Massively Over-Carbonated Beer…What Do I Do?

Question

Okay, so I made a mental error tonight when I was bottling and put 5 gallons worth of dried malt extract into 2 gallons of wort. I didn't realize the mistake until I had everything bottled. So now what do I do? Do I have to worry about the beers exploding? If not, when I think they're ready to be opened, if I chill them down quite a bit will I be alright opening them?

Such a dumb move. I thought maybe it was just under-attenuated, but then I realized my mistake.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

You will have bottle bombs.

Luckily for you it's not too late, but you're in for some careful work.

1. Sanitize a fermenter and airlock.
2. Fill a bucket or tub with sanitizer.
3. Put the bottles in the bucket to sanitize the outside. Sanitize your bottle opener.
4. Uncap them and carefully pour their contents into the fermenter. Do not splash. Sanitize your bottle opener frequently.
5. Measure the gravity.
6. Seal up the fermenter & stick an airlock in it.
7. Let it sit until the gravity drops back around the desired final gravity (possibly 2 weeks).
8. Bottle again.

The biggest risk with this procedure is infection. Be very thorough with your sanitary technique. A secondary concern should be introducing too much oxygen to the beer. Be gentle when you pour, avoid splashing and do not run the beer down the side of the bucket too far.