Bottle Bombs and Geisers

[LouieMacGoo]

***WARNING: The following video contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some.***

In January I brewed a batch of beer that ended up with a much higher (12%) then expected and although I was confused by the big difference in ABV from the projected 7.5% I decided to bottle it and let it condition long term to see if it would help with the hot alcohol burn. A couple of weeks ago i discovered that 3 bottles had blown, 2 bombers and 1 -12 oz bottle. Last night While my wife was in the basement doing laundry when bottle #4 blew. The noise made all of my dogs jump and was followed by a stream of obscenities coming from the basement. Fortunately my wife wasn't close to the bottle when it blew but it did make quite the mess and basically confirmed that the whole batch was infected. After I cleaned up the basement I decided to remove any future risk of any more bottles exploding and causing more damage or possibly injuring anyone.

[Beer-lord]

Well that's just painful to watch! Sorry for your loss and I teared up a few times.
Did you taste any of them at all?

[LouieMacGoo]

Did you taste any of them at all?

Yeah I tried a few bottles over the last few months and I couldn't take more than a few sips of each bottle. I'm really bummed, and I just don't know what I did to have this bad of an infection.

[Beer-lord]

Sometimes its just kismet and a numbers game. I had a not so good batch though not infected, it has a mild off flavor that may be saved with time. Shyte just happens sometimes.

[BlackDuck]

Wow. Thar she blows!!


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[FrozenInTime]

That thar stinx, sorry. I have a batch of Rye Ale do that. Surprising, after the blow, what was left actually tasted ok. I drank a few but the though of them being infected, I eventually did what you did. I feel your pain man!

[mashani]

That was impressive.

I'm lucky that even with my Brett problems, although I've had foamers, I've never anything that did that as impressively. Just more of a slow foam pouring out the top. And I've always been able to drink them, they never tasted bad, just extra fizzy. Once I poured out the initial glass of foam, they always were pourable if I was careful. Haven't had it happen since I started to "semi open" ferment so that I see pellicle form at 10 days or so. I just know to bottle with less sugar when I see it.

Sorry for you loss.

[RickBeer]

Last summer I brewed a batch that got infected also. Blew out 33.8 oz PET bottles through the bottom. Big mess. Kept hoping it was limited to just a few bottles, but not so. Still have a bunch of 12 oz glass to go. No idea where I went wrong either. Lactobacillus gets worse as time goes on too.

Oh, I reported you to the beer police for destroying that much beer and laughing... LOL

[Inkleg]

Impressive Leigh, love the cascading sounds as it pours off the deck.
Sorry for the loss though.

[Dawg LB Steve]

The bombers were impressive fountains, going to have to open the one I have outside for sure.

[brewnewb]

That one at the 3:50 mark really shot out. It's a real gut punch that you have to clean all those bottles without even drinking any of the beer.

[Inkleg]

It's a real gut punch that you have to clean all those bottles without even drinking any of the beer.

I've had that happen with a batch years ago and put every bottle in the recycle bin. I know it's glass and can be cleaned and sanitized, but I didn't want to take anymore chances.

[LouieMacGoo]

It's a real gut punch that you have to clean all those bottles without even drinking any of the beer.

I've had that happen with a batch years ago and put every bottle in the recycle bin. I know it's glass and can be cleaned and sanitized, but I didn't want to take anymore chances.

I ended up putting them in the recycle bin too. Through my homebrew club I have access to all the bottles I need and these just weren't worth keeping. If I had another infection I would always be wondering.

[Whamolagan]

Technical tip.... Don't use mentos as an adjunct. Sorry for your loss

[Kealia]

Wow, I would have been worried about them shattering when I opened them. I would have had eye protection, gloves, etc. on just to be safe.

I'm not saying you should have, just that it would have been on MY mind.