Advice on upgrading fermentation method - pressurised? Temperature controlled? Both? Neither?

[Wynne]

When bottle conditioning from a bucket fermenter, I batch prime, stir very gently. leave about 30 mind then bottle directly from the fermenter using a bottling cane attached to a tap placed just above the bottom of the fermenter. I much prefer using a tap to using a syphon.

 

[Sadfield]

Thanks for suggestion. Not sure how to make it work, since co2 from current fermenter just escapes through airlock and I don't use co2 canisters. I'm happy to try my planned tweak as it is a minor change. Thanks though.

1) Instead of an airlock on you fermenter, run a tube from where the airlock fits, to the tap on your bottling bucket, and then put a lid and airlock on the bottling bucket. As the beer ferments, CO2 will fill the bottling bucket with CO2 and air will get pushed out of the airlock.

2) When you transfer, run a tube from tap to tap, and one from airlock to airlock.

3) Then bottle by attaching the bottling wand to the bottling bucket tap.

 

[Old Fart At Play]

When bottle conditioning from a bucket fermenter, I batch prime, stir very gently. leave about 30 mind then bottle directly from the fermenter using a bottling cane attached to a tap placed just above the bottom of the fermenter. I much prefer using a tap to using a syphon.

You batch prime in the fermenter? And stir? Not too sure, but thanks for the suggestion

 

[Twostage]

Bottle in the crate.
Get a zevro sugar dispenser, to dose the bottles. 1 second per bottle.
Get a party tap. Gas pipe extension, on oversize syphon hose.
20 second fill.
Cap in crate with a rubber mallet.
Easy and quick.

Zevro might just make it into the shopping cart. Looked at ones that you can set for 1/4, 1/2 and 1 teaspoon but it doesn't have a spout. I'd prefer a spout version so you can fit it into the bottle so no need for the funnel. I do find the teaspoon/funnel process a bit fiddly and the sugar always starts to build up at the spout as water vapour condenses on it from the warm, wet bottle.

 

[MashBag]

Party tap, gas pipe extension? Losing me. I dont have co2.

A tap on the end of the syphon.

Google "party tap" poke gas hose on the nozzle. Result easy basic beer gun.

 

[MashBag]

Thanks for suggestion. Not sure how to make it work, since co2 from current fermenter just escapes through airlock and I don't use co2 canisters. I'm happy to try my planned tweak as it is a minor change. Thanks though.

I won't worry about that, no offence to anyone, but that strikes me as pointless (total load of cobblers was my first thought, but decided not to type that as a response )

 

[MashBag]

My beer fridge is in the garden shed, stops me having an imperial stout for breakfast.

Really. Gin is much better on cornflakes

 

[MashBag]

Zevro might just make it into the shopping cart. Looked at ones that you can set for 1/4, 1/2 and 1 teaspoon but it doesn't have a spout. I'd prefer a spout version so you can fit it into the bottle so no need for the funnel. I do find the teaspoon/funnel process a bit fiddly and the sugar always starts to build up at the spout as water vapour condenses on it from the warm, wet bottle.

Cane caster sugar makes it soooo good.

 

[MashBag]

The biggest hassle with bottling is sanitising them first!

Buy some taper corks, store bottles wet and ready to go.

 

[Sadfield]

I won't worry about that, no offence to anyone, but that strikes me as pointless (total load of cobblers was my first thought, but decided not to type that as a response )

That doesn't surprise me.

 

[MashBag]

The diagram was good. It's explained it well. But once I got my head around it, did seem like a lot of work for... well..... would like to say little gain, but I am not sure they're would be any perceivable gain. Have you tried it?

 

[Sadfield]

Yes, in the past. It's common practice within both homebrewing and commercial brewing to purge vessels that fermented beer is transferred to. It's just a way of doing it without a tank of C02. It's the accumulation of little gains that turns good beers into excellent beers.

 

[Old Fart At Play]

If your G-clamp works I'd like details .

I'll be trying it tomorrow - will let you know!

 

[Old Fart At Play]

Buy some taper corks, store bottles wet and ready to go.

Ah, store bottles wet what a great idea. I assume by wet you mean full of water? I always wash a bottle as soon as I have emptied it, would be easy to leave full.

 

[Old Fart At Play]

A tap on the end of the syphon.

Google "party tap" poke gas hose on the nozzle. Result easy basic beer gun.

Thanks, googled that, understood. I can't see how that is better than having a bottling wand at the end of the syphon tube though.

 

[Old Fart At Play]

G-clamp though, I think I have at least two of those but I've never got them to hold firmly enough and end up (like I do when soldering) wishing for a third arm when bottling - One to hold the siphon in the beer just above the trub, one to hold the bottle and one for the dispensing end of the siphon. If your G-clamp works I'd like details .

Bottling today - the g-clamp was hilariously useless. The syphon clamped on beautifully - in an empty vessel. But when clamping into my FV full of brew, well the syphon just arced up and levered itself out of the g-clamp! Worse than useless.

Going to try bottling through the FV tap instead next time, as I do like the idea of not racking. I got into the habit of racking because when I started brewing (nearly 50 years ago) it was common advice to 'never bottle from your FV' and I guess I just never thought about it afterwards!

 

[Sadfield]

Edit. Oops wrong thread, somehow.

 

[Twostage]

Bottling today - the g-clamp was hilariously useless. The syphon clamped on beautifully - in an empty vessel. But when clamping into my FV full of brew, well the syphon just arced up and levered itself out of the g-clamp! Worse than useless.

Yep, my experience is similar. I think the clamp needs a clamp (or two). I'm bottling tomorrow, might try something, it would be good to get it to work.

 

[Twostage]

This worked. Glad the subject came up

 

[Old Fart At Play]

This worked. Glad the subject came up

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Love it! That won't work with my G clamp though, is it doesn't have those flanges. I'm going to just bottle through the tap