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What the heck was that?

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wing_nut

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
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Location
Piscataway, NJ
I was getting ready to chill the last few bottles of a batch of Pilsner and I noticed one of the bottles had what look like a stain running down the side. I wiped the bottle down and determined it was on the inside. Looking closer i noticed a couple of darker colored nodules in the sediment, maybe the size of a lentil. Not liking the looks of it I decided to pour it out. The bottle had not been shaken or jostled in any way but when I popped the top, a Grolsh bottle, it sounded like a champagne cork had been popped and all the beer in the bottle shot out like a geyser.

What was that all about? i am guessing nothing good.
 
Sounds like an infected bottle. If the rest of the batch so far has been fine, it's probably just one bad egg in the bunch. I wouldn't worry.

All it takes is a little bit of missed crud during bottle cleaning, and you wind up with an infected "gusher" like that one.
 
I agree with the above post. Also, since I noticed you're using a Grolsh bottle, double check the gasket for any cuts or cracks since those can harbor bacteria like nobodies business. :)
 
Infection, also sounds like that bottle didn't get washed very well. That "lentil" in the bottle sounds like a leftover "yeast slug".
 
When checking the gasket for nicks or cuts, also take it off and clean and sanitize both sides of the gasket and the ceramic/plastic part the gasket goes on.
 
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