My First Brew - Ready to Bottle?

[Danbrau]

Hi all,

So my first brew is fermented and reading nicely on the hydrometer! It's the St. Peter two can IPA kit. I left it sitting for a couple of weeks to ferment and now it's time to bottle. I still need to add the final sugar tho. The kit instructions say to add half a teaspoonful of sugar to each bottle before sealing - but is this the best way to do it? I read something about batch priming with a cupful of sugar and water boiled - would this be better?

In either case I will be using normal white cane sugar. Can't wait to taste my first brew and I hope that with the help of this forum it will be the first of many successful brews :)

Danny

 

[Danbrau]

Also - is it worth syphoning into a second bucket to avoid sediment?

 

[brewtim]

Yes & yes, boil your sugar (70-100g/23litres for an ale) for 10-15 mins in 2-300ml of water and cool, chuck it in a sterilised bucket (commonly known as a bottling bucket) and siphon your beer on top of that leaving the sediment behind then bottle, that's batch priming.

 

[jondread]

Yes & yes, boil your sugar (70-100g/23litres for an ale) for 10-15 mins in 2-300ml of water and cool, chuck it in a sterilised bucket (commonly known as a bottling bucket) and siphon your beer on top of that leaving the sediment behind then bottle, that's batch priming.

Sorry to hijack this thread but I was just thinking this exact same question :) so do you stir the sugar/water in with the beer after its boiled or just let it sit right on top? Instead of a bucket could you just skip that part go straight to a keg and then fill bottles up from the tap after its all in there?

 

[NickW]

Give it a gentle stir, no splashing, at this point you don't want to oxidize your beer. Ideally you need a little bottler as these fill up your bottles from the bottom of the bottle, again reducing the risk of oxidizing the brew.

 

[brewtim]

Instead of a bucket could you just skip that part go straight to a keg and then fill bottles up from the tap after its all in there?

Yes you can, it's best to try and avoid introducing oxygen into the beer whilst you are bottling, a little bottler may fit your keg tap and provides an easy and convenient method of filling bottles without splashing, the tap on it's own may introduce air as the beer exits the keg.

 

[Danbrau]

Nice one guys! How long does the priming solution have to be left in with the fermented ale before bottling? Is it worth bottling soon after it is all mixed?

 

[Bowl sprayer]

You don't need to wait. Once mixed bottle it. Then leave in a warm place for 2 weeks to secondary ferment/carbonate. Then into a cold place for a few weeks then try one! Or two!

 

[Danbrau]

Nice one guys, thanks for the help! I apologise for these questions as I am sure they have probably been asked 1000 times but the kit instructions just don't tell you these things! Looking forward to bottling my beer and maybe starting a Belgian one after :)

 

[Vallyred]

First timer here also...
Im going to use the batch priming in bottling bucket method also, for sake of ease.
Just a thought though, is granulated sugar suitable for the priming or are other sugars recommended ?
I'll be bottling to condition as advised, 2 weeks at room then 2 weeks cooler (but hoping to leave until Christmas).
Cheers in advance guys.

 

[NickW]

Why am I up this early on a Saturday

Plain old granulated sugar is the best thing to use :thumb: