From: jdecarlo@mitre.org (John DeCarlo)
Subject: Re: Questions for anyone...  Anyone?
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean  VA
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 13:57:57 GMT

In article <1992Sep15.094556.1@kean.ucs.mun.ca>
 sstrong@kean.ucs.mun.ca writes:

>1) If bottles are going to explode, when will this occur after
>botteling? (or does this depend on amt of fermentables left etc...)

When the pressure in the bottle is too great for it to contain it.  This 
will depend on yeast activity or infection activity.  For example, there was 
a rash of bad Edme yeast packets that resulted in gushers and even exploding 
bottles months later--some infection ate sugars that the beer yeast 
wouldn't, it just did it very slowly.

>2) I have never mixed the sugar for conditioning in solution before
>(always added to bottles).  How much can I get away with?  ie. I
>see 3/4 cup is common, is 1 cup too much?

Well, it depends.  1 cup is, IMHO, too much, but your bottles should handle 
it just fine if that's how much carbonation you want.

>3) On the use of a secondary, say after 5 days, how much difference
>will this make to my brew?  (I have never used a secondary before,
>will I see vast improvements in my brew?)

Advantages I have gotten:

1) Get fermenting beer off the trub quickly.  This definitely improved the 
taste of my beer.

2) Allow me to delay bottling an extra month or so if needed.

3) Let beer clear more--I don't have noticeable sediment in my bottles now.

>4) I have been using hopped malt extract and the equivalent amt. of
>corn sugar for my brews (following the receipe in the can).  Is it
>better to use some unhopped extract in place of the sugar, say
>half-half?  What will this produce (heaver beer)?

If you want a very simple recipe, use one can of a kit and add another can 
of unhopped malt extract.  I started that way and made very good beer for a 
beginner.

As to the type of beer, try it and see if you like it.  I have tasted beer 
made with sugar and found it far inferior to all-malt beers, but that is my 
taste.  It will generally taste more like it should--more like a bitter or 
more like a stout, for example.

>5) Botteling:  I bought some 1L plastic pop type bottles.  Are
>these any better/worse than recycable 341 mL beer botles?  Also, I
>have bee thinking about buying some of those 500 mL bottles with
>the cap attached (ceramic with rubber seal).  What are these called
>and are they very good, ie. offer any advantages other than no
>capping...?  (PS. is $1.80 cdn a good price for one of these 500 mL
>types)?

I like the 1 liter soda bottles--they make it easier to brink large 
quantities to a party, you know when they are carbonated, and you usually 
don't mind leaving them somewhere (since I just recycle the seltzer water 
bottles I buy).  I also use glass champagne bottles, but like to keep them 
for the next batch.  I would love to have all Grolsch-style swing-top 
bottles, but am too cheap to pay for them.  In the U.S., I occasionally find 
them at yard sales or the like for about $.25 each.

John DeCarlo, MITRE Corporation, McLean, VA--My views are my own
Fidonet:  1:109/131  Internet:  jdecarlo@mitre.org
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.brewing,alt.beer