Syphoning!

[Casual Brewer]

Hello to you all

When my last brew Tom Caxton Real Ale was ready me and my brother in law began to pour from the bottle very carefully but noticed when we got to the last quarter of the bottle the sediment started to rise from the bottom and mmix with the beer. So for next few bottle we decided to syphon from the bottle into a jug, this worked really well and we managed to get nearly all the beer from out of the bottle without dragging up any sediment. We now use this method for every bottle we open... Just woundering what you all think of this and if you already do it yourselfs. If not then give it a try lads its fanatstic.

 

[Halite]

I have heard of people decanting their home brew before. Have to say I have never found it a problem myself. Just pour at a 45 degree angle slowly and then leave the last 1/4 inch in the bottle.

 

[Moley]

Agreed, pour it slowly and steadily, in a single movement, into an over-sized jug and then serve from the jug. As the bottle reaches the horizontal you will see the sediment start to creep (better still if you work over a torch or candle) and stop pouring just before it reaches the neck of the bottle.

The longer you leave your beers, the firmer the sediment will usually become. I've now got quite a few bottles left which are 9-12 months old and I can pour everything apart from a tablespoonful.

 

[corby_brewer]

I agree with what Moley says. (Now thats got to be a first :grin: )
But have you concidered replacing the kit yeast with S04, as ive found that, S04 compacts down better. So you will be able to pour almost a full pint from a bottle without disturbing the sediment.

 

[Casual Brewer]

Really intresting posts, I'll try every way possible while learning the ropes so to speak. its great being able to get advice from experienced brewers, thanks peeps :

 

[Tony]

Second what CB says above .. S-04 is a great yeast for compacting - and so is S-33 - especially in stronger beers

 

[markp]

Some peoples dedication amazes me sometimes.......siphoning from the bottle
I understand totally where you're comming from though.

ATB

 

[Casual Brewer]

I urge you all to give it a try it really is easier than pouring.. you'll be amazed ( I hope) :drink:

 

[jamesb]

I've just tried it. Sod that for a game of soldiers.

Might be handy on the odd bottle - usually the first one of the batch bottled - but i usually neck the yeast anyway. Full of vitamins and keeps you regular :wink:

 

[artyb]

i siphoned a couple of bottles of wine i had in storage,into clean bottles to give away they looked great.... :party:
they had a very light sediment at the bottom,so instead of pouring i siphoned,took les than a min...

i store my beer lagers and stouts,that get a heavy cream coloured sediment in pet bottles,
up side down and all the gunk collects in the cap of the pet bottle,

i then crack em open over a sink [still upside down] and the brew washes the gunk out and down the sink [smells gr8]

then i pop the drink into the fridge for a chill b4 drinking......no muck at all...

 

[prolix]

my bottles used to throw sediment big time with all said yeasts now I use gelatine a day or two before and get prefect beer

 

[craigite]

I use gelatine too, for me I use it about 4-5 days before bottling. I condition all bottles about 5 days in a warm (18-22degC) then somewhere cool for a good two weeks, unto 5 weeks for stronger brews.

The first few early openings have a tendency to lift the dusting of yeast but hey, ain't yeast got some vitamins?

Biggest difference I've found is getting the brew clear before it is bottled. There is then only a dusting on the bottom of bottle.

 

[Aleman]

Ideally the layer of yeast sediment should be about as thick as a layer of paint . . . if you are getting one thicker than that then you are bottling Waaaaayyyyyyyyy to early

 

[jamesb]

Ideally the layer of yeast sediment should be about as thick as a layer of paint . . . if you are getting one thicker than that then you are bottling Waaaaayyyyyyyyy to early

Have you seen my painting? If the yeast layer was as thick as a layer of my paint, there'd be no room for beer.

 

[BigYin]

That's interesting - I get maybe 1mm or less of sediment in the bottles - only just bottled by 4th kit yesterday, so hardly experienced at this game...

Because of the warmer summer weather, and having a heater in the FV, I bottled this one after 6 days in the FV. It's still looking quite cloudy in the bottles :hmm:

Will see what it's like after 2 weeks rest :drink:

 

[graysalchemy]

Ideally the layer of yeast sediment should be about as thick as a layer of paint . . . if you are getting one thicker than that then you are bottling Waaaaayyyyyyyyy to early

I take it we are not talking van Gogh style impasto :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Casual Brewer]

Forgot to mention regarding using a syphon to extract beer from my bottles that we have been bottling in 2 litre plastic mineral bottles! people say you shouldn't use them but so far the beer out of every bottle has been fantastic, I dont know what you all think but they have worked well for us :

 

[Halite]

we have been bottling in 2 litre plastic mineral bottles! people say you shouldn't use them but so far the beer out of every bottle has been fantastic

There is no real problem with using the plastic bottles if you are going to drink the beer relatively quickly. Plastic is porous and so if you tried to keep these for a long time (3 months or longer) you would start to see oxygenation. Also as the majority of these bottles are made of clear plastic, you should store out of direct light to prevent skunking.