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when I bottled my last batch. I don't kow what I was thinking! Will this effect my beer?

I think it's advisable to sanitise your bottle caps before use.

Having said that, I am aware there are others who have just used them as they come out of the packet without problems.

It's very unlikely a packet of new caps will be a source of infection. As you have sanitised your bottles, and the beer is not in contact with the caps, I think you'll be fine. Relax !

Were they new caps or reused
Less chance with new caps either way a good chance it won't,
As the bottle primes it fills some of the gap with CO2, when you open the bottles for drinking do a corona and clean the lip of the bottle with a bit of lemon.
Cheers
Ron

Longwood, why do the thing with the lemon?

Sanitation is a numbers issue. There is no guarantee either way that brand new bottle caps out of the pack will harm your beer. You'll get to confirm or deny this when you try your beer.

I wouldn't worry at all, out of my 80 batches not once have i sterilized the caps (new ones) and only had one infection which was down to poor sanitation of the fermenter the only precaution I do take is I try not to touch the underside of the cap, and once a bag is open I store it in an almost air tight container

All I ever used to do was throw the caps into the solution in my bottle washer after I had sanitised my bottles.

That being said, chance of anything other than a very minor infection are low.

phew! thanks guys. Yeah, they were new caps out of the packet. Tis my finest beer so far so thanks for the de-stressing.

I agree with Swainy. I never sterilize new caps and avoid touching the underside if possible. I store mine in cleaned beer kit tins with the snap on lids. This is the first time I've heard of sanitizing new caps.

earle wrote:I agree with Swainy. I never sterilize new caps and avoid touching the underside if possible. I store mine in cleaned beer kit tins with the snap on lids. This is the first time I've heard of sanitizing new caps.

I think this also boils down to a philosophical position. I sanitise *everything* that comes into contact with my beer after the boil (except for drinking glasses and drinkers). It certainly does not hurt to do so and I figure a few cents worth of sanitiser and a poofteenth extra time is reasonable insurance. It may have something to do with my Obsessive Compulsive Brewing Disorder.

When i used to use glass i never, ever sanitised my caps and never had a problem

i havent had a problem...

have been brewing since the seventies and have never sanitized caps (have also been careful not to touch the underside as well) strictly speaking, they do not actually contact the green beer unless u invert the bottle....only bad batch i ever had was due to shitty malt (it was a kit & probably out-of-date)