Wisconsin Brewery Recalls Beer Due to Potential for Exploding Bottles

A Wisconsin brewery is recalling its sour cherry infused beer, My Turn Junk because of the potential for exploding bottles due to wild yeast associated with the cherry.   These yeast may continue fermenting in the bottle, creating excessive gas and with that pressure, causing the bottles to explode, or the caps to come off.  With exploding bottles, glass can be a hazard, or at the least, having beer all over your house.

We get many questions on people wanting to add ingredients or change formulation for traditional fermentation processes..whether that is alcoholic beverages such as beer or wine or with items like kombucha (fermented tea).  The problem is that we never know that the formulation change will do to the traditional fermentation process.  Some ingredients may bring other microorganisms into the reaction, they may bring added sugars which can result in extra gas, or it can impact pH, which may resulting in growth of unwanted bacteria including pathogens. 

We have had some people want to leave the salt out of sauerkraut fermentation to reduce sodium in the product...well, that salt helps to select the right organisms and thus the correct fermentation, and leaving the salt out opens the door to other microorganisms growing.

ABC WISN 12

MILWAUKEE —

Brewery recalls beer because bottles may explode

Lakefront said the "My Turn Junk" kettle sour cherry beer was "deemed too volatile."

WISN 

Updated: 1:48 PM CDT Aug 15, 2019

Lakefront Brewery is recalling a beer because its bottles may explode.

The brewery issued the recall Wednesday.

Lakefront said the "My Turn Junk" kettle sour cherry beer was "deemed too volatile."

The beer has been found to contain a small amount of wild yeast from the cherries with which it was brewed.  The wild yeast could continue to ferment in the bottle, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide.
The reaction could cause the bottles to explode.

The beer is safe to drink.
Any customers that have the beer should refrigerate them or dispose of them.

Lakefront is offering to refund any customers who may have the beers.

Anyone with the recalled beer should take a photo of the label and email it to the brewery by Oct. 1 to receive a refund.

No injuries have been reported.