My bottling adventure

[mjking77]

When I bottled my beer on Sunday I had an interesting time.

I was all set to do it by myself, when SWMBO decided that she would like to help me. So I said, okay.

So the set-up was that I was going to fill the bottles and then she would cap them. Well, on the fourth bottle that she was capping, the capper broke.

So, I get a little upset and frusterated. (Not at her but at the situation.)

Then we start thinking of what we are going to do. Both of my local HBHS are closed on Sundays.

I come up with the best idea I can think of. I unscrewed the capping bell from the capper and used a hammer to tap all the caps on the bottles.

All the caps seem to be on tight enough. I guess only time will tell.

Well, what do you all think? Did I totally mess up my first batch of beer?

 

[todd_k]

Turn the bottles upside down. Do they leak?

 

[zoebisch01]

I think if you used the hammer, it might work in a pinch...but I would get a new capper ASAP and go over each one. The sooner the better, so you don't lose carbonation. One thing you can do, is put them in a colder place (50's) to slow down the carbonation. (I bottle and then just move them to the basement, it takes at least over a week to fully carbonate). It is by no means ruined. At worst you'll have under-carbed beer. As for the wife wanting to help, this is a very good thing! It is awesome she is even interested, which for many homebrewers it is just the opposite.

rdwhahb!

 

[Onescalerguy]

Good save!
Cheers

 

[mjking77]

Turn the bottles upside down. Do they leak?

None leaked when I turned them over. I tried that right after I capped them.

 

[SteveM]

I have a plastic capper but I don't trust it - I am convinced it will eventually break, but almost everyone I know who brews has the same one.

 

[mjking77]

I have a plastic capper but I don't trust it - I am convinced it will eventually break, but almost everyone I know who brews has the same one.

Mine was a Red Baron plastic two-handled capper. It didn't seem cheap. Maybe I just got one that had some sort of defect.

I plan on getting a bench capper before I bottle my next batch. I think that it will be a little more reliable.

 

[redpale]

When you say the capper 'broke' - how so? Did the lever arms break or something else irreparable. or did one of the metal gripping plates just slip out of its housing?

I ask that because I have the same capper and that happened to me on my last batch (only about three bottles into it - and i was by myself). I almost panicked til i realized I could just slide the plate back in and snap it into place. IF that is what happened, just be aware that the plate has two semi circular cutouts- one on either side- that may seem identical in size but are not. I broke the next bottle neck because when I replaced it I had the plate reversed and had two mismatched sides as a result.

 

[mjking77]

When you say the capper 'broke' - how so? Did the lever arms break or something else irreparable. or did one of the metal gripping plates just slip out of its housing?

I ask that because I have the same capper and that happened to me on my last batch (only about three bottles into it - and i was by myself). I almost panicked til i realized I could just slide the plate back in and snap it into place. IF that is what happened, just be aware that the plate has two semi circular cutouts- one on either side- that may seem identical in size but are not. I broke the next bottle neck because when I replaced it I had the plate reversed and had two mismatched sides as a result.

Yes, one of the level arms broke into two pieces. Not worth fixing even if I could IMO.

 

[redpale]

Yes, one of the level arms broke into two pieces. Not worth fixing even if I could IMO.

ouch. Yeah, that's a goner. What did SWMBO eat for breakfast that morning?!? j/k

I've been thinking about a bench capper. too. Maybe once I get my brew space set up in the basement (right now I just use the kitchen and kitchen table).

 

[thenatibrewer]

try to twist the caps, that is another way to check for the proper seal.

 

[CourtHouseBrewing]

If she can break a red plastic capper I would be careful of what else you let her handle. Yikes! I keep two cappers just in case.

 

[fbold1]

ouch. Yeah, that's a goner. What did SWMBO eat for breakfast that morning?!? j/k

I've been thinking about a bench capper. too. Maybe once I get my brew space set up in the basement (right now I just use the kitchen and kitchen table).

I bought a bench capper on ebay, looks like an antique, made of cast iron. Unbreakable!