Gushing IPA's

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Mag00n, Dec 19, 2013.

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  1. Mag00n

    Mag00n Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2008 New York

    I have made maybe ~8-10 homebrews at this point, most with partial mash. None of them have been gushers except my ipa's. Ive made 3 ipas and 2 of them have been gushers. The one that wasnt was my very first beer which was a lightly hopped pale/ipa. I know the main culprits for gushing are usually infection or early bottling but I feel Ive been vigilant on both ends and Im confused why my other brews have not had this issue. My routine for dry hopping is boiling the hop bag and floss, drop the hops in the bag, tie it with floss and drop it in.

    Everything gets oxycleaned immediately after use and starsan immediately before use. Bottles are kept clean and dishwashed with steam heat. OG is confirmed stable by hydrometer reading. Is there anything else I should consider or do I just to re evaluate my sanitation? Im thinking of bleach bombing all my equipment...
     
    #1 Mag00n, Dec 19, 2013
  2. OddNotion

    OddNotion Pooh-Bah (1,915) Nov 1, 2009 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Are you using a priming calculator? Also are you accounting for lower batch volume or adjusting to hit your volume from hop absorption both from more boil hops and the dry hops? There was a similar thread to this about a month ago, might be some good answers there too
     
    #2 OddNotion, Dec 19, 2013
  3. EricMc513

    EricMc513 Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2007 California

    I've noticed this with some of my hoppier (bottle conditioned) beers, as well. I assumed I had extra sediment / dry hop material carrying over and giving the beer more nucleation sites -- causing it to foam a little. Though I haven't noticed anymore sediment than usual. If your / our beer isn't infected, maybe it's just the nature of bottle conditioning hoppier beers?

    On that note, I am basing this off of little to no real logic. Heh heh ...

    I was carbing up to about 2.5 volumes and now aim for about 2.3. No foaming anymore.
     
    #3 EricMc513, Dec 19, 2013
  4. Longstaff

    Longstaff Initiate (0) May 23, 2002 Massachusetts

    #4 Longstaff, Dec 20, 2013
  5. jncastillo87

    jncastillo87 Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2013 Texas

    Personally when I brew IPAs or anything hoppy I never follow the suggested 3/4 cup priming sugar to 5 gallon recipes .. for one thing a high amount of carbonation will hide and sometimes kill great flavors in a beer. I use 1/2 cup with 5 gallon recipes and they turn out nice.. good head that stays down the glass but its not like champagne.. which tends to kill flavor in beers... just a thought.
     
    #5 jncastillo87, Dec 21, 2013
  6. beer272

    beer272 Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2009 New Jersey

    I use a vinator to sanitize with starsan on the bottles. Wonder how low the FG's got on the hopped beers. With no off tastes (infections) points to possibly FG. Do you secondary? post fermentation I do not sweat sanitation as much, especial higher ABV batches. So for dry hopping I wouldn't worry too much with the bag.
     
    #6 beer272, Dec 23, 2013
  7. Mag00n

    Mag00n Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2008 New York

    Thanks for the link. Yea this most recent one could possibly be infected. Not sure if its an off taste or just the carbonation killing the flavors. Def not as good as it was the first 2 weeks (first 2 weeks it was excellent). Will probably bleach bomb my equipment and try using less priming.
     
    #7 Mag00n, Dec 23, 2013
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