Bottling beer

[didgeman]

What a pain - 80 bottles, pulled all the labels off washed, sterilized, rinsed,twice and filled and capped. I am completely knackered!!
I think I need some kegs.
I know I need a beer!

What a pain!!

 

[A T]

I hope you don't mind but i moved this to a more suitable location. I have yet to met a brewer that enjoys bottling :lol: 80 bottles though!! That man deserves a drink :clap: :clap:

 

[The Seer]

I drink a few pints of brew while bottling, it helps.

I don't like bottling either. Though I fill twenty bottles with steriliser, then twenty another day. Empty and rinse on the day of bottling and fill.

I'm trying to teach my dog how to use a crown corker. :wha:

 

[GazOC]

I've only been brewing kits for around 6-7 months so it might still be novelty value but I quite enjoy bottling. Its a good feeling to be progressing the brew, getting an end product and being "involved" again after a week or so of it being sat in a bucket.

 

[Moley]

I have yet to met a brewer that enjoys bottling :lol:

I enjoy bottling. :thumb:

Mind you, didgeman was talking about washing, sterilising, filling and capping 80 all in one go.
Must be some sort of masochist.

 

[chiefstoker]

I do my bottling in my office (spare room :grin: ) where i ferment. I do all the bottles in the bathroom across the landing. I whack on the pc sort out some tunes and just get on with it, the swivel chair comes in handy when moving from bottling stick to capping press :thumb:
The full bottles then stay in the office for a week with my next brew generally.

: CS

 

[aneray]

I thought it was only me that got pi##ed off with bottling.

Four hours last night. Remove labels, scrub off glue, wash and rinse bottles, sterilize, rinse each bottle three times ( I think I should blame Moley for the three time rinse, I think it was his practice that I adopted .

Four hours later, forty beers bottled. The only plus to this is that when I have done the same to the two hundred odd Magners and green bottles, I won't have to do it again.

Cheers Neil

 

[corby_brewer]

When i first started brewing, everything went into bottles. Now all i bottle is about 8 or 9 pint which usualy get posted out to other forum members. Everything else either goes into cornies of cheepo kegs.

 

[A T]

I do hate bottling but i do love bottled beer compared to beer from a keg so i try to bottle as much as my lazy will let me :) Which sometimes can be 0% :lol:
But in the end of the day, i may hate doing it but there is some satisfaction to knowing the beer is in the right place

 

[aneray]

Totally agree AT

There is a degree of pleasure and satisfaction when you crack one open and hear the hiss and see the 'ghostly smoke' slowly rising from the bottle. When you offer a friend a highly polished bottle with a crystal clear brew inside, its worth the hours of cleaning.

Cheers Neil

 

[Springer]

There is something about bottling that makes it worthwhile for me ? Nice feeling and a lot of good will gained from giving a sample away.
Sterilising with a no rinse solution helps and a nice bench capper helps the feel good factor rather than messing about with one of those **** winged nipper things :evil: .

 

[Moley]

Remove labels, scrub off glue, wash and rinse bottles, sterilize, rinse each bottle three times ( I think I should blame Moley for the three time rinse, I think it was his practice that I adopted .

Not guilty! I only rinse twice.

Newly acquired bottles: Remove labels, scrub off glue, wash and rinse. I'm quite choosy about my bottles and I tend to know now which will give up their labels easily, the bottles just needing a quick rub with a scourer. Any which leave their sticky on the bottle go straight back in the recycling tub.
Previously acquired bottles: Wash and rinse immediately after emptying.

Old FV full of sterilising solution lives in a corner of utility, up to 10 bottles go in, total immersion, usually left overnight. The next morning, before anyone else is even thinking about getting up, make coffee, drain sterilising soluton, rinse outsides and fill with hot water. Leave bottles to stand in sink, get breakfast, check forums. Empty bottles and re-fill with hot water. Get washed, dressed, ready for w**k, drain bottles, leave inverted through holes in board over utility sink. That evening, cap bottles with tinfoil and store in utility wine rack/boxes/milk crate. A few minutes a day and stocks soon build up.

Bottling time: Fetch 40 (or whatever) bottles from utility, remove foil, use.

Simples

 

[Tony]

I used to hate the bottling but now I can find some enjoyment in it, there's something extremely satisfying about seeing the collection of capped bottles growing. It's a great way to see a 'finished product', the culmination of a month's hard work and care.

Videne for sterilizing has helped a great deal too! :

 

[didgeman]

Moley, thats not home brewing - its an industry you have there!!!

No, but thanks for the tip. I will NEVER do 80 bottles again. I will take on your stance of a few a day. Or buy kegs. But like the lads say to offer your mate a bottle of beer you have made must be great (I have not got to that stage yet!). Or maybe I get like Golem from the Hobbit ....
my trrreassssure...mytreasssure..... and hide under the floor boards with all my bottles.

 

[Springer]

I do like the staged approach

That evening, cap bottles with tinfoil

I like this bit especially M. You recon they are good like this for a few weeks after sterilizing then. ?
S

 

[Aleman]

80! That's a test run . . . you should try 2000!

 

[Moley]

I like this bit especially M. You reckon they are good like this for a few weeks after sterilizing then. ?

Yes, I'm quite happy to leave them for 4-6 weeks. :thumb:

Make sure they are properly drained and dried, including shaking off the drip which forms on the punt of wine bottles.

 

[real ale rascal]

I'm new to this (i have only brewed 2 kits so far) so here are a few questions?

Moley, do you just leave your old FV filled with sterilising solution, surely you have to change it, if so how often.

I have at the moment used PET bottles, but really do want to use glas bottles. which are the best type to get? could you use old real ale bottles? another forum suggests using bulmers/ magners used cider bottles from a local pub. Wilkinson sell 6, 500ml bottles for £3.50 are these worth getting.

Any help is gratefully received thanks.

Real ale rascal

 

[Moley]

Wilkinson sell 6, 500ml bottles for £3.50 are these worth getting.

Bottles are a free commodity, re-use is better than recycling, do your bit to save the planet.

Bulmer's and Magner's bottles are the best, they are good and strong and the labels soak off easily, but you can re-use most beer or cider bottles. Ask around your local pubs, they are usually only too glad to get rid of them, check out the bottle banks or rummage through your neighbours' recycling tubs on collection day but ask them first if they mind.

I use my sterilising solution no more than 3-4 times and chuck it after a week.

 

[jimny14]

I'll second that Moley. Get down your local and if they sell magners or bulmers give em a couple of big bags n ask em to save them for you. If your local does a fair amount of trade you could have as many bottles as you need in next to no time. I get mine from my local n just drop the odd drink round for the guy that collects em for me. Steady supply of bottles sorted.