Bottling beer without the sediment?

[Steve D]

Hi guys I know you will probably know the answer to this but although I have been brewing for some time I have never used bottles. I remember years ago my father used to brew and bottle in those 'Corona' bottles from the pop man, but there was always a good layer of sediment in the bottom which of course would erupt as soon as he opened it. It kind of put me off bottles...

When I keg my beer it is still cloudy. I prime the keg and I usually get enough gas in there to keep my beer lively until its gone. Although I do have to wait a couple of weeks for it to clear before I can start pulling it. So this where I am confused. If I wait for the beer to clear before bottling, does this not mean that there is no live yeast left to create a secondary fermentation? Should I use finings to help clear it quickly? I've watched a couple vids on Youtube but there is some conflicting information.. It would be great if you could talk me through the process from brewing barrel to bottling, or maybe point me to where the information is.. Thanks guys.. Steve D

 

[terrym]

A thick layer of yeast on the bottom of a homebrew bottle usually means its been bottled too early.
So when the primary fermentation has well and truly done, typically 7-10 days although it can be longer or shorter, move your beer to the coolest place you have and leave it for a few days longer. At the end of this period it should be almost clear but will still have enough yeast to carb up your beer, it might take a little longer that's all. Using a flocculant yeast like GV12 /Notty will help too. And I sometimes rack off into a second FV towards the end of the primary and I find this can also help clear the beer.

 

[Cwrw666]

Just use a really sticky yeast like Gervin ale yeast (basically Notty I think) which sticks to the bottom of the bottle like glue after just a few days after bottling I can usually poor the entire beer contents with absolutely zero yeast in it. Currently using CML 5 (American pale ale yeast) and that seems just as good.

 

[DavidDetroit]

I would add, aside from the main and important points above, refrigerating your beer once it is carbonated will also assist with clarity. Also, attentive pouring is useful with bottled home brew.

 

[Steve D]

Thanks guys. My latest brew is a Mexican Cerveza. I wondered if there was a possibility that I could drink it from the bottle with a slice of lime. By the sound of it that appears very unlikely. I am left wondering how store bought bottled beers such as Corona and Bud have no sediment and remain sparkling?

 

[Brew_DD2]

Thanks guys. My latest brew is a Mexican Cerveza. I wondered if there was a possibility that I could drink it from the bottle with a slice of lime. By the sound of it that appears very unlikely. I am left wondering how store bought bottled beers such as Corona and Bud have no sediment and remain sparkling?

They are force-carbonated as opposed to being bottle-conditioned (fermentation in the bottle).

 

[dwhite60]

Thanks guys. My latest brew is a Mexican Cerveza. I wondered if there was a possibility that I could drink it from the bottle with a slice of lime. By the sound of it that appears very unlikely. I am left wondering how store bought bottled beers such as Corona and Bud have no sediment and remain sparkling?

Decant it into another bottle?
I've done it.

 

[Binkei Huckaback]

With regard to drinking it from the bottle, you'll get better flavour/aroma from a glass. You may find the addition of a wedge of lime to a bottle was to keep the flies out. Or someone had a crate of beer that was a bit iffy.

To bottle beer without sediment, I *think* you need to keg it, then use a counter pressure filler and C02 to bottle. I've heard Jamil Zaynasheff talk about this and know this is what he does for competition .

 

[Steve D]

Decant it into another bottle?
I've done it.

I had considered that but it would be just as easy to fill a bottle from my Keg without having to worry about any sediment whatsoever. My train of thought for this was that it would be nice to throw a couple of bottles in a cooler when we picnic and have them al fresco.. Maybe I'm setting my sights too high..

 

[terrym]

Why not put the lime on the glass?

 

[PhilBrew]

Why not put the lime on the glass?

... influenced by advertising (link)

Cheers, PhilB

 

[terrym]

... influenced by advertising (link)

Cheers, PhilB

Nope.
Just a practical alternative to drinking your beer with a slice of lime if that is how you want to drink it (like the OP), having left the yeasty layer in the bottle. Personally I never put anything in or near beer I am drinking, other than lemonade on rare occasions. And in any case the last thing I would normally do is to drink from a bottle, given where some bottles could have been stored.

 

[PhilBrew]

@terrym

I wasn't suggesting you were influenced by advertising, I was explaining why @Steve D would want to put his lime in his bottle, and not in/on a glass like you suggested ... because it would get him one step closer to an idyllic lifestyle in paradise, where no one drinks from a glass, everyone drinks from the bottle with a wedge of lime stuffed into the neck

Cheers, PhilB

 

[Jim Brewster]

My train of thought for this was that it would be nice to throw a couple of bottles in a cooler when we picnic and have them al fresco.. Maybe I'm setting my sights too high..

In my very limited experience of HB whenever I transport the bottles for any kind of distance and then open them soon afterwards it will be a gusher. They dont like being jostled.

 

[xozzx]

I often bottle without any sediment which means it can be drunk straight from the bottle, however as mentioned earlier the only way to do this is prime outside the bottle and fill the bottle using a counter pressure bottle filler.

I use corny kegs and bottle with a last straw bottler after force carbing. It does take a fair bit of time to bottle them but I drink the majority of my beer from the kegs and only bottle a few to take away with me or to store.