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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 08:17:17 AM

Title: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 08:17:17 AM
Two injured in beer explosion at Franconia Brewing Company in McKinney  (http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/02/two-injured-in-beer-explosion.html)

Worker suffers back injuries in McKinney brewery blast (http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Worker-suffers-back-injuries-in-McKinney-brewery-blast-139653373.html)

Explosion at McKinney brewery injures two  (http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Explosion-at-McKinney-brewery-injures-two-139580134.html)

QuoteTwo people were injured Saturday when a container of beer exploded at the Franconia Brewing Company in McKinney.

People were touring the microbrewery around noon when a kettle of beer exploded and the canister ripped through a wall. McKinney Fire Department spokeswoman Stacie Durham said paramedics took one victim by ambulance to Medical Center McKinney and another was flown to Medical Center Plano.

Durham said she didn't know their conditions.

Winston Edwards, who was touring the brewery, said he saw paramedics remove two Franconia employees with cuts. About 100 others were also taking tours but none were injured, he said.

I've spent the last two days trying to figure out how one of the fermenters could have exploded.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Tamas on February 20, 2012, 08:21:22 AM
America cannot into beer? :(
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: jimmy olsen on February 20, 2012, 08:22:59 AM
At least it wasn't as bad as the great molasses disaster of 1919

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 08:39:59 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on February 20, 2012, 08:22:59 AM
At least it wasn't as bad as the great molasses disaster of 1919

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Molasses_Disaster

Yeah, I don't think the walk-in cooler would have saved me from that.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: HisMajestyBOB on February 20, 2012, 08:42:05 AM
Too much sugar & yeast? That'd give you a larger than expected gas build-up. One of my dad's homebrews was stronger than usual, and the top of the container blew off during fermentation. No damage and the top could pop right back on, but it made a pretty big mess. Even got some beer on the ceiling.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 20, 2012, 08:48:26 AM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on February 20, 2012, 08:42:05 AM
Too much sugar & yeast? That'd give you a larger than expected gas build-up.

Particularly if the refrigerant is off.  Check the thermostat, investigators.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 09:02:48 AM
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on February 20, 2012, 08:42:05 AM
Too much sugar & yeast? That'd give you a larger than expected gas build-up. One of my dad's homebrews was stronger than usual, and the top of the container blew off during fermentation. No damage and the top could pop right back on, but it made a pretty big mess. Even got some beer on the ceiling.

Franconia doesn't use sugar, but this is my leading suspicion.  It had to be a runaway fermentation reaction somehow.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: CountDeMoney on February 20, 2012, 09:06:21 AM
Reminds me of when I was in my first apartment, and my mother gave me one of those Pillsbury cinnamon bun (with icing!) tubes.  Blew up the whole fucking closet.  Fucking Cheerios box had an exit wound the size of a barn door.

Nobody said anything about putting it in the refrigerator.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Ed Anger on February 20, 2012, 09:08:36 AM
 :lol:
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 09:14:16 AM
I think that was tank 3 that exploded, which they had kolsch in at the time.  That's a warm-fermenting, and I believe higher-carbonation, beer.  Makes loss of temp control and failure of the bung more likely.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Admiral Yi on February 20, 2012, 09:40:29 AM
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 09:14:16 AM
failure of the bung

I hate it when that happens.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Ed Anger on February 20, 2012, 09:42:52 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 20, 2012, 09:40:29 AM
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 09:14:16 AM
failure of the bung

I hate it when that happens.

That happens after Taco Bell.
Title: Re: Beersplosion in Texas
Post by: Caliga on February 20, 2012, 07:38:01 PM
Quote from: Baron von Schtinkenbutt on February 20, 2012, 08:17:17 AM
I've spent the last two days trying to figure out how one of the fermenters could have exploded.
Very easily.  I've had bottles of homebrew explode on me, too.