16 replies to this topic

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Naturally carbing some bottles for long term storage. What says the board?

[ANUSTART]

How much O2 does it take to oxidize a beer? There's not much headspace in there. Wouldnt the yeast be eating up some of that O2? It seems like extra effort for little to no gain. I've never had oxidized bottle conditioned beers.

[JReigle]

I voted no. I've never used them and routinely drink my bottled beer that is 2+ years old and still tastes quite good, no noticeable oxidation. Then again, if you don't mind the additional cost I don't see the harm.

[DaBearSox]

I voted no. I've never used them and routinely drink my bottled beer that is 2+ years old and still tastes quite good, no noticeable oxidation. Then again, if you don't mind the additional cost I don't see the harm.

+1

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

One of my LHBS I get them ~100 for $4.10

[BarelyBrews]

I voted NO, most the stuff i used to bottle would not stay around for more than six months anyhow. So really i could of picked a DON'T Know option.

[consumptionjunction]

I voted yes because I'm anal retentive and the option for something "better" is available.

[MtnBrewer]

How much O2 does it take to oxidize a beer? There's not much headspace in there. Wouldnt the yeast be eating up some of that O2? It seems like extra effort for little to no gain. I've never had oxidized bottle conditioned beers.

That's kind of how I always felt. On the other hand the cost differential is not much. Pretty much the only beers I bottle are meant for long storage so the O₂ absorbing caps are the only ones I use.

[ANUSTART]

When I read up on these a while back, my understanding was they are activated when they get wet. At the time I lived in Florida, where everything was wet all the time. How wet do they have to get before they are activated? Is it an on/off function, or will sorta wet sorta activate them, causing them to lose effectiveness if stored in a humid environment?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

When I read up on these a while back, my understanding was they are activated when they get wet. At the time I lived in Florida, where everything was wet all the time. How wet do they have to get before they are activated? Is it an on/off function, or will sorta wet sorta activate them, causing them to lose effectiveness if stored in a humid environment?

I don't think humidity would be enough. I think once wet they work for a couple of days to remove O2 - at least that's what I read on the intertubes.

[Frogman]

How much O2 does it take to oxidize a beer? There's not much headspace in there. Wouldnt the yeast be eating up some of that O2? It seems like extra effort for little to no gain. I've never had oxidized bottle conditioned beers.

+1 and voted no

[MtnBrewer]

When I read up on these a while back, my understanding was they are activated when they get wet. At the time I lived in Florida, where everything was wet all the time. How wet do they have to get before they are activated? Is it an on/off function, or will sorta wet sorta activate them, causing them to lose effectiveness if stored in a humid environment?

This could be wrong but as I understand it, the inside of the cap is coated with potassium sorbate. So it's not really a question of getting the caps wet to activate them but rather a question of getting the sorbate into solution in the beer.

[ANUSTART]

This could be wrong but as I understand it, the inside of the cap is coated with potassium sorbate. So it's not really a question of getting the caps wet to activate them but rather a question of getting the sorbate into solution in the beer.

Sorbate or KMETA? I thought sorbate was to kill yeast and potassium metibisulfite was to prevent oxidation.

[MtnBrewer]

Sorbate or KMETA? I thought sorbate was to kill yeast and potassium metibisulfite was to prevent oxidation.

Might be KMeta I don't really remember. I thought it was sorbate that was the anti-oxidant.

[ANUSTART]

Might be KMeta I don't really remember. I thought it was sorbate that was the anti-oxidant.

I'm not smart enough for all that, I'll just keg.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

From here: HBT

I know it's been a while since we discussed this, but James on Basic Brewing contacted the manufacturer to ask this very question to him. He said that sanitizing is absolutely no problem, because while the caps do absorb oxygen and are activated as soon as they get moist, it takes the caps several days to do their job, so a few minutes before getting crimped is OK. Seems like since this is the case, sanitizing them and letting them sit before shipping (or moving around at all really) would be the best way to go about using the caps. So BierMuncher, you're doing it the right way.

[gnef]

I bought mine in bulk a few years ago, so I have well over 2k left, maybe still around 3k. For the cost, I don't see why not to use them. I still don't like bottling, but when I do, I want to make sure it will be good, so I also have a bench capper which makes things easier when bottling from the keg.