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Cellar Problems or Evil Gnomes?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by supercolter, May 28, 2013.

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  1. supercolter

    supercolter Savant (1,232) Apr 19, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Ok, a couple of questions for you all. I have been cellaring beer for 3 to 4 years and have never had any issues. That is, until earlier this month. In the month of May, I have had 2 bottles explode in my cellar. One was an Imperial Stout and the other was a sour. My cellar is in a small contained area under my stairs and is at 60 degrees or less. All of the beers are on aluminum shelving or in boxes. One bottle exploded on the shelf and has been there for over a year. The other bottle was in a box and had only been there about 3 weeks. My line of thinking is one bottle is likely a coincidence, two in a month could be something more.

    Am I really just this unlucky or are there more precautions I'm not taking?
    Is there a list somewhere of bottles that have known glassware issues?

    Cheers and thank you for the help!
    Jeff
     
    #1 supercolter, May 28, 2013
  2. supercolter

    supercolter Savant (1,232) Apr 19, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    #2 supercolter, May 28, 2013
  3. salzar

    salzar Initiate (0) Dec 27, 2008 California

    Probably just bad luck, some glass bottles may have small flaws that reduce their strength. I have had a few random bottles of homebrew break at the seam around the base.
     
    #3 salzar, May 29, 2013
  4. supercolter

    supercolter Savant (1,232) Apr 19, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Alright, thanks. I've kind of been at a loss for explanations other than that, so I wanted to make sure there wasn't something I was doing wrong. I appreciate the response.

    Cheers, Jeff
     
    #4 supercolter, May 29, 2013
  5. podunkparte

    podunkparte Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2009 Washington

    Yeah, probably bad luck, but I've been experiencing similar evil cellar gnome phenomena too. I know it's known as a problem, but I had about 5 bottles of the latest Midnight Sun Berserker go sour from my cellar, but while reporting to my tasting group everyone would say "really? All my bottles have been great." Why is my cellar cursed and what ancient spell do I need to chant to reverse it?
     
    #5 podunkparte, May 29, 2013
  6. boilermakerbrew

    boilermakerbrew Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2010 Indiana

    My guess is that, since you are in Minnesota, you live on top of ancient Canadian burial grounds.

    But really, I think bad luck. And did the one in the picture have a bottom and a top/side blowout? I'm no materials engineer, but I would think that is extremely rare.
     
    #6 boilermakerbrew, May 29, 2013
  7. supercolter

    supercolter Savant (1,232) Apr 19, 2006 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Ha, yeah double-blowout. I don't think I want to taste THAT kind of rare though :wink:. The Canadian burial ground theory seems pretty sound though.
     
    #7 supercolter, May 30, 2013
  8. shutyourface

    shutyourface Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Washington

    this year's berserker is infected
     
    #8 shutyourface, Jun 1, 2013
  9. podunkparte

    podunkparte Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2009 Washington

    I know
     
    #9 podunkparte, Jun 1, 2013
  10. weaksauce

    weaksauce Initiate (0) Sep 2, 2010 Ohio

    Is it wide spread? I have not noticed anything off in 6 bottles or so. I opened one last month.
     
    #10 weaksauce, Jun 4, 2013
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