Can I bottle half my brew now and half later?

[MagnusTS]

I'm brewing a stout for my son, but have just realised I don't have enough spare bottles.
Could I bottle half of the brew now, and let him take away 20 bottles.
and then bottle the rest in a couple of weeks when I have some more spare bottles?

It is in a fermentor with a tap, so was thinking I could try taking half out through the tap to bottling bucket, and leave the rest in the fermenter, would that still be protected under the CO2?

 

[yrhendystu]

That should be fine. You could always get some cheap plastic bottles and use them.

 

[MagnusTS]

That should be fine. You could always get some cheap plastic bottles and use them.

good plan re plastic bottles. I'd not thought of that.

 

[Cwrw666]

If it was me I'd chuck in a bit of sugar after bottling the first lot to get it generating more CO".

 

[Random Badger]

good plan re plastic bottles. I'd not thought of that.

I would think drawing off a couple of gallons is bound to suck some oxygen into the fermenter, so if it was me I would either rack off the rest into something smaller (e.g. Demijohns) or bottle it into whatever you can get your hands on. At a push you can get 2 litre PET bottles of water from most supermarkets for next to nothing e.g. ASDA 17p.

 

[Ezza]

Sparkling water PET bottles

 

[MagnusTS]

Thanks everyone.
I just ordered some cheap plastic 500ml bottles.
They'll be perfect for the lad. Less weight, and less annoying when he loses or breaks them.

I do like the idea of sending 2L PET bottles of stout up to him.
I think I will do that too. Would probably get drunk before it had a chance to go flat.
And much less bottling work for me.
Genius. Thanks.

 

[yrhendystu]

I use 2L bottles. It's more or less 3 pints after leaving a gap. Plus you'll never have to worry about "bottle bombs".

 

[MagnusTS]

I use 2L bottles. It's more or less 3 pints after leaving a gap. Plus you'll never have to worry about "bottle bombs".

Thanks for this. How much gap should I leave? Do you happen to have a photo?

 

[xozzx]

Remember to keep them in the dark if using clear plastic bottles.