Hazelwood’s Brewday Part 2

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

the rubber bung you press the bottle against is too small for PET so to provide any kind of seal you have to press the bottle hard up against the filler and hold it there. The slightest movement let’s the pressure out and you lose control of the fill.

This is exactly why I always use glass to send beer out, even though I would prefer to use plastic. It's so frustrating trying to fill a plastic one and the trauma is exactly how you describe!

 

[Wigglebutts Brewery]

Sorry to hear about this result. I have the tapcooler which I use to fill only glass bottles. I did have one intertap spout that was too tight for the attachment but I had another which worked fine. You’re right on the spill factor; I‘m just used to putting an old towel under the taps… should have mentioned it.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

That sounds frustrating, hopefully the process will get a bit easier with reps. Thanks for posting about it, I have also been interested in getting one of these, but I may just stick with bottling from the fermenting keg when I transfer to the serving keg and then adding carb tabs to the bottles.

I dare say it can be made to work well but it will require a little extra investment and the unit really could do with a bracket so it can be mounted securely. I don’t know why the bung section doesn’t have a step to also suit PET - seems an easy and beneficial modification. And while I’m at it, why not include a 3/16 or 3/8 adapter or even both and scrap the carbonation caps. Oops, I was trying to be positive!

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Would this be any good to you H?

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/tapcooler-counter-pressure-filler-ball-lock-adaptor/

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Would this be any good to you H?

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/tapcooler-counter-pressure-filler-ball-lock-adaptor/

Sorry, no. It’s the same as the carbonation cap although it does at least look a bit neater.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Annoying for you. I use one of the above but I don't even have a keg tap to connect to so I have to use this as well.

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/tapcooler-beer-valve-keg-connector-tube/
It's a right faff to set up and sterilise, not to mention the teeny tiny o-rings that you promptly lose down the sink

 

[YeastFace]

You can replace the silicon bung with this one when filling PET bottles. Works perfectly for me and no comments on oxidation since I switched to using it. (You need to remove the fitted silicon bung, but it slides off really easily, then refit the tapered bung).

Kegland's website does say it needs the additional bung for PET bottles.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

One of these will overcome the need for a carbonation cap and free up my gas disconnect. One issue solved.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

You can replace the silicon bung with this one when filling PET bottles. Works perfectly for me and no comments on oxidation since I switched to using it. (You need to remove the fitted silicon bung, but it slides off really easily, then refit the tapered bung).

View attachment 80478

Kegland's website does say it needs the additional bung for PET bottles.

That looks like it could solve the bottle issue . I can feel a solution coming together.

 

[YeastFace]

Add a bucket or washing up bowl underneath for the drips and you're done!

I think after a bit more use you'll get more of a feel for it. My first time was pretty unsatisfactory, (generally with the venting) but since then I've used it a few times and think I have the hang of it now.

 

[YeastFace]

Oh and on the push fit into the spout, I have Nukataps and don't have this problem. I did think the spouts were interchangeable with Intertaps though.

Perhaps slightly thicker o-rings (or a nukatap spout but that would be more £s).

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Oh and on the push fit into the spout, I have Nukataps and don't have this problem. I did think the spouts were interchangeable with Intertaps though.

Perhaps slightly thicker o-rings (or a nukatap spout but that would be more £s).

It might be less of an issue when I’m not trying to shove the bottle up the spout to seal the bottle!

 

[stripeyjoe]

I fill PET bottles directly with a carb cap, like Dr Hans does in this video…

 

[Leon103]

Send it back and get a tapcooler and send glass, much easier and I always find the beer is better

 

[samale]

Send it back and get a tapcooler and send glass, much easier and I always find the beer is better

Tap cooler is the same design. It also can't bottle using the plastic pet bottles

 

[Leon103]

Tap cooler is the same design. It also can't bottle using the plastic pet bottles

That's why I said go with glass

 

[samale]

That's why I said go with glass

I need a counter pressure bottle filler myself. Still undecided what to buy, I also prefer glass. From looking at stuff online you would need 4 arms to operate most of them. The boel itap looks the easiest to use

 

[Braumeister]

Seems a lot of faff using that bottle filler. I’ve been using the Blichmann beer gun, it’s very easy to use. No issues with oxidation or carbonation, in the bottle with no sediment and tastes the same as the keg.

 

[Leon103]

I need a counter pressure bottle filler myself. Still undecided what to buy, I also prefer glass. From looking at stuff online you would need 4 arms to operate most of them. The boel itap looks the easiest to use

After the first go ifs so easy. Bottling takes minutes. Key is nothing much pressure in the keg prior to bottling.

 

[SMP Brewery]

The first one I tried is this adapter that you push up the tap spout. It doesn’t seal properly in my Intertap spouts

Not sure if they are the same thread as my nukatap, I take the spout bit off and then screw it onto the tap with the supplied connector.