losing fizz

June 4, 2012

Hello: our KT is very fizzy after 7 to 8 days in the tank, however after

bottling it loses its fizz by the next day.

I have read the files on fizzy and have already been doing all the suggestions.

Any other thoughts why it's losing its fizz?

Very frustrating, as it is delicious and fizzy right before bottling and then

goes completely flat in the bottle. Thank you,

June 5, 2012

Hi , sorry to hear about your flat KT. Are you using air tight bottles?

With only 8 days of fermentation there should be plenty of sugar left and it

should still ferment and generate co2 in the bottle (building up a good fizz).

The cap keeps the co2 in and it dissolves into carbonic acid, giving that

familiar taste you hunger for. - Woody

Subject: losing fizz

To: original_kombucha

Date: Monday, June 4, 2012, 11:37 AM

Hello: our KT is very fizzy after 7 to 8 days in the tank, however after

bottling it loses its fizz by the next day.

I have read the files on fizzy and have already been doing all the suggestions.

Any other thoughts why it's losing its fizz?

Very frustrating, as it is delicious and fizzy right before bottling and then

goes completely flat in the bottle. Thank you,

June 5, 2012

Hi , sorry to hear about your flat KT. Are you using air tight bottles?

With only 8 days of fermentation there should be plenty of sugar left and it

should still ferment and generate co2 in the bottle (building up a good fizz).

The cap keeps the co2 in and it dissolves into carbonic acid, giving that

familiar taste you hunger for. - Woody

Subject: losing fizz

To: original_kombucha

Date: Monday, June 4, 2012, 11:37 AM

Hello: our KT is very fizzy after 7 to 8 days in the tank, however after

bottling it loses its fizz by the next day.

I have read the files on fizzy and have already been doing all the suggestions.

Any other thoughts why it's losing its fizz?

Very frustrating, as it is delicious and fizzy right before bottling and then

goes completely flat in the bottle. Thank you,

June 5, 2012

I've got the same issue as . Fizzy when decanted (after 6-7 days,

usually), non-fizzy after sitting in air-tight bottles for a day or two. It

doesn't matter whether the bottles are left in the fridge or on the counter,

the fizz disappers.

Carolyn

June 5, 2012

Are you cleaning your bottles with something that could be the problem, maybe

antibacterial soap? I usually rinse my bottles with white vinegar and let them

dry before refilling.

RE: losing fizz

I've got the same issue as . Fizzy when decanted (after 6-7 days,

usually), non-fizzy after sitting in air-tight bottles for a day or two. It

doesn't matter whether the bottles are left in the fridge or on the counter,

the fizz disappers.

Carolyn

June 6, 2012

Thanks for the replies, yes we use Grolsch beer bottles with the flip cap, they

seem to seal well, but hard to tell if gas is escaping. The seals are under one

year old.

Does anyone know how often they need to be replaced? Could the seals be an

issue?

When we were bottling with fruit added, we had a really high level of

carbonation, sometimes the booch would come shooting out of the bottle when you

opened it. I always kept a large pot near by as I was tired of kombucha going

down the drain!

I did switch to Sunlight dish soap in the past while from a different natural

one I was using, maybe it's the soap as Janet suggested. Sometimes I just rinse

with water. The bottles always air dry until the next use.

When the kombucha is going into the bottles through the funnel, there is a lot

of foam in the bottle neck, I wonder if we are really just losing all fizz when

we bottle.

I hope we can figure this out! Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thank you,

June 6, 2012

Hi ,

Since you have fizz when you first bottle your Kombucha it would seem that the

problem would be the bottles releasing the carbonation. I would suggest getting

some new seals for your bottles and see if that helps. Of course, also make sure

there is no soap or other contaminant in the bottle.

Peace, Love and Harmony,

Bev

>

> Thanks for the replies, yes we use Grolsch beer bottles with the flip cap,

they seem to seal well, but hard to tell if gas is escaping. The seals are under

one year old.

>

> Does anyone know how often they need to be replaced? Could the seals be an

issue?

>

> When we were bottling with fruit added, we had a really high level of

carbonation, sometimes the booch would come shooting out of the bottle when you

opened it. I always kept a large pot near by as I was tired of kombucha going

down the drain!

>

> I did switch to Sunlight dish soap in the past while from a different natural

one I was using, maybe it's the soap as Janet suggested. Sometimes I just rinse

with water. The bottles always air dry until the next use.

>

> When the kombucha is going into the bottles through the funnel, there is a lot

of foam in the bottle neck, I wonder if we are really just losing all fizz when

we bottle.

>

> I hope we can figure this out! Any other suggestions are appreciated. Thank

you,

>

June 6, 2012

I'm using Grolsch bottles with the flip cap too, and just washing the

bottles in hot tap water. I let them air dry before using them again. The

seals (and bottles, and bails) are less than a month old. I get a lot of

foam in the bottle neck, too - usually a neck-full. I let the bottles set a

minute or two and then top them off. Maybe I'm filling them too full? How

much airspace should there be?

Do you think that there'd be enough chlorine left from evaporated tap water

to cause the lack of fizzies?

Carolyn

June 6, 2012

Hi Carolyn, you don't have any chlorine left in your bottles. Chlorine

evaporates before water. It is my understanding that you should have about 2-3

cm of air space (about an inch), at least that is the case with beer. I believe

that gives the pressure a little cushion to build up. Was your booch fizzy

before? Can you think of any changes you've done since then? Do you put the

bottles right in the fridge, or do you let them ferment for a couple days or so

after bottling? Try adding a little bit of sugar, that should make your booch

too fizzy actually. If it still isn't fizzy, maybe you need more yeast? At least

read the excellent writeup on balancing booch that has been linked to in posts

on this list, it will probably give you some ideas. Hope you find the cause. -

Woody

Subject: RE: losing fizz

To: original_kombucha

Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 2:26 PM

I'm using Grolsch bottles with the flip cap too, and just washing the

bottles in hot tap water. I let them air dry before using them again. The

seals (and bottles, and bails) are less than a month old. I get a lot of

foam in the bottle neck, too - usually a neck-full. I let the bottles set a

minute or two and then top them off. Maybe I'm filling them too full? How

much airspace should there be?

Do you think that there'd be enough chlorine left from evaporated tap water

to cause the lack of fizzies?

Carolyn

June 6, 2012

So many questions! Let's see .

The booch was fizzy before. I've never had fizzy bottled booch - at first,

I was using canning jars so I assumed that was the problem. Around the time

I switched to bottles, the brew started getting vinegary in just a few days.

I've been sticking with one kind of tea (black, unflavored). Really, the

only other change is how I make the sweet tea. At first, I boiled 3 quarts

of well water, steeped the tea, then added the sugar. Now I just boil one

quart, make tea, add sugar, and add 2 quarts of cool well water to it. It

only takes just a few hours to cool down that way.

When things started becoming vinegar in just 3 or 4 days, I (re)read the

Balancing webpage and am growing new Scobies with an increased bacteria

content. Needing more yeast wouldn't seem to be the problem. I tend to put

the bottles right in the fridge, but have also bottled and let them sit out

for a few days, both with and without adding anything (sugar, lemon juice,

etc) and not gotten increased fizziness. Beer-tasting, yes, but not fizzy.

At least everything is drinkable! I've conquered the fruit fly problem, and

haven't had any mold. And all the new challenges keep me on my toes.

Thanks for the advice and questions. Hopefully another few months of

practice will enable me to get fairly consistent, delicious Kombucha in a

large enough supply to keep all the drinkers in my household happy.

Carolyn

June 6, 2012

I'm curious what you are looking for in the way of fizz. My booch has a few

bubbles, but nothing like beer. I can see a bunch of tiny bubbles rising and

collecting on the side of the glass, and can feel a little tickle on my nose

sometimes. Early in my brewing adventures i bought a couple scobies from a woman

who put a tablespoon of frozen concentrate juice in each bottle, She definitely

got fizz. It was ridiculous. Even cold, it took a very long time to try and

slowly release the pressure, and still i lost well over half of the booch. I

prefer much less fizz. I have tasted some flat booch, and it definitely was,

well, flat. I dumped the rest of the glass. Somewhere in the middle is best. -

Woody

Subject: RE: losing fizz

To: original_kombucha

Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 4:35 PM

....

At least everything is drinkable!

....

Carolyn

June 6, 2012