter conditioning time.

 

[paulster2626]

I did a brewers best smoked porter that I bottle conditioned for 4 weeks. Chilled 24 hrs and when I did my standard pour, (down the side) got a thin head that disappated quickly. Now a month later the head is thick enough to float a bottlecap ( yes I tried) and it makes lacing that is truly a beauty to behold. The CO2 needs time to dissolve into the beer. Seems it makes smaller bubbles. I suspect I'd have been in a similar situation if I had opened one after a shorter conditioning time.

>>>>>Thread Hijack Alert!!!<<<<<

Nice I'm cooking this up on Sunday - any advice?

 

[pissgarn]

I'd watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlBlnTfZ2iw

thats ridikerlus! I didnt see enny diference from 7 days
to 31. I think this guy is kiddin hisself. Almost all my
beers is carbonated inna week, maybe 10 days at the
outside.

Ron

 

[unionrdr]

Most of mine need 3-4 weeks to start getting good. I've had crazy German style head with the "upside down snow storm" as craigtube calls it in 11 days flat! But the flavors didn't catch up till a couple weeks later. So remember,you're not just waiting on the carbonation,you're waiting for the flavors to mingle & mature as well!!!

 

[scrambledegg81]

thats ridikerlus! I didnt see enny diference from 7 days
to 31. I think this guy is kiddin hisself. Almost all my
beers is carbonated inna week, maybe 10 days at the
outside.

Ron

Part of the long wait is for carbonation, but the majority of it is so the beer can condition itself.

 

[Tim_Kreitz]

thats ridikerlus! I didnt see enny diference from 7 days to 31. I think this guy is kiddin hisself. Almost all my beers is carbonated inna week, maybe 10 days at the outside.

It makes a huge difference in mine. Here's one on mine that conditioned for three weeks, then cold-aged for a few more:

 

[KayaBrew]

Most of mine need 3-4 weeks to start getting good. I've had crazy German style head with the "upside down snow storm" as craigtube calls it in 11 days flat! But the flavors didn't catch up till a couple weeks later. So remember,you're not just waiting on the carbonation,you're waiting for the flavors to mingle & mature as well!!!

I could go for some "crazy German-style head". I wonder if my wife would be okay with that....

edit: ooooh! 1,400th post! What do I get? Crazy, German-style head? I'll take it!!