O2 Absorbing Bottle Caps

[Fenster]

My LHBS has all of the bottle caps in large bins out on the floor.
Are the O2 absorbing caps going to saturate from all of the contact with air?

 

[lapaglia]

No, they do not activate until they get wet.

 

[Brewmando]

No. They don't activate until you fill the bottle and tip upside down to moisten the cap liner. That is why you SHOULD NOT sanitize them. I use them right out of the bag and have never had a problem with infections.

 

[AnOldUR]

No, they do not activate until they get wet.

But you have to wonder about humidity. I'd rather see them in plastic bags for that and sanitation reasons.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

No. They don't activate until you fill the bottle and tip upside down to moisten the cap liner. That is why you SHOULD NOT sanitize them. I use them right out of the bag and have never had a problem with infections.

I'll agree that you should not sanitize more caps than you need. And I'd even advocate dipping each cap just bfore you crimp them on but, where oh where have you picked that one should so emphatically NOT sanitize the final link in the bottling process.

 

[Brewmando]

Not sanitizing the O2 caps came from my LHBS owner AND Forrest at Austin Homebrew Supply!! That was good enough for me

Off to work now.

 

[Whiskey]

I've used those caps for the first time on my last batch. They seem to work well, but several have left a rust stain around the mouth or the bottle, and there was a bit of rust on the cap it self. Odd.

 

[Fenster]

I've never used them, but I'm brewing a few batches I want to keep for a year, so I am considering them.
You're not the first I've heard mention rust with this type of cap...did you sanitize and if so, what did you use?

 

[Whiskey]

I've never used them, but I'm brewing a few batches I want to keep for a year, so I am considering them.
You're not the first I've heard mention rust with this type of cap...did you sanitize and if so, what did you use?

I knew ahead of time that these caps are liquid activated, so I just had a bowl of Star-san. I'd dunk the cap in the bowl, shake it off, then place on the bottle. They seem to work well beside the rust stain. Guess I'll see in a year when I break out the six pack I stashed away.