Big heads from Wherry kit

MrPasta · Post by **MrPasta** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 7:34 pm

Hi

This is my first post here. I've been lurking for a bit while I made my very first attempt a brewing a kit of Woodforde's Wherry.

It seemed to go OK but my problem is that I can't seem to pour the beer without it producing a huge head - when I say huge head I mean more than half the glass, no matter how carefully I pour. Any idea what might be causing this? All the bottles so far (about 7) have opened OK except one that fizzed over like a well shaken Champagne bottle when I opened it.

I syphoned the beer from my fermenting bin directly into beer bottles (each containing 1/2 teaspoon white granulated sugar) of varying shapes and sizes that I've collected of the last few weeks.

The beer seems to taste OK and looks fairly clear.

I've got a kit of Sherwood Ale Best Bitter lined up next (any tips on this one?) but I don't want to start brewing it until I know what's causing my big heads.

prolix · Post by **prolix** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:59 pm

I had the same problem with my kegs, tried loads of things, found best solution for me was to release all the co2 (squeeze the rubber values) regularly until conditioned so as not to have too much disolved and just add enough co2 to pour. I like only a little bit of co2 for mouth flavour. OK most people call it flat but ales not suposed to be fizzy

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:25 am

Make sure you've got the bottles well chilled before opening and that should help (say around 10Ã‚Â°C). You could also try pouring into a chilled and wet glass to help control the head when pouring just like they do on the continent with some of their 'frothy' brews.

oxford brewer · Post by **oxford brewer** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 8:45 am

Chill the bottles in your fridge MrPasta and when pouring tilt the glass so the beer doesnt froth up.

MrPasta · Post by **MrPasta** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:52 am

Thanks for the replies.

I've tried the wetting and tilting the glass when pouring but that didn't seem to make any difference.

I'll try putting a couple of bottles in the fridge and see if they calm down a bit. I thought perhaps I added too much sugar to the bottles before bottling, but I definately added the 1/2 teaspoon as per instructions.

thanks again

oxford brewer · Post by **oxford brewer** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:13 am

How long did you leave them after priming and at what temperature?
When priming I leave the bottles at 19-20c for a week then place somewhere cooler.This normally gives me a good level of carbonation and pours easily.

stevezx7r · Post by **stevezx7r** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:18 am

The other thing I would suggest is to decant a couple of bottles into a large (ish) container, the sort you would use for diluted pop for the kids (well, I do anyway). This way you can pour a bottle in, wait for the head to subside then add more etc. etc. Then drink.

CrownCap · Post by **CrownCap** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:22 am

Its possible that the primary fermentation hadn't quite finished when you bottled, hence the extra carbonation. Did you measure the final gravity MrPasta?

I've found that 1/2 tspn sugar (or equivalent) give a reasonable level of carbonation for most of the brews I've bottles so far. My Bavarian Pilsner could probably have done with a tad more and the Irish Stout a tad less. But none have been too far out and for an English style ale it seems to be spot on.

MrPasta · Post by **MrPasta** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:07 pm

Ah Oxford brewer. That's one problem I do have...

I left the bottles in a cupboard at about 20c. Unfortunately I don't have anywhere in the house that has a constant temperature much cooler than that where I can store 30+ beer bottles so I left them in my 20 degrees cupboard for about 4 weeks.

However my sister has recently moved house and now has a nice cellar which would seem ideal for storage.

nicktherockstar · Post by **nicktherockstar** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:23 am

as someone else who has no cool place (as cool as it gets in myhouse in the day is 20-23 in the spare room. what difference would it make to the final product if i could cool it.

as an idea i did have was to fill big tubs i have (you know the sort you put kids toys in and slide under the bed) with water and leave the bottles stood in that. i might set one up with no bottles in later and let it settle to check the temp it would be!

update: I filled some tubs up with water and put the pint bottles in in. shocker was I was expecting it to be too cold, however it was 19c in there, air temp is 23c today in the room so not a great deal of difference. hope it helps it along though

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Big heads from Wherry kit

Big heads from Wherry kit