Help needed

[damian44]

Hey guys. I've been getting a few bottles with gunk on the inside of the lid. Does that mean there infected? I hope not, as ive drank 3 cases. They are all head when poured as well. Thanks.

[Chris]

I'm assuming they taste fine as you've already drank 3 cases, so I wouldn't worry.

What does the gunk look like? And are you by any chance storing your bottles on their side?

[damian44]

Hi Chris. To tell you the truth, they didnt tast the best. But they tasted better than VB and the likes. The gunk on the lid is sort of like mould, slimy and dark.
The bottles were definatly stored standing up.
A couple in each case were OK, leading me to think maybe the caps were already infected. Thanks.

[Biernut]

Damien when I was bottling I always put my caps which were second hand screw tops in a bowl of sterilizer, never had a problem. I never used a capper as all my stubbies were screw tops. I guess the bottom line is, even if you are using new caps dunk em in some sterilizer for a while.

[Chris]

Slimy and dark is a problem. That isn't yeast or other harmless deposits.

Sounds like a case of mould. From what you've described, I wouldn't be drinking them.

[warra48]

Damien when I was bottling I always put my caps which were second hand screw tops in a bowl of sterilizer, never had a problem. I never used a capper as all my stubbies were screw tops. I guess the bottom line is, even if you are using new caps dunk em in some sterilizer for a while.

You can crown cap screwtop stubbies. I do it all the time, but I do use a Superautomatica capper.
I use new crown caps, and don't bother to sanitise them, as I use them straight out of the packet.

Sounds to me that you have an infection issue related to the second hand screw tops. I'll bet some of the original beer left some minute residue under or at the edge of the plastic seal inside the crown cap, which a soak in steriliser wasn't able to resolve.

For the sake of a couple of cents a stubbie, save yourself the possibility of infections, use new caps and a capper.

[rwh]

I use new caps and still sanitise them by dropping them in some iodophor solution. Then I just shake the iodophor off and cap straight away. Superautomatica here too. Well worth the investment.

[Boonie]

+1, sterilise. I do mine in hot sterilising solution and then rinse off.

Mould !! Crikey.....I would not drink them.....you'll become very Ill if you keep drinking them.

[Chris]

Back in the bottling days... I would wash my bottles using the good old bottle washer and one shot, and when finished, just put the caps into the bottle washing water. Saved making up two sanitising solutions.

[PaulSteele]

+1 sanitising and superautomatica

Can't go wrong there

[nath76]

I used a hand capper for my first ever brew........and it was the last time I used it,them things are lethal. I've used a superautomatica since and no dramas,I also clean my new caps.

[James L]

never ever sterilised my caps... never had an infection... if they look clean, chances are they are...

if you store them well (out of the wet and sun), i dont see any chance of mould production.

just make sure you wash your hands before bottling (which is what you should do anyways), and make sure you only touch the sides of the caps, all should be fine...

[rwh]

if you store them well (out of the wet and sun), i dont see any chance of mould production.

Ever heard of cockroach nymphs? Those things can get anywhere. That's why a little dip in iodophor can't do any harm, and might just do some good.

[James L]

cockroach nymphs? sounds rude..

never heard of them... but i see where you are coming from... no harm in being vigilant

[Chris]

I love my nymphs. Nothing to do with cockroaches though...

[damian44]

Thanks guys. Ill definatly be sanitizing my caps, from now on.
I have a superautomatica as well. I also have a bottle tree, which is awsome aswell if using 375ml bottles.http://www.countrybrewer.com.au/category69_1.htm
Yeah i tipped the last case.

[drtom]

+1 superautomatica
+1 bottle tree

I stopped sanitizing my caps after some went rusty. On the inside. Thinking about it, it is possible that they were ones that I had had in sanitizer previously, and then put in again. The chance of rust would be low inside the bottle because of the lack of oxygen.

T.