bottling bitter

[porkpie]

Hi guys and Girls

Just joined the forums the other day and i would like to hit you with my 1st question about bottling ( Bitter )

Is it possibale to bottle bitter in 2 leter bottlles . And how would i do this to so the beer didnt poor flat.

If it can be done what would i need and where would be the best place to buy 2ltr plastic bottles from.


Thanks

 

[orlando]

Your best approach in my humble opinion is to "batch" prime this means racking the beer of the yeast cake into a second sanitised vessel putting your dissolved sugar solution into it first. This way you ensure an even mix of your priming sugars. As for plastic bottles of that size that can hold the pressure I don't know, personally I would be suspicious about them holding up, particularly now the temps have risen. My other misgiving is unless I wanted to definitley drink close to 4 pints everytime I open one you run the risk of the beer becoming flat before the next "round". If you go to any pub that sells Magners in pint bottles your almost bound to get them given to you as most pubs now just recycle the bottles as far as I know, and they are only to glad not to have to haul another 40 bottles to the bank. Plus they are easy to get the labels off including the silver paper.

 

[Dieseljockey]

Hi & welcome.

Q 1...will you drink 2 liters at one go?
if the answers yes then get hold of the 2 liters Coke bottles, they will stand the pressure I know that a I've used them in the past.

The 2nd point is if you prime the brew correct (as Orlando said) you should have no problem with the bottle going flat in the it's takes you to drink it.

The 3rd point...Goggle 2 liter PET Bottles, or ask family/friends/local for bottles, you'll soon have more of them than you need. :thumb:

 

[porkpie]

First of all i would like the thank both guys and there replies

Been looking into the bottle thing for a few days now and iv come to the conclusion that the barrell seems a more pracital idea than bottling the bitter. This leads me to another question. Which is the best suitable barrell to use. There are lots out there but dammned if i know which is more practical.

I'v never done bitter or larger b4 and im just looking at a sensible way i can store my beer with not having much space about the house.

Once again thanks to Dieseljockey & orlando

 

[Dieseljockey]

I've got to say a Cornelius keg as got to be the mutts testis, but it's all down to cost. One of the plastic barrel type that you can find on the net will do. You pays your money and all that.. :pray: but if you bottle it could be a better way for you, free bottles from family or friends?? :party:

 

[porkpie]

Thanks for your reply Dieseljockey


I'm not so worried about the price off a barrell or keg as long as i get a damn good pint. where a very soiciable family and often drink on a friday night at my house.


Iv just looked at the Cornelius Keg and it looks like it could poor a damn good beer or 2 hehe. Coluld you recomend a place to buy one from with fitting please thanks.

As for the bottle side of things, would budwiser bottles be ok to use for larger because i know i could get endless surplie of thoes + im asking some friends for the plastic coke bottle as pointed out by you. But im a little stuck on the priming the bottles. could i not just add a table spoon of sugar to each bottle to prime it or is there some gas pellets i can use or something.

thanks

 

[TRXnMe]

By the sounds of it you will need more than one cornelius keg to keep your sociable family happy :) They take a few weeks to mature after decanting from the fermenting vessel.

There are loads of rotakegs or king kegs on eBay, anything from 5 quid upwards depending on wether the vendor is offering delivery or not.

It's easy to fill 500 ml bottles, just get a syphon with a bottling wand, and a bottle capper, I hear the bench ones are worth the extra.

I'm new to this as well, two kegs filled (one already drunk), with one FV underway so far :) Out of each FV I take 10 bottles to really mature and keg the rest for early supping, saving me a good bit so far, and now I've got the kit it's going to save me even more :party:

 

[porkpie]

They take a few weeks to mature after decanting

I have no idea what this means TRXnMe (FV ) and the above :) im still a noob at beer making and some of the lingo you lot use is baffling me hahhahaha or im just a little thick pmsl

 

[Dieseljockey]

FV stands for Fermenting vessel ...

Do you know what you have to do when your brew as finished??

 

[porkpie]

Now i feel pretty stupid Dieseljockey hahahahaha if he had said FB im might of got it lols fermenting bucket!

should have known that But what about the ( mature after decanting ) bit ?

thanks

 

[TRXnMe]

They take a few weeks to mature after decanting

I have no idea what this means TRXnMe (FV ) and the above :) im still a noob at beer making and some of the lingo you lot use is baffling me hahhahaha or im just a little thick pmsl

Sorry Showing off a bit, I've learnt some of the lingo over the last 4 weeks :)

When you take your fermented brew from the Vat (after it's stopped bubbling and the hydrometer reading is the same for a couple of days) that process is called decanting, or syphoning, or...

Once in the bottle / keg the brew undergoes secondary fermentation, not as much alchohol developed as primary, but still a little, plus the CO2 carbonates the brew :)

The nice thing about this place is that you can ask questions and not get the p1ss ripped, search is a very useful function too.

 

[porkpie]

thanks TRXnMe

I was waiting for the slating on my last question hahaha but its very nice to know your all so helpfull and i applogise for my bad grammer but dyslexia has its draw backs.

I understand what your saying now and I'v been looking round for a cornelius keg at the right price, Like you said there not cheap but i think 2 would be more than enough for are friday night P*ss up hahaha

I think the best thing to do is order the cornelius keg's after iv been on holiday then add a few more post once i have them to make sure i get them working correctly

thanks for your time and effort to eveyone

:)

 

[Dieseljockey]

Porkpie....read all of this....http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=23696 it will help.

 

[porkpie]

hiya Dieseljockey

just been looking though the link you posted and there are some pretty good deal's been had there. But im afraid all the best deal of gone grrrrrrrr would have been a steal at 20 quid each to.

Never mind i will keep looking and see what turns up, like i said in one of my posts, no rush as im going away on onlyday soon and i don't want the Mrs ranting about money haha.

One thing i would like to ask though. Is there differant types of Cornelius kegs ? and if there is which are the best.

Thanks

 

[Dieseljockey]

If I'm correct the guy will have more cornies soon. I think he's been in hospital, worth keeping your eyes open on the forum for them coming up again.

 

[joe1002]

One thing i would like to ask though. Is there differant types of Cornelius kegs ? and if there is which are the best.

Yes, I believe there are different sizes, but 99% are 19.5ltr. Some have ball lock posts and some have pin lock. Whilst you can get the disconnects for both, most (certainly in the UK anyhow) are ball lock and I would recommend that's what you go for.

Have a look here for some great info on corny kegs.

 

[memit]

Sorry for hijacking the post, I'm also bottling in reused PET bottles.
Mine look like they're pretty high pressure - the 'dimple' at the bottom of some of them has gone from an innie to an outie. I'm concerned that they might explode. Should I open the bottles to release some of the pressure?

Cheers!

 

[Dieseljockey]

Memit...hi...it's a tricky one, the last thing you want is to let the Co2 out of a bottle. You could let the smallest amount of gas out by cracking the top, but let too much out and you will end up with a flat brew. Can you put your bottles in a crate or large bucket so if they blow you will contain the "mess", I have one of those plastic storage crates that you get from B&Q, Homebase, the type the kids put their toys in and slide under the bed.

 

[TRXnMe]

For one reason and another, none of them brewing related, I'd 'destroyed' a few PET bottles over the years, before they plit they start to show white streaks in the plastic, it's not much warning, but if you see any discolouration then open the cap a tiny bit and vent it.

One of the reasons I've focusd on kegs for my brews is the pressure release system in the cap... :)

 

[memit]

Thanks DJ -Plastic crate is a very wise idea, thanks!

TRXnMe - I'll look out for the streaks, but keep my fingers crossed.

Less priming sugar next time? Although I think perhaps there was spray malt settled near the bottom of the FV which I sucked up...