Bottling time tips and tricks.

[Nidger]

Personally I find a sink drainer works just fine for glass bottles, and I did just a wee few yesterday to get ready for a mammoth bottling session...
View attachment 33636View attachment 33637
Now all sanitised and covered in cling film.

Anna

Did 20 bottles the other day removing labels, drove me mad trying to stack them on the drainer lol.

 

[Gerryjo]

Are those bottle trees sturdy enough for glass bottles Clint ?
I'm about to order one along with a bench capper.
I've only seen them with pet bottles on.
Cheers.

They certainly are as they are very robust and great for double brew bottling days but try to avoid them....

 

[Clint]

Are those bottle trees sturdy enough for glass bottles Clint ?
I'm about to order one along with a bench capper.
I've only seen them with pet bottles on.
Cheers.

Yeah...mine is always full of empties in the garage...I have carried it full but it's a bit scary!

 

[ChrisT685]

I have carried it full but it's a bit scary!

Deja vu!! Did that as well and not something I'll be repeating !!!

 

[Merkin]

Are those bottle trees sturdy enough for glass bottles Clint ?
I'm about to order one along with a bench capper.
I've only seen them with pet bottles on.
Cheers.

Had 50 500ml glass bottles on mine yesterday and it was solid as a rock!

 

[MmmBeer]

My top tip is for draining full bottles after rinsing etc. Invert bottle and spin in a small horizontal circle, this creates a vortex, which allows air to enter whilst the water is leaving and halves the time draining each bottle.

 

[phildo79]

Best tip EVER! Ditch the bottles for kegs. You will not look back. However, if that is beyond your reach, try using as many swing tops as possible. So much faster than having to put caps on.

 

[Nidger]

Best tip EVER! Ditch the bottles for kegs. You will not look back. However, if that is beyond your reach, try using as many swing tops as possible. So much faster than having to put caps on.

I'm too tight to buy kegs or swing tops.
Anyway I've decided I'm mainly going to stick to wine again as thats what I mostly drink,
The bottles will be used for turbo ciders.
I might buy a few more demijohns to store still cider, had a few supermarket cider flagons. Don't know what happened to them along with all my old wine bottles.
Probably fell victim to the recycling fairy

 

[mitch]

I haven't as yet reached this stage.

 

[Nidger]

I haven't as yet reached this stage.

Which stage lol ?

 

[DocAnna]

I suspect perhaps the crate filled bottling marathons that I subject myself to

Anna

 

[Nidger]

I suspect perhaps the crate filled bottling marathons that I subject myself to
View attachment 33747

Anna

Ooh crate heaven

I'm annoyed i missed out on the 4 on fleabay yesterday but i have two milk crates and shall keep my eyes peeled, or make a couple.
Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm just starting out again.
Already got more kit than i ever had

 

[BrewMeHappy]

After years of wedging books and all sorts of stuff under the one side of my FB at bottling time ( to tilt it to get all the trub to the one end) for syphoning, I spent about 30 mins one day cutting a square piece of plywood and attaching a 4x2 piece of wood to safely do the job. I also added a couple of other pieces at the front in a V shape to ensure the FB doesn't slip off.

 

[shweeney]

bottling bucket up on a stool and wand on the end of a line of tubing (the tube in the pic is from my auto-siphon).

I've also started using 660ml bottles so I have fewer to clean/sanitise etc.

 

[Gerryjo]

bottling bucket up on a stool and wand on the end of a line of tubing (the tube in the pic is from my auto-siphon).

I've also started using 660ml bottles so I have fewer to clean/sanitise etc.

View attachment 34151

Seems a bit dodgy to be honest and wouldn't fancy trying to lift a fermenter full of beer to that height then having to wait for it to settle. My missus would go off her head just for putting the stool up there

 

[shweeney]

Seems a bit dodgy to be honest and wouldn't fancy trying to lift a fermenter full of beer to that height then having to wait for it to settle. My missus would go off her head just for putting the stool up there

I only brew 10-12L batches, probably not practical with 20 odd litres. The hack is really having the bottling wand on a tube - e.g. you can have all your sanitised bottles on a tray and move the wand from bottle to bottle./

 

[Mayor of Simpleton]

Get a decent bench capper. Try to use bottles that are all the same size so you are not continually faffing around adjusting the height on the capper. If they aren't all the same size then group them by sizes and fill by group. This lightbulb moment saved me loads of time.

 

[phildo79]

bottling bucket up on a stool and wand on the end of a line of tubing (the tube in the pic is from my auto-siphon).

I've also started using 660ml bottles so I have fewer to clean/sanitise etc.

View attachment 34151

I also thought bigger would be better and started buying loads of beers that came in 660ml bottles. Problem is, they need to be stored upright so the sediment sticks to the bottom. This can become an issue when you want to chill them in the fridge and space for massive bottles is a premium. They also contain more than what you can fit in a pint glass so you need to use two glasses and interrupt the pour. This can lead to sediment getting into the second glass. I ended up ditching my 660s after making a couple of brews.

 

[Drunkula]

hey also contain more than what you can fit in a pint glass so you need to use two glasses and interrupt the pour. This can lead to sediment getting into the second glass. I ended up ditching my 660s after making a couple of brews.

I did exactly the same. All those nights sneaking out to raid the recycling bins and it was a complete bust.

Ok - bottling wands are a gamechanger : not attached to the bottling bucket spout but on a pipe so you can leave a bottle to fill and then cap the beer you've just done while it's filling. I'd much prefer the wing-capper I've got than a bench capper. Loads of the cheap plastics wing-cappers like the Wilko one are absolute gash, though.

 

[DavidDetroit]

Yes, to the flip-tops.
I take the bottom rack of the dishwasher and set it on the stove. I can drain 42, 16oz bottles.
Not everyone has the option but my wife has helped me bottle every batch for five years. She controls the auto siphon while I sit on legless lawn chair and fill.