BATCH PRIMING

[ian808]

Hi all again. Just had a little read on batch priming and not sure what the benefits are. I usually prime each bottle using a little funnel to get the sugar in then add my brew which I've moved to a barrel for easier bottling (just pour from tap). What I've read is that you would put required amount of sugar for the full batch with a little of your brew and heat it up dissolving the sugar and then add to rest of brew, mix it in and then bottle as normal. Is this the correct way and what benefit is there to the beer or is it just saving a little time doing each bottle ? Also would you boil it or just heat until all sugar is dissolved ?

 

[nobyipa]

first get your sugar into about 3 to 400ml of water bring to boil simmer for 5 mins or so to sterilise
then leave to cool to your beers temperature
pour it in give it a good whirlpool stir do not induce any air when stirring
leave 15 mins half hour then bottle
benefits are even carbonation through out your bottles
use a priming calculator like this one

http://www.brewersfriend.com/beer-priming-calculator/
:thumb:

 

[ian808]

Thanks so I use water I thought I'd to use some of the wort. Sounds good the even carbonation as I'm planning to use different sized bottles this time

 

[jonnymorris]

A small volume of water to dissolve the sugar won't affect your brew so will be fine. I put my sugar solution at the bottom of my bottling bucket and rack my beer on top... I find it helps mix it in easier.

You mention filling your bottles by just opening the tap? I suspect you will be introducing a lot of oxygen in this way and so it's probably not the best idea. Get yourself a bottling wand.

 

[ian808]

You mention filling your bottles by just opening the tap? I suspect you will be introducing a lot of oxygen in this way and so it's probably not the best idea. Get yourself a bottling wand.

Yes I just use tap, what is a bottling wand and how do they work ?

 

[GAZ9053]

one of these

http://www.balliihoo.co.uk/little-bottler-the-easy-way-to-fill-your-bottles-p-41.html

 

[ian808]

Ok thanks seems simple and they will work fine on my youngs barrel and 2 litre coke bottles ?

 

[GAZ9053]

I use mine on the end of a piece of tube as it is better for my wine bottles, not sure if it is long enough to reach the bottom of a 2lt bottle.

 

[LeithR]

You want to think about the size of your bottles. Yes, you can use 2L bottles but its a lot of beer to drink in one go. You would be better using 500mL bottles. You need to pour them carefully to ensure that you leave the yeast residue at the bottom of the bottle - so you need to empty your 2L bottles into a big jug. Batch priming allows you to fill any size bottle and the proportion of priming is the same for both a 500mL or a 2L bottle.

 

[Scubabrewer]

Seems like a good idea to use 500ml bottles. I use PET bottles that were filled with soda so they should be OK under pressure. Anyone had any problems with PET bottles?

 

[rpt]

PET bottles from soda or pop have two problems. Firstly, they are clear so you need to keep them in the dark to stop them skunking (bad flavours from light acting on hop oils). Secondly, they will allow CO2 to leak out and O2 to get in. If you drink the beer quickly then it probably isn't a problem but any bottles kept for a long time will go flat and oxidise.

I use the Coopers PET bottles. These are dark and have a barrier to prevent the gas diffusion issues.