Bottling equipment advice

[jacks]

Hi,

I have one of these kits *****************************/catal...le/micro-brewery-youngs-ipa-system-116-detail and have already brewed the beer the came with it using the barrel.

For my next brew I'm planning to bottle it instead, and could do with a little bit of advise.

I was thinking I could just get one of these http://www.home-brew-online.com/equ...le-bottler-bottling-stick-with-lever-tap-p669 and simply fit that to my fermentation vessel and then bottle straight from there.

Good/bad idea?

If it would be better to bottle from a secondary container can I just use the barrel I already have, or would it be better to get something else? If so what?

Thanks.

 

[strange-steve]

Definitely get the little bottler, it makes it so much easier. I don't recommend bottling straight from the fermenter, it's much better to use a separate bucket. That way you can batch prime and also you will get a lot less sediment in the bottle. The best thing to use is another fv however if the bottler fits onto the barrel then there's no reason why you couldn't use it.

 

[sdt7618]

Definitely get the little bottler, it makes it so much easier. I don't recommend bottling straight from the fermenter, it's much better to use a separate bucket. That way you can batch prime and also you will get a lot less sediment in the bottle. The best thing to use is another fv however if the bottler fits onto the barrel then there's no reason why you couldn't use it.

First few brews I did straight from the FV with a syphon, so much trug gets into the bottles etc. Now got a second bucket wit a tap and little bottler. No more messing about with spoons of sugar as batch prime and the bottling stick is just so easy and keeps the most of the trug out for clearer beers

 

[jacks]

OK great, sounds like a second bucket is the way to go, thanks.

Just one other question.

What bottles do people recommend? I'd quite like brown glass flip top ones, but they seem pretty pricey compared to the plastic (or even clear class) ones. Someone told me flip tops are better because they can release any excess pressure, but I'm not sure how much of an issue that really is?

 

[Dutto]

OK great, sounds like a second bucket is the way to go, thanks.

Just one other question.

What bottles do people recommend? I'd quite like brown glass flip top ones, but they seem pretty pricey compared to the plastic (or even clear class) ones. Someone told me flip tops are better because they can release any excess pressure, but I'm not sure how much of an issue that really is?

In order of preference for me:

o Brown

o Glass

o Flip-top

o Big as I can find. (650ml minimum)

I suggest that whatever you get you "standardise" ... :thumb: :thumb:

... although I do have enough 500ml capped bottles to do a complete 23 litre brew and use them regularly. :whistle: :whistle:

 

[Graz]

OK great, sounds like a second bucket is the way to go, thanks.

Just one other question.

What bottles do people recommend? I'd quite like brown glass flip top ones, but they seem pretty pricey compared to the plastic (or even clear class) ones. Someone told me flip tops are better because they can release any excess pressure, but I'm not sure how much of an issue that really is?

Any brown beer bottle you can get a crown cap on or the Coopers ox-bar PET bottles. Brown glass generally preferred as it lessens any light getting through to you beer which can make it taste funny. Flip tops are good but I wouldn't buy them new, only buy them ready filled with beer.

 

[chewie]

HBC.ie have a discount on there 500ml swingtops atm, add in your forum discount and euro conversion to improve on the costs. Grolsch swing tops are on sale in sainsburys atm @ £1.50 per bottle, these are 450ml which is (assuming £1 per new bottle from a home brew shop) working out at 50p for the beer. I'm in the process of emptying some Grolsch bottles (10) atm to use for bottling a gallon of turbo cider.

Whether you go for PET, glass or swingtops or most likely a mix of all 3 be sure to wash and sanitise them thoroughly. You should also consider kegging but be aware of the added costs like beer taps and gas.

 

[Brett74]

I just did 215 bottles in a day, if you can, find a place you can put your bottling bucket high up, its quite a lift, but if you are up to it the benefits are enormous. I have batch primed beer on a shelf above my workbench counter, a hose going from the tap to my little bottler, then I can stand up and work at counter height, while I leave the bottling wand in one bottle filling, I cap a bottle, it a little tricky but once you develope a rutine you can do about 60 bottles in 35 minutes. This is just filling and capping, off course.
Get the best bench capper you can afford, learn how to adjust it's height for the easiest operation and it really helps eficiency if your bottles are all the same height.

 

[sdt7618]

The Range has 12 brown swing tops for 9.99. I use a mixture of these and coopers 500ml( �£8 for 24 in wilko's sale) PET bottles, but would prefer all glass swing tops.

 

[DoctorMick]

I use brown ale bottles, find them perfect as they're that little bit bigger so you get a full glass even when you leave the sediment behind in the bottle. They're clear but I store my beer in boxes anyway so that isn't a problem for me...it also helps that my dad drinks loads of the stuff so they're always on hand.

 

[jam]

The Range has 12 brown swing tops for 9.99. I use a mixture of these and coopers 500ml( �£8 for 24 in wilko's sale) PET bottles, but would prefer all glass swing tops.

Are swing top bottles ok then they don't tend to pop or leak on seals . I need to buy a new capper but was thinking of investing in some of the swing top myself ?

 

[sdt7618]

Are swing top bottles ok then they don't tend to pop or leak on seals . I need to buy a new capper but was thinking of investing in some of the swing top myself ?

To be honest have had no trouble with them, and to boot have had an over carbed stout in them. ( don't ask) I love the nice pop they give when opening.

A capper and caps is cheap way of going if you can convince your local or someone you know to keep nice brown bottles for you :)

 

[jam]

To be honest have had no trouble with them, and to boot have had an over carbed stout in them. ( don't ask) I love the nice pop they give when opening.

A capper and caps is cheap way of going if you can convince your local or someone you know to keep nice brown bottles for you :)

My capper just broke going to invest in bench top capper and some swing tops . 😁

 

[jam]

To be honest have had no trouble with them, and to boot have had an over carbed stout in them. ( don't ask) I love the nice pop they give when opening.

A capper and caps is cheap way of going if you can convince your local or someone you know to keep nice brown bottles for you :)

Are the swing tops good for all types of brews. Ciders ?

 

[Slid]

I like the Coopers 500ml PET bottles. Re-used brown 2L PET cider bottles are good, too, but you pretty much need to drink one at a single sitting. This is a huge disadvantage :lol:.

 

[sdt7618]

I like the Coopers 500ml PET bottles. Re-used brown 2L PET cider bottles are good, too, but you pretty much need to drink one at a single sitting. This is a huge disadvantage :lol:.

To whom?:lol::drunk::drink:

 

[Dutto]

Are the swing tops good for all types of brews. Ciders ?

Yes. :thumb:

It helps if you invest in a set of replacement seals just in case the ones provided with the bottles ever perish.

I have even used them for wines that I know will be drank in under a year! :thumb:

 

[Poochops]

The Range has 12 brown swing tops for 9.99. I use a mixture of these and coopers 500ml( ��£8 for 24 in wilko's sale) PET bottles, but would prefer all glass swing tops.

I bought these for my first brew, currently conditioning in the back room and they're about as good value as I couldd find. They're great bottles by the way thick and heavy and will last a long time.
My second brew is strong a ipa and I wanted smaller containers so I'm currently drinking my way through 48 bottles of grolsch! I'm 4/5ths the way there but I'm sick of it now, still the bottles will last a long time again.
Ordered my next kit before I go onto partial mash brews, a coopers stout, this is going to be bottled in the coopers pet bottles which are as cheap as chips if you can't source freebies elsewhere. Lots of good reviews.
So I gone from thinking I'd like to get back into home few three weeks ago to owning 154 various bottles in three weeks, still haven't tasted a drop!

 

[jacks]

Thanks everyone. I think I'll probably invest in/source some coloured swing top glass bottles.

I've also found them at a pretty good price from https://www.world-of-bottles.co.uk/...es/500ml-brown-beer-bottle-master-brewer.html . Even with shipping they work out cheaper than many other places (about £42 for 50).