Infection

[Brownbeard]

How likely is it that your brew will get infected in the bottle? I am thinking there would be alcohol there to keep most infections from popping up. Also, how long would it take for something like that to set in. Not worried for any particular reason, just paranoid.

[paul84043]

If it's going to get infected, it will probably happen early on in the process and simply continue even after the alcohol has been created. THe chances of it setting in later are reduced, but it's still very possible.
There are styles of beer that are actually infected intentionally to give them a very specific flavor profile, they are typically called lambics. They were fermented in open vessels and allowed to mix with all the natural bacteria and yeasts floating in the air.
I'm not sure what they do nowdays, I don't think they just tell you to leave your fermenter open, because that's not even a guarantee of an infection.

Infection is not the show stopper that you might think it is, the lambics are very citrusy and sour or tart, it's just a flavor completely different from what you were trying to obtain.
I threw out a batch that got infected once, but In hindsight, I really didn't have to, I could have continued on like normal and just had "mystery beer".
It's not going to hurt you, it just tastes very strong.

[mmmBeer...]

First…relax have a homebrew!

Second, not very likely. IMHO, you would have to try damn hard to get an infection while bottling, like not sanitizing your bottling vessel, racking cane, or leaving gunk/not sanitizing the bottles. Even then, the alcohol present in the beer should keep things clean from any minor infection.

Most of the problems I have read on the board have happened during primary. I pray to the beer gods that my luck continues, as I have never had an infection in the many many batches I have made. <<knocks on wood very hard>> (offers a beer the beer gods)

[brewmonkey]

While most infections do occur early in the primary fermentation (when nasties can overtake the yeast, which is why it is important to remember sanitation and to pitch a healthy starter). It is very possible to get a bottle infection, but it can all be avoided by taking care during the entire brewing process which includes packaging.

[S.F.B.]

As long as you are practicing good sanitation during the whole process, you'll be fine. If I were you, I would go drink some beer and not worry. :D

[Brownbeard]

Just tried one with dinner. Never mind. It was really good. It was not fully carbonated yet, but it had light carbonation. It had only been in the bottle 4 days. I will try another in a week.

[Beerconnoisseur]

During the Middle Ages, one of the reasons Germans brewed beer was because it was typically healthier to drink than most of the water available. Of course, at that time, micro-organisms, sanitation, etc. were not well understood.

It's no excuse to avoid sanitizing, but also don't over-sanitize, either. Just relax, don't worry, and you'll soon be enjoying a terrific homebrew!