Botteling short/long neck

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Brandonhelvie, Feb 27, 2016.

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  1. Brandonhelvie

    Brandonhelvie Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2015 New York

    So, I'm about a 12 pack deep into my first batch of bottled homebrew. Being the frugal guy I am I bottled in beer bottles I had saved and cleaned (no screw tops obviously). All that I've had so far have been evenly carbonated with a decent retaining head. These have all been long neck bottles. The head space has all been relatively the same in thr bottle before pouring.

    I happened to grab a short neck sierra nevada type bottle last night and the head after being poured was about 2 inches thick, very very full and never receded. It was actually too much head I think. I drank it as usual and a second short neck gave the same results, thick head.

    Would bottles have anything to do with this? issue? I believe my beer was mixed well before botteling as every other beer has been consistent.
     
    #1 Brandonhelvie, Feb 27, 2016
  2. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    If you use a bottling wand, it could be that you have slightly less head space volume in the shorter bottles (because less of the wand's length fits in the bottle to displace the fill). While this could make for a slight difference in the behavior of the pour, I sort of doubt you would really notice. You'll have to report back when you try more of the Sierra Nevada bottles to see if the problem can be isolated to the bottles. One possible cause that does not have to do with the physics of the bottle is the cleanliness and sanitation of the bottles. If this one SN type bottle was not well sanitized, there could be a bottle infection, with wild microbes making excess CO2.
     
    #2 pweis909, Feb 27, 2016
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  3. sjverla

    sjverla Initiate (0) Dec 1, 2008 Massachusetts

    pweis is on the money. I use the short-neck bottles often and have never had any issues vs. long necks. I think the shorter bottles have marginally less head space, but the physics of pouring should be noticeably different. I'd bet cleaning and/or sanitation issues.
     
    #3 sjverla, Feb 27, 2016
  4. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    How much priming sugar did you use? We're the bottles are carbed for the same exact time period then put in the fridge at the same time or are you leaving 6 packs at room temp and putting in the fridge as you drink new room in the fridge open?
     
    #4 jbakajust1, Feb 27, 2016
  5. Brandonhelvie

    Brandonhelvie Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2015 New York

    I can't recall the amount of sugar used, it was an extract kit. I know, I should have taken notes. All the beer has been stored in the same location for the same amount of time. When I take them out and refrigerate them they are all in there to same amount of time as well.

    Like the phrase "drank more room in the fridge"..going to have to use that on my wife "I drank more room, have to get beer to fill it."
     
    #5 Brandonhelvie, Feb 27, 2016
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  6. Brandonhelvie

    Brandonhelvie Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2015 New York

    I'll have to keep drinking the short necks and see if it changes. I sanatized everything well, pretty specific and attentive to cleaning and sanatizing but doesn't mean I didn't slip on one or two.
     
    #6 Brandonhelvie, Feb 27, 2016
  7. FeDUBBELFIST

    FeDUBBELFIST Pooh-Bah (1,765) Oct 31, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Was there any difference in the temperature of the beer when you poured each type? A warmer beer will produce a large head, though I don't think the retention would be affected.
     
    #7 FeDUBBELFIST, Feb 27, 2016
  8. geezerpk

    geezerpk Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2010 South Carolina

    The only issue I've heard of with the short neck bottles is some cappers have a problem with them due to their shoulders being closer to the top. I use a wing capper that works pretty well with all sizes, but others could present a problem.
     
    #8 geezerpk, Feb 27, 2016
  9. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Did you fill all of your long neck bottles first, then the short ones? If so, what you are describing indicates the possibility that a little more of the priming sugar was left in the last amount of beer in the bottling bucket and the short bottles will exhibit greater carbonation. Maybe not to the point of gushers, but noticeable.

    If you filled all of the short ones first, well I don't have any explanation for that.
     
    #9 PapaGoose03, Feb 27, 2016
  10. Brandonhelvie

    Brandonhelvie Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2015 New York

    It was a mix and match all the way through botteling, that's why I can't wrap my head around why a drastic change. The taste is the same so I guess it's just an astetics thing. The head space was the same on the long necks and the shorts while botteling as well. Well, not exact as using a bottle wand but close.

    I appreciate all the help! The reason why Im on here often! Guess I'll just drink them up and see what happens and then on to the second batch this weekend!
     
    #10 Brandonhelvie, Feb 27, 2016
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