Spoiled batch

[ZSK]

I just poured 43 bottles of Nut Brown Ale, with one pound of honey down the kitchen sink. What a bitch.....
The horrible liquid in the bottles smelled like old, rancid baled beans and was cloudy. I'm guessing I failed to properly sanitize something in the bottling process. Anything else I need to consider?
I'll just have to drink another Sleemans to get over this............

[brewmonkey]

Did you try some from random bottles or did you just toss them? I had an issue once where it was individual bottles and not the whole batch.

Did you happen to notice any "rpoes" floating in the beer when you poured it?

[adbachtell]

I'm sorry for your loss. Just when you think filling 43 bottles is a long time. I can imagine draining 43 is even longer.

[orb]

Yep, a bitch. I have found the most important ingredient in a batch of beer is bleach...and handwashing. Everything I use that touches beer sits in a 24 hour strong bleach solution, rinsed well just prior to use with the hottest water you can stand...including caps. Wash and rinse your hands with hot soapy water before you touch anything (dont wipe your hand on your pants,shirt or dish towel). Cover sanitized vessels soon to be used with Tin foil.
Watch for airborne gunk ( Dogs/cats/kids running through room at rack time) Better luck next time. Also, if you are using liquid yeast (the best) wipe the envelope and scissors with bleach and let dry so you don't drag bacteria into the yeast package.

[orb]

Use High proof alcohol in your airlock in case of "suckdown"

[ZSK]

I sampled randomly and all were bad. I use One Step for sanitation and have never had a problem, so I probably missed something. I'll try the alcohol in the airlock. Never thought of that, but it could be an issue. I didn't see any ropes, it was very cloudy and as I said it was STINKY. Thanks to everyone for your help.

[bigmf]

At least you can tell your freinds that you cracked 43 bottles of beer in one night!

M.

[brewmonkey]

Originally posted by orb
Use High proof alcohol in your airlock in case of "suckdown"

This can be avoided (suckdown that is) by allowing the wort to cool to within a few degrees of ambient temps. When something is enclosed and warmer then the surronding air, it creates a vaccuum and that is what happens. The alcohol is a great thing though just in case. Use cheap vodka and no worries. Viaka is the cheapest I found and works. You can also put some in a spray bottle for use in the "brewhouse" and is handy when needed for things like pitching yeast or spraying down the mouth of the carboy before you put the airlock back in.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by adbachtell
I'm sorry for your loss. Just when you think filling 43 bottles is a long time. I can imagine draining 43 is even longer.

I learned a neat trick for this, try it:

Fill a 22 oz bottle with water. Turn the bottle upside down(over the sink :)) and then swirl the water in the bottle to make a tight whirlpool. The water practically shoots out of the bottle. It's faster than the regular "glug-glug" pour. A vacuum isn't created inside the bottle because air is pulled in through the center of the whirlpool.

[paul84043]

Those "S" shaped airlocks will bubble in both directions, but are a bit more difficult to clean. I ordered a few of them the last time I bought a kit and they're pretty cool.
I also fill my airlocks with Vodka.

That SUCKS to dump a batch, I had to do it once myself.

I use Star San and swear by it. Never had a problem with it.

[orb]

You may just need an exorcist...Like the flu virus, shit floats around unseen to the naked eye...the wrong bug in the wrong place while making beer or getting a root canal can make everything go South.....Suck it up, try again.

[OldHooky]

I had to pour out about 1/2 a batch of beer because they became dangerous to open. I bottled too soon and had consumed about a case before they became unmanagable. I literally had to open them in a sink full of water to avoid injuring myself. I'm just glad that it wasn't my favorite batch.