bottling from the barrel

[smartarcher]

Hi all, I will apologies now for the silly question, however am new to brewing.

I currently have my first brew finishing off in a pressure barrel, well say finishing off, the instructions say it would be ready after 2 weeks in the barrel, however I am tempted to leave it a little longer. I was going to have a bit of a sample this weekend to see if it requires more time in the barrel.

I was just wondering if I transferred it to bottles this weekend, as it is easier to store for me, do I need to do anything to the bottles, apart from sterilizing them, before I transfer it over. If I do transfer the brew over to bottles, will it reduce its shelf life. Or is it just worth keeping it in the pressure barrel.

The reason for wanting to transfer it into bottles, is because a few of my other halfs colleagues wants to try a pint or two.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Andrew

 

[alf1887]

Hi Andrew, have you fermented the beer in the pressure barrel or did you transfer it into it for secondary fermentation?

AL

 

[Stone Cold]

yes you can bottle from barrel, add half a tea spoon of sugar tho each bottle and then put away to bottle condition at least 2 weeks

 

[mcc111]

I think you're talking about moving from the barrel - where you're doing the secondary fermentation - to bottles. If so you'll already have batched primed in barrel - I wouldn't prime again for fear of exploding bottles. From what I understand, once the barrel is opened you've exposed it to air, therefore you've got limited time to drink it. You'll also lose the fizz, I would imagine.

Personally, I would leave it there. Give it more than a couple of weeks in the barrel - a couple of months would be better.

 

[smartarcher]

Hi Andrew, have you fermented the beer in the pressure barrel or did you transfer it into it for secondary fermentation?

AL

The primary fermentation was undertaken, prior to transfering it into the barrel it is in now. What I am wanting to do is now put it into some bottles.

 

[craigite]

The slight confusion here is you are saying barrel. Usually I ferment for a week in a bucket, then transfer into a second bucket for a week or so, then I might put in a bores sure barrel.
If your barrel is pressurised I would release the pressure over a few days so ensuring the desolved CO2 is released.

If you did not add any sugar when you transferred to the secondary barrel then add about 80g of sugar for 22 ltr shared amount your bottles and bottle.

If you did add sugar when you transferred to the barrel I would wait two weeks leaving the barrel somewhere warm to let the sugar ferment out, then add sugar to bottle as above :thumb: