Bottle Drying Tree

[StevenD (Slainthe) Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevenD (Slainthe)]

Hi Guys...

As an alternative to buying one of these plastic bottle trees, I thought of making one from a post of wood with angled dowels on which to hang the bottles.

Would this be a good alternative, or could I pick up issues with infection in the bottles due to the absorbency properties of the wood?

botle tree.JPG

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

Steven, wood is a no no, don't even use a wooden spoon.

I use these plastic crates you buy at Makro for R100. Hold 30 bottles.

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[SimonB Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close SimonB]

Bottle Drying Tree

Bryan

There would be a large number of top quality chefs that would counter your wood arguments.

Wood contains natural antibiotics which prevent bacterial infection (within the limits of normal hygiene).

That being said I'd not be inclined to use wood for anything beer related.

Stephen. If you wish I can build a copper dryer for you. Perhaps with a built in rinser.

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

So in other words, you agree.

[SimonB Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close SimonB]

So in other words, you agree.

Pretty much. But it's not based on sound reasoning

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

Pretty much. But it's not based on sound reasoning

But I didn't give any reasoning. Here's a few:

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter1-1.html

http://books.google.co.za/books?id=y...rewing&f=false

http://craftbeeracademy.com/basic-st...ewing-at-home/

I'm not taking the chance.

[StevenD (Slainthe) Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevenD (Slainthe)]

I had that feeling that wood may not be good in this case, but thought it best to check with you guys first...thanks.

Simon...I'll take a raincheck on the dryer/rinser for now, thanks, but as a matter of interest, you could PM me some details of the copper version (pics would be good if you have them, and a cost) or post them here if it's not a "state secret"

I still have to make the investment of getting some bottles, but I might just go for one of those plastic crates Bryan mentioned at the same time.

[Vuilbaard Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vuilbaard]

I use our dishwasher to sanitise my bottles. I generally only bottle about 19-20 liters at a time. I can pretty much get all the bottles into the botton rack. I remove the rack & use that as a bottle drier. If I get my timing right & pack the dishwasher before the wife can put dishes in, I start it in the morning & by the time I get home, the bottles are sanitsed, cool & dry.

[StevenD (Slainthe) Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevenD (Slainthe)]

With the dishwashers only spraying fine jets of water, can it be certain that these jets are reaching all the way into the bottles?

In all honesty, I'm a little sceptical about the use of the dishwasher for this type of intense cleaning requirement.

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

I won't use the dishwasher for the reason mentioned by Steven. Is the dishwasher dispensing rinse aid, wouldn't like that in my bottles? Assume you are not putting in detergent.

[SimonB Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close SimonB]

Bottle Drying Tree

The dishwasher should only be used as a sanitizer. Not a cleaner. This is a well established fact. A LOT of people on homebrewtalk sanitize their bottles this way

It is the steam during the drying cycle that does all the work

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

From John Palmer "Dishwashers can be used to sanitize, as opposed to sterilize, most of your brewing equipment, you just need to be careful that you don't warp any plastic items. The steam from the drying cycle will effectively sanitize all surfaces. Bottles and other equipment with narrow openings should be pre-cleaned. Run the equipment through the full wash cycle without using any detergent or rinse agent. Dishwasher Rinse Agents will destroy the head retention on your glassware. If you pour a beer with carbonation and no head, this might be the cause."

How do you run the cycle with no rinse aid? On ours you can't turn it off.

[StevenD (Slainthe) Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StevenD (Slainthe)]

'Rinse aid' sometimes comes as part of the detergent in dishwashers, especially those little block soaps that you are supposed to just throw into the machine. I think it has something to do with keeping the foaming effect of the detergent down.

[Bryan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bryan]

Ah yes I remember we tried those on a previous machine. For whatever reason we now use the rinse aid dispenser.