Starting the siphon with your mouth, Dangerous?

[shootermcgavin7]

I certainly would NOT recommend the practice, but I ignorantly did it on my 2nd batch and it turned out wonderfully.

Of course, this is compared to the first batch which was mediocre.


I have since purchased an auto-siphon and likely just got lucky.

 

[TheSpoon]

Just so I'm certain what we are talking about here. Are you starting the siphon by sucking on the end of the tubing or blowing into the second tube from a carboy cap? From what I had seen somewhere the preferred method (assuming you don't own an autosiphon) was to blow (gently) on the longer part of the carboy cap.

 

[Chriso]

I use my spigots 99% of the time.

I had a non-spigoted bucket, though, and kept breaking the siphon, over and over. That time, I did the mouth technique, but I did like DubbelDach - shot of vodka first, swish thoroughly for 15 sec, spit, then start the siphon immediately without swallowing. After two or three shots of vodka, I got tired of that, and took shots of StarSan instead.

No infection, to my recollection, but I don't even remember which batch that was.

I use the spigots for everything since then. Siphons suck.

 

[WhyTee]

Just thought I'd add my two cents. I use a turkey baster. I've never had a problem with it and not that I could imagine ever breaking it but if I did I could always get another one within a matter of minutes.

 

[Germey]

I have an auto siphon now and like it for the other things it can do. I mouth siphoned for about 9 years though. I filled the tube with beer by sucking on the end with it above the top of the carboy, then clamp it. I kept a glass of near boiling water nearby (although starsan or liquor would be good too) an just submersed the end for about 10 seconds. Nice for restarting broken siphons, but the autosiphon is even better for that.
oh yeah, I've never had an infected batch in 12 years.

 

[chelero]

OK, I can't get an auto-siphon where I live, but I'll probably get one the next time I'm state-side. that being said, I bottled my first ever batch of beer yesterday, an IPA, and in the heat of the moment I couldn't get the siphon started! I tried filling the hose with water, but I guess I was doing it wrong, so I panicked and grabbed the vodka, swished it like a mofo, and gently sucked to get it started(jeez, that's what she said). there's gotta be a less gay way to talk about starting a siphon. my question is, should I be OK for washing my mouth with vodka first? I promise I'll never do it again!(I liked the turkey baster idea-doh! that's what she said) and I'm drinking all my beer anyway, no matter how it tastes! somebody tell me it's gonna be alright this time

 

[SumnerH]

OK, I can't get an auto-siphon where I live, but I'll probably get one the next time I'm state-side. that being said, I bottled my first ever batch of beer yesterday, an IPA, and in the heat of the moment I couldn't get the siphon started! I tried filling the hose with water, but I guess I was doing it wrong, so I panicked and grabbed the vodka, swished it like a mofo, and gently sucked to get it started(jeez, that's what she said). there's gotta be a less gay way to talk about starting a siphon. my question is, should I be OK for washing my mouth with vodka first? I promise I'll never do it again!(I liked the turkey baster idea-doh! that's what she said) and I'm drinking all my beer anyway, no matter how it tastes! somebody tell me it's gonna be alright this time

45 seconds of contact with 80% alcohol to sanitize. I'm guessing that your vodka is half that concentration even before it's in your mouth mixing with saliva, and that you swished for less time.

That said, you're probably okay--you won't know until they're carbed and you crack them open. People did this for years and much of the time had no problems--using good sanitation isn't the only way to get good results, but it helps move it from "much of the time" to "almost all of the time".

 

[llazy_llama]

Holy dead thread rezzing, Batman!

Chelero: you can't just order one from one of the online stores?

 

[chelero]

ll.ll. hey, I read the newbie tutorials and used the search function!! I was certain I couldn't have been the first person to have this happen. and nah, I'm down mexico-way, and we don't have that kind of selection from my LHBS, I'll ask though. and the mail doesn't really work that well, either.
sumnerH, thanks-you're right 40% alc vodka, i doubt i swished 45 secs, but it was a good 20 or so. ive been pretty meticulous with every other aspect, so I'm hoping it won't affect it too much. but, LESSON LEARNED, i won't be doing that again. I'll be practicing my siphoning skills ahead of time for the next batch-thanks for the help

 

[llazy_llama]

Ah, that explains it. I just assumed any LHBS would have one, but I guess I was wrong. It's a shame you can't just order online, but I'm glad at least someone was able to help you.

 

[chelero]

yeah it's a mexican homebrew store, so it's a little sparse, but I'll ask if he can get them, otherwise I'll get one the next time i go up to the states.

 

[Beau815]

My hands were full one time and i was lazy and what i did was put my mouth inside my shirt and the tube on the outside and inhaled a tiny bit and voila! I dont know if this is a good idea but def use it instead of getting your bacterial saliva on the hose.

 

[Rooster_P]

I don't know if it is any less dangerous, but i have a smaller piece of tubing that fits in the end of my siphon tube that I put my mouth on. As the beer get close to the the smaller tube, I pull the siphoning tube off the smaller one and drop the siphon tube into the bucket. I have had no problems doing this.

 

[chelero]

OK, here's a question,for those who may or may not have had this happen, IF the beer were to have been infected from this mistake/mishap, what could happen? how BAD might it taste? or is it going to affect the longevity/shelf life of the beer?

 

[BausFight]

OK, here's a question,for those who may or may not have had this happen, IF the beer were to have been infected from this mistake/mishap, what could happen? how BAD might it taste? or is it going to affect the longevity/shelf life of the beer?

From what it sounds like in this thread, it seems no one is 100% sure if it even contaminates the beer, just common sense speculation (which makes TOTAL sense given bacteria is bacteria). A few claims of soured beer but that doesn't mean it was from the siphoning.

I came across this thread because I did this with my first two batches and no problems, but this last batch I just did I was a little careless and it splashed my mouth and fell in the bucket. :\ We'll see in a few weeks.

 

[cvbjmk]

Siphoning with your mouth is a bad idea...I tried it with one of my first batches and ended up with a very plasticy off-flavor....It runs a very high risk of contaminating your beer and also oxidizing it, which are two things you don't want.

 

[Pkrd]

The worst that could happen is that you start siphoning 5 gallons and .. oops, sucked a bit much, hey, this is pretty good.....



Next thing you know you wake up with a headache SEVEN YEARS LATER.