Bottling beer

Jim Brewster · Jul 19, 2020

I siphon from the fermentation vessel with a bottling wand on the end but find I have to get the siphon going first and then attach the wand which is a bit of a faff, I just do the first bottle without the wand on the end and then fit it on as quickly as possible once the first bottle is full. In time I will move to a bottling bucket with a tap on the bottom.

Drunkula · Jul 19, 2020

Jim Brewster said:
I have to get the siphon going first and then attach the wand which is a bit of a faff

Can't you suck on the bottling wand while pushing in the plunger with your tongue, then dip the end in sanitiser?

stan.distortion · Jul 19, 2020

Jim Brewster said:
I siphon from the fermentation vessel with a bottling wand on the end but find I have to get the siphon going first and then attach the wand which is a bit of a faff, I just do the first bottle without the wand on the end and then fit it on as quickly as possible once the first bottle is full. In time I will move to a bottling bucket with a tap on the bottom.

A quick and dirty way of making siphoning easier, fill the tube with water first. With a bit of practice you can avoid getting any water in the beer when you put the tube in and then siphon the first bit into a glass until the beer comes through. I always decant wine from demiohns to bottles that way, avoids getting any mouth nasties on the siphon tube.
EDIT: I don't use a wand or tap for wine either, just raise the end of the siphon tube above the level of the wine in the demijohn and flow stops. Ok for 5 or 6 wine bottles but a wand makes life a lot easier with dozens of beer bottles.

dwhite60 · Jul 19, 2020

Drunkula said:
Can't you suck on the bottling wand while pushing in the plunger with your tongue, then dip the end in sanitiser?

I put a pinch clamp on the hose, suck on the hose to get the siphon started, clamp the hose when the fluid gets to it, then insert the bottling wand.

Been doing this for years.

531Man · Jul 20, 2020

Quote:
'Can't you suck on the bottling wand while pushing in the plunger with your tongue, then dip the end in sanitiser?'
Drunkula, that sounds positively ****ographic.
Wash your mouth out with carbolic and clean up. sick...

Petrolhead · Jul 20, 2020

Currently I am brewing 25/26 litre batches, filling a corny and the remainder in bottles. As I have one of those cheap eBay electric pumps, £15 or so, I pop the pipe into the FV well above the bottom and the outlet end at the bottom of the corny. Switch on and a nice easy fill with minimum oxygen.

As I approach full I pinch the outlet hose, raise it, insert into the bottom of the first bottle, fill, repeat. It is a very calm bottling session and works for me.