foam in bottles

[flyzone13]

1397313973After bottling a couple gallons last night I noticed foam in a few of the bottles once they cooled down. How do I prevent that from happening?

[CampHamp]

Fill at an angle (like filling a glass off a keg) or go slower. A small stream at the end can pop out bubbles...

[Big_Eddy]

1397313973After bottling a couple gallons last night I noticed foam in a few of the bottles once they cooled down. How do I prevent that from happening?

The string of bubbles you show is caused by leaking lids. As the syrup cools, it shrinks and creates a vacuum, drawing air in through the leaking lid. When you see it, snug the lids down a tiny bit more. Be careful not to overtighten or you will strip the threads on the now hot lids and have to replace.

Some lids are worse than others. If only one or two are doing it, just snug them up and continue.

[Run Forest Run!]

There was a recent thread on this forum that discussed that problem. If I remember correctly, it was suggested that air was getting into the bottles through the caps. I think the problem was addressed by watching for small bubbles entering the bottles shortly after filling and then giving those caps a little extra tightening until the bubbles stop. See if you can find that thread. It might help you out a lot.

Edit: I see that Big Eddy has also chimed in. He knows his stuff so do what he says at all times. hahaha :)

[psparr]

Also stand them up soon after you lay them on their side to sterilize the lids.

[flyzone13]

I dont like hearing about the air leaking in, but it does make sense. I guess I will re-bottle those few.

[NTBugtraq]

So I am clear, you are saying that when you put the lid on there were no bubbles, but afterwards bubbles appeared?

The only time I get bubbles is while filling the bottles. I keep an olive spear (for martinis) handy to break the bubbles before I put the lids on. I've never had bubbles appear after the lid goes on.

[MaxJ]

I had the same problem with foam, I removed any that occurred while bottling and when I got this morning there was foam in a few bottles once again. I replaced a few leakers (air getting sucked in) and it seems that it's one piece caps that the supplier has this year. The caps that had the perforated security ring around the cap were great no leakers. I tried to tighten down the caps when they sucking air and they were tight, anymore I would of striped the thread.

[wnybassman]

I'm no detective, but it looks like the trail of bubbles is coming right from the cap.

[MaxJ]

Only one leaker tonight, tightened the cap, still a very fine line, did it again, and still a fine line coming in. I managed to get a bloody blister from screwing the brown caps down.

flyzone my foam wasn't anywhere close to the photo of your bottles. Defective caps maybe?

[flyzone13]

It must be defective caps, I bottle all of my bottles the same and again this morning I had another 6 bottles with the foam but the other 12 did not. I leave my bottles on there side until the have cooled, typically overnight, is that ok or should they be tipped back over after sterilizing the caps?

[Big_Eddy]

The usual method is to lay the bottles down for a few minutes to sterilize the caps, then stand them up. I bottle a whole batch and lay each one down, then date code the bottoms and stand them up.

Psparr and I were discussing yesterday if they seal better upright without the syrup "pushing out" on the liner. Maybe. Maybe not. But you won't get the trail of bubbles and foam if they are standing up while they cool.

[flyzone13]

The usual method is to lay the bottles down for a few minutes to sterilize the caps, then stand them up. I bottle a whole batch and lay each one down, then date code the bottoms and stand them up.

Psparr and I were discussing yesterday if they seal better upright without the syrup "pushing out" on the liner. Maybe. Maybe not. But you won't get the trail of bubbles and foam if they are standing up while they cool.

I may give that a go tonight when I bottle, I really hate re-bottling syrup, such a terrible waste. Thanks for the input.

[MidMichMaple]

It must be defective caps, I bottle all of my bottles the same and again this morning I had another 6 bottles with the foam but the other 12 did not. I leave my bottles on there side until the have cooled, typically overnight, is that ok or should they be tipped back over after sterilizing the caps?

When I left my glass bottles on their side overnight to cool, I had the same problem you are having, a trail of bubbles in almost all of my bottles. Someone in another thread suggested only leaving them on their side for 15 minutes and then standing them back up. I ended up re-bottling all of my glass bottles with new caps and this time I tried standing them back up to cool after 15 minutes. Also made sure they were good and tight. I didn't get any bubbles in any bottles this time.

Oh and also, these bubbles are different than the ones that form just from pouring hot syrup into a bottle. The bubbles that formed from leaky caps were NOT going to settle out or go away. Don't ask me how the science works, but those bubbles were permanent.

[MaxJ]

Well I was at main CDL store this morning and expressed my displeasure about the lids leaking. A few questions on what lids, what bottles and BINGO! I was sold the wrong caps for the type of bottle I purchased at another dealer that handles their supplies. The cap is too deep and it hits the ring around the neck, and won't seal properly.
This means that there are 25+ bottles of syrup that have to be rebottled because of somebody doesn't know that all caps are not the same. :mad:

[flyzone13]

I really dislike the caps that were sent along with the decanter bottles this year. They are plastic with the foil seal. Last year I got metal lids and never had an issue with them. When I order next time I will have to check into this and hopefully there is a selection to choose from.