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Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:18 pm
by bpgreen
Whamolagan wrote:
Red Beerd wrote:How do you guys like those Grolsch swing top bottles for bottling by the way? I'm currently drinking a few to for research purposes only ;)
They are the best, you never have to worry about bottle bombs. If they get too much pressure, they vent.
That's what's supposed to happen, but I remember a picture somebody posted a few years ago of a bottle with the neck blown off. It never happened to me, and I once had a batch that was badly over carbonated, but it's possible.

One thing to remember is that since the bottles are green, they need to be kept out of uv light. I didn't mind that with my beer, but I got tired of drinking light struck beer to get the bottles. I used to use Fischer bottles. They have swing tops and are brown. But they're harder to find.

Exited to fix typo.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 1:54 pm
by Kealia
I have a number of those still in my closet. I love them for their size and unique shape. I haven't used them in quite a while, though - just because I rarely bottle anymore and those that I do bottle, I tend to give away.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 9:28 pm
by John Sand
A good source of bottles can be beer distributors. Here in NY, they are required to take back deposit bottles. A shed or back room may hold many cases. I already had a relationship with my local beer store when I started brewing. The manager let me take the bottles I wanted for the deposit, including many grolsch bottles.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 10:01 pm
by Red Beerd
Good to know John thank you.

For those of you that want to know.... I have now vented 5 times almost every day (the first week) since bottling. We are on what week 3? And i have left them alone for about a week. I cracked one to sample and it's really clear and the sweetness has fallen away. Tastes really good right now but I'm going to give it another week. I don't think they need anymore venting even though the plastic bottles I'm using are very hard. Still keeping them outside at room temp.

Loks like it's going to be good beer and I'd like to take the time to personally thank all of you that have helped me through the process. It's great to find a forum with so many supportive people. I also race cars and my forum for that is much more divisive! Any way I'll wait another week and show you how it turned out.

Also my second brew, which is a pale ale with lime juice and a bag of lime rind is now going into it's 3rd week in the Brewdemon fermentor. That's all thanks once again to you guys (my decision to do 3 and 4) and I'm excited to tell you all how that turns out.

Anyway I'd like to thank all of you for helping me out once again and I hope you will follow this thread to it's conclusion.

If I could buy or make you guys all a beer I would...

Cheers!

Red.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2017 10:10 pm
by Beer-lord
Red Beerd wrote: If I could buy or make you guys all a beer I would...

Cheers!

Red.
Glad things are looking better. I'm sure with time, you'll enjoy these.

But as for your semi-offer, I'm sure if you tried really hard.................... :muahaha: :party:

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 8:06 pm
by John Sand
Glad it's working out. A world of beer awaits.
These guys help me too. My other pastime is sailing, and those forums are not as friendly as this one either. This is The Friendliest Forum on The Web!

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:56 pm
by mashani
Hurray! You made :guzzle:

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 5:14 pm
by Red Beerd
Yeah! Still aging the Pilsner mistake but not having to vent them any more Beer - Lord and Mashani. They taste pretty good. My second batch, the Pale Ale with lime juice and peel is about to be 3 weeks in the fermentor. It's all good right now!

John Sand... I used to race Lazers as a kid. I love a good sail.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2017 8:21 am
by John Sand
Red, my boat is nearly as far from a laser as possible: a heavy cruising ketch (pictured<). If you are ever on Long Island, come for a sail.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 1:41 pm
by Whamolagan
What kind of cars do you race?

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2017 2:02 pm
by Red Beerd
I used to race Mazda MX-5's. (Miata). Fun little cars for sure.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:19 pm
by Red Beerd
Ok update for all of you... I bottled my second batch today after leaving it longer in the fermentor per all of your suggestions. In fact the pale ale with lime I made was in the fermentor for 4 weeks. It tasted really good flat (had a little sample)... Strong lime flavor gave way to a robust nutty finish. Beer looks very clear and is a reddish brown color. I bottled almost all of it in swing tops (thanks Grolsch) and have tucked it away in the dark and in boxes in case of explosion which was another suggestion of you guys. This time I batched primed in a bottling bucket. Again thanks to you lads!

I just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you that have helped me through my first couple of batches. I don't think I would have had the stones to batch prime without you and after doing it I have found it's really easy and actually speeds up the whole process. Here's to great beer hopefully!!!! And thank you again for all your awesome input.

Cheers!

RB

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:05 pm
by Inkleg
We are just paying it forward for all the help we've received along our own brewing journeys. We are glad we could help you out too.

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 12:39 am
by Kealia
And we'll be expecting beers when we arrive in SoCal.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Re: Hello from Long Beach CA

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2017 11:33 am
by Red Beerd
Haha! There will be plenty!