Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: grinling on December 19, 2011, 21:38

Title: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: grinling on December 19, 2011, 21:38

Finally bottled up the first batch. I am using plastic corks from wilkinson, but they are popping off. Why and what should I do. :wacko:

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: DD. on December 19, 2011, 22:11

Now, it's a few years since I did home brew, but I think the reason is that the seal between the cork and the bottle is too good, so that when the cork is forced in, the air in the bottle is compressed and that pops the cork out again.

One trick I read and found effective was to put a length of cotton between the bottle and cork when you put the cork in. This creates a very small gap for the air to escape. After a minute or so, pull the cotton out. Voila!

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: grinling on December 19, 2011, 22:24

Thanks, have now cottoned the bottles :blink:

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: teamspotty on April 16, 2012, 21:25

Is it still fermenting?

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: grinling on April 19, 2012, 11:23

I had used a campden tablet in the demijohn, but have found the cotton string is working.

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: stompy on April 20, 2012, 09:44

Have you left the cotton in?
If so it will let air in as well as out!

A Campden tablet won't stop the wine, it just knocks the yeast right back, you also need to add potasium sorbate too.
The CT slows the yeast  and the Potasium sorbate is a none fementable sugar so stops the yeast from reproducing and creating more Co2.

Title: Re: Plastic corks not staying in
Post by: grinling on April 20, 2012, 13:56

Thanks for that will add to the DJ.