# Issues with bottles. **URL:** \ **Category:** Brewing Processes\ **Created:** [February 29, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577 "2016-02-29T17:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/1 "2016-02-29T17:14:10Z")
Hello I am having some problems with my bottling.  When I bottle everything seems fine.  I use the exact priming sugar that my volume calls for or 1 carbonation Drop per bottle.  On several bottle of the batch I get geysers when I open them.  There aren’t any off flavors in the beer either.  It has happened on several different batchs and different styles of beer ---
**Author:** ![mainebrewer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/mainebrewer/32/19_2.png) [@mainebrewer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/mainebrewer)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/2 "2016-02-29T17:28:36Z")
Not sure what kind of carbonation drop you are using, but if it’s the ones that look like a cough drop, I never had good luck with them. Pretty much every time I used them, every bottle was over carbed. Using the carb drops are you finding that only some of the batch is overcarbed? As far as the priming sugar, are you finding all bottles are over carbed or just some? If just some, then it’s likely that the sugar is not getting evenly mixed into the beer prior to bottling. ---
**Author:** ![euge](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/euge/32/5060_2.png) [@euge](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/euge)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/3 "2016-02-29T17:59:55Z")
Perhaps you are accidentally putting more in one bottle and not realizing it. I’d do one at a time: drop carb tab and cap and then on to the next. I can see where- say, dropping the tabs in a rapid succession to several cases of bottles might end up with an extra drop in one or two. Or it may be infection. Off flavors don’t necessarily have to occur with an infection. A stubborn wild yeast can leave a beer tasting muted, lacking in body and overcarbonated. Degradation but no off flavors. ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/4 "2016-02-29T19:03:20Z")
> [@mainebrewer](#): > > Not sure what kind of carbonation drop you are using, but if it’s the ones that look like a cough drop, I never had good luck with them. Pretty much every time I used them, every bottle was over carbed. Using the carb drops are you finding that only some of the batch is overcarbed? > As far as the priming sugar, are you finding all bottles are over carbed or just some? > If just some, then it’s likely that the sugar is not getting evenly mixed into the beer prior to bottling. It is the ones looking like a cough drop.  And it’s only some of the bottles. ---
**Author:** ![kramerog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/kramerog/32/19_2.png) [@kramerog](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/kramerog)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/5 "2016-02-29T19:44:27Z")
Have you considered adding a boiled sugar solution to the entire batch and then bottling?  The carbonation should be more even between bottles. ---
**Author:** ![flars](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/flars/32/10286_2.png) [@flars](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/flars)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/6 "2016-02-29T20:55:41Z")
I would suspect a dirty bottle was filled when you are using the carbonation drops and still get geysers.  What is your bottle cleaning and sanitation regime? ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/7 "2016-03-01T00:06:16Z")
> [@flars](#): > > I would suspect a dirty bottle was filled when you are using the carbonation drops and still get geysers.  What is your bottle cleaning and sanitation regime? I wash the bottles in mild dish washing liquid and as hot water as I can stand.  The about 10 min before I bottle I hit it with a dosage of star san.  Then bottle and drop a carb drop in and cap ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/8 "2016-03-01T00:08:52Z")
> [@kramerog](#): > > Have you considered adding a boiled sugar solution to the entire batch and then bottling?  The carbonation should be more even between bottles. When I do 2.5 gallon or larger batches. I take my Corn sugar and mix it with a small amount of water and heat it to boiling > [@matt.ballard.587](#): > > > [@mainebrewer](#): > > > > Not sure what kind of carbonation drop you are using, but if it’s the ones that look like a cough drop, I never had good luck with them. Pretty much every time I used them, every bottle was over carbed. Using the carb drops are you finding that only some of the batch is overcarbed? > > As far as the priming sugar, are you finding all bottles are over carbed or just some? > > If just some, then it’s likely that the sugar is not getting evenly mixed into the beer prior to bottling. > > It is the ones looking like a cough drop.  And it’s only some of the bottles. > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![flars](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/flars/32/10286_2.png) [@flars](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/flars)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/9 "2016-03-01T00:48:03Z")
> [@matt.ballard.587](#): > > > [@flars](#): > > > > I would suspect a dirty bottle was filled when you are using the carbonation drops and still get geysers.  What is your bottle cleaning and sanitation regime? > > I wash the bottles in mild dish washing liquid and as hot water as I can stand.  The about 10 min before I bottle I hit it with a dosage of star san.  Then bottle and drop a carb drop in and cap > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Do yo inspect each one of the bottles after cleaning?  Unless you scrub with a brush a speck of gunk harboring bacteria can still remain in the bottle. ---
**Author:** ![duboman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/duboman/32/5890_2.png) [@duboman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/duboman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/10 "2016-03-01T00:56:21Z")
Are you measuring your actual final bottling volume? Are you weighing out the priming sugar based on this volume? I’m not a fan of the carb drops, find them to be hit or miss. Also as mentioned, are you sure the bottles are clean and sanitized? Also, how long are you chilling the bottles before opening them? ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:30am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/11 "2016-03-01T01:30:39Z")
> [@flars](#): > > > [@matt.ballard.587](#): > > > > > [@flars](#): > > > > > > I would suspect a dirty bottle was filled when you are using the carbonation drops and still get geysers.  What is your bottle cleaning and sanitation regime? > > > > I wash the bottles in mild dish washing liquid and as hot water as I can stand.  The about 10 min before I bottle I hit it with a dosage of star san.  Then bottle and drop a carb drop in and cap > > > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk > > Do yo inspect each one of the bottles after cleaning?  Unless you scrub with a brush a speck of gunk harboring bacteria can still remain in the bottle. I do examine each bottle, if it has anything In it it goes back into the wash. ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/12 "2016-03-01T01:31:29Z")
> [@duboman](#): > > Are you measuring your actual final bottling volume? Are you weighing out the priming sugar based on this volume? I’m not a fan of the carb drops, find them to be hit or miss. Also as mentioned, are you sure the bottles are clean and sanitized? Also, how long are you chilling the bottles before opening them? > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk When I do batches of 2.5 gallons or more I do use Corn sugar based on the volume at the time of bottling ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/13 "2016-03-01T01:32:12Z")
> [@matt.ballard.587](#): > > > [@duboman](#): > > > > Are you measuring your actual final bottling volume? Are you weighing out the priming sugar based on this volume? I’m not a fan of the carb drops, find them to be hit or miss. Also as mentioned, are you sure the bottles are clean and sanitized? Also, how long are you chilling the bottles before opening them? > > > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk > > When I do batches of 2.5 gallons or more I do use Corn sugar based on the volume at the time of bottling > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk I chill them at least 4  hours before I drink them, if not 1 to 2 days ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/14 "2016-03-01T01:41:53Z")
Is fermentation done before you bottle?  It could take weeks depending on things like temperature, oxygenation, and yeast pitching rate.  Also, if you transfer to a secondary after one week like the old brewing texts say to, that can stall fermentation. ---
**Author:** ![duboman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/duboman/32/5890_2.png) [@duboman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/duboman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 2:03am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/15 "2016-03-01T02:03:08Z")
> [@narvin](#): > > Is fermentation done before you bottle?  It could take weeks depending on things like temperature, oxygenation, and yeast pitching rate.  Also, if you transfer to a secondary after one week like the old brewing texts say to, that can stall fermentation. +1 and I’d also add that 4 hours is not enough time to properly chill, I’d say more lime a couple to a few days would be better to sure ---
**Author:** ![matt.ballard.587](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3be4f8/32.png) [@matt.ballard.587](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/matt.ballard.587)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/16 "2016-03-01T11:02:29Z")
> [@duboman](#): > > > [@narvin](#): > > > > Is fermentation done before you bottle?  It could take weeks depending on things like temperature, oxygenation, and yeast pitching rate.  Also, if you transfer to a secondary after one week like the old brewing texts say to, that can stall fermentation. > > +1 and I’d also add that 4 hours is not enough time to properly chill, I’d say more lime a couple to a few days would be better to sure > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk I transfer the beer to a secondary 4 days after lack of activity.  So if what activity had stopped after 7 days, then 4 to 7 days later it will go into secondary for at least 2 weeks ---
**Author:** ![duboman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/duboman/32/5890_2.png) [@duboman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/duboman)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 12:50pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/17 "2016-03-01T12:50:24Z")
> [@matt.ballard.587](#): > > > [@duboman](#): > > > > > [@narvin](#): > > > > > > Is fermentation done before you bottle?  It could take weeks depending on things like temperature, oxygenation, and yeast pitching rate.  Also, if you transfer to a secondary after one week like the old brewing texts say to, that can stall fermentation. > > > > +1 and I’d also add that 4 hours is not enough time to properly chill, I’d say more lime a couple to a few days would be better to sure > > > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk > > I transfer the beer to a secondary 4 days after lack of activity.  So if what activity had stopped after 7 days, then 4 to 7 days later it will go into secondary for at least 2 weeks > > Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk Are you checking gravity or simply going by airlock activity? If not checking gravity to verify the beer is done you might be racking too soon. Best to let the beer completely finish in primary. Unless you are adding fruit or oaking the beer there really is no need to use a secondary. ---
**Author:** ![euge](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/euge/32/5060_2.png) [@euge](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/euge)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/18 "2016-03-01T15:35:31Z")
If it’s only happening with some of the bottles address your cleaning and inspection process. If it was incomplete fermentation in primary/secondary they all would exhibit the same geysering. Based on the data you’ve provided. If you find it hard to accept that is the bottles… well it’s an internet diagnoses. 🙂 Rinse those bottles completely and dry upside down to drain every time you open one. Then use a brush if there is any remaining debris. Crap will grow inside that you won’t even see if you have a poorly rinsed bottle. Also if you have a dishwasher with a sanitize feature it is really great for prepping the bottles for filling. ---
**Author:** ![Indy574](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/indy574/32/9436_2.png) [@Indy574](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Indy574)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/19 "2016-03-02T02:04:04Z")
I would suspect dirty bottles as well. It has happened to me and I’m real anal on my sanitation. I would hold the empty bottles up to the light and see if any gunk is still in there. 22oz bomber bottles are a real PITA for me cause the bottle brush doesn’t make great contact toward the transition at the neck. ---
**Author:** ![kgs](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/kgs/32/20835_2.png) [@kgs](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/kgs)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/issues-with-bottles/22577/20 "2016-03-02T03:09:19Z")
> [@Indy574](#): > > I would suspect dirty bottles as well. It has happened to me and I’m real anal on my sanitation. I would hold the empty bottles up to the light and see if any gunk is still in there. 22oz bomber bottles are a real PITA for me cause the bottle brush doesn’t make great contact toward the transition at the neck. I agree. OP wrote, “I wash the bottles in mild dish washing liquid and as hot water as I can stand.  The about 10 min before I bottle I hit it with a dosage of star san.” In my experience, what really cleans bottles is an oxygen-based cleaner such as Oxiclean or the equivalent (TJ’s, Safeway, and Whole Foods carry them) dissolved in warm water, time (sometimes I soak for weeks… I love washing bottles!), a bottle brush, a strong jet-wash rinse, and an inspection of each bottle for gunk. The oxygen-based cleaner (or PBW, etc.) aggressively scrubs away junk that dishwashing liquid won’t touch. I also soak bottle caps in StarSan right before bottling and make sure I sanitize the bottling tree. I did also wonder, but this may be way off-base, if the dishwashing liquid was leaving a film that sudsed up later. But it sounds like dirty bottles.