Mega Users seabass07 Posted February 10, 2014 Mega Users Share Posted February 10, 2014 Kegging sounds like too much work It's a fraction of the work to keg. Wash and sanitize one container vs 30+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasejase Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Bottling is a pain in the ass, but fundamentally easy as hell. Kegging has a bit more components to it, however once you get it all put together, you're right; clean and sanitize one container. When I have a few hundred bucks of disposal income to use towards brewing, I think i'll lean towards kegging. For now, bottling is working just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaNu1142 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Coming from having a homemade kegerator for bought kegs... then bottling my first brew, I was thinking, "what the F#%$???" Sanitizing, drying, filling individually while pinching off & trying not to spurt product all over the kitchen... I knew my next batch would be kegged. I just need to grab a garage fridge somewhere, and I'll be good to go. Tits mcgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 A vinator, bottle rack, and bottling bucket with a wand, and I've got 5 gallons bottled in about 45 minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I think I will always bottle. I just love having bottles always available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted February 10, 2014 Moderators Share Posted February 10, 2014 Holy crap, Delta--if you don't have a bottling wand I can see how it would definitely seem ridiculous. I think we'll probably get to a point of bottling a six-pack or so and then kegging the rest. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Coming from having a homemade kegerator for bought kegs... then bottling my first brew, I was thinking, "what the F#%$???" Sanitizing, drying, filling individually while pinching off & trying not to spurt product all over the kitchen... I knew my next batch would be kegged. I just need to grab a garage fridge somewhere, and I'll be good to go. Well thats where you went wrong! Drying? StarSan-DONT FEAR THE FOAM! And pinching off? Bottle wand, y0! http://www.homebrewstuff.com/bottle-filling-wand-standard-3-8.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWSPECB Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why would you use a bottling wand if the beer is not already carbed? Unless you guys have a different interpretation of bottling wand than I.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why would you use a bottling wand if the beer is not already carbed? Unless you guys have a different interpretation of bottling wand than I.. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWSPECB Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Well thats where you went wrong! Drying? StarSan-DONT FEAR THE FOAM! And pinching off? Bottle wand, y0! http://www.homebrewstuff.com/bottle-filling-wand-standard-3-8.html apparently this is the case. Different interpretations. I think of this when I hear/read bottling wand. http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/beergun-stainless-bottle-filler.html Referred to as a beer gun there but I always refer/have heard it referred to as a bottling wand for carbed beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted February 10, 2014 Moderators Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why would you use a bottling wand if the beer is not already carbed? Unless you guys have a different interpretation of bottling wand than I.. It's not like a growler filler, if that's what you're thinking. It's a "cap" that goes on you siphon tube. You stick it into the bottle you're filling and when you press it down it releases the valve and lets the beer flow out. Makes it so you don't have beer spilling all over the place when going from one bottle to the next. "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm25rs Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Why would you use a bottling wand if the beer is not already carbed? Unless you guys have a different interpretation of bottling wand than I.. Look at what hipsterdoofus linked - that's the type bottling wand we're talking about. There's a little needle valve at the end, which opens when the needle is pressed. I have a short piece (maybe 3 inches) of tubing connecting the spout on my bottling bucket to the wand. You leave the spigot on the bottling bucket open, then just stick the wand in the empty/clean/sanitized bottles, and press down on the bottom of the bottle. I put my bottling bucket on the counter and sit in a chair right in front of it. And we use those so you don't do what DeltaNu is describing edit - beaten to the punch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 That thing is cool though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Seriously though, the vinator saved SO MUCH TIME for bottling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NWSPECB Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's not like a growler filler, if that's what you're thinking. It's a "cap" that goes on you siphon tube. You stick it into the bottle you're filling and when you press it down it releases the valve and lets the beer flow out. Makes it so you don't have beer spilling all over the place when going from one bottle to the next. Look at what hipsterdoofus linked - that's the type bottling wand we're talking about. There's a little needle valve at the end, which opens when the needle is pressed. I have a short piece (maybe 3 inches) of tubing connecting the spout on my bottling bucket to the wand. You leave the spigot on the bottling bucket open, then just stick the wand in the empty/clean/sanitized bottles, and press down on the bottom of the bottle. I put my bottling bucket on the counter and sit in a chair right in front of it. And we use those so you don't do what DeltaNu is describing edit - beaten to the punch Read the following post. I know what that is and how to use it. Done so veeeeeeeery many times. I also have about 10 growler fillers so I know the difference there too Carry on brewers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm25rs Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 A vinator, bottle rack, and bottling bucket with a wand, and I've got 5 gallons bottled in about 45 minutes I've only used my auto-siphon for one batch, but it was awesome. No screwing with priming the siphon, or worrying about infecting by beer with my dirty mouth. I also got the 1/2" one, so transfers are very fast. The end-cap filter thing also seemed to work better than the one that came with my racking cane. I'd definitely recommend one of those to anybody that's been siphoning the old school way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HipsterDoofus Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Auto siphon ftmfw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaNu1142 Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I bought an auto siphon after my last experience... and it's going to make kegging that much easier! Tits mcgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaNu1142 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 A guy I work with returned an empty bottle today. He said my porter was great, no aftertaste, and he was looking for it because I'd warned him. I haven't tried it since that first one... maybe I need to give it another chance. Tits mcgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm25rs Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Took advantage of the snow day yesterday to brew a batch. Made Northern Brewer's Caribou Slobber: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/caribou-slobber-extract-kit.html?gclid=CPyLpf3hy7wCFUYOOgod3G4AhA Also had my first 2 bottles of the Belgian Strong Dark ale I bottled two Sundays ago. It tasted good, and after 2 of those (~8%) and an American Pale Ale homebrew (~5%) I had a little buzz, but there was pretty much zero carbonation in the Belgian I've seen recommendations for minimum 3 weeks of bottle conditioning for bigger beers, but I've tried my other brews after just 1 week and they were at least partially carbonated already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaNu1142 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 My porter was plenty carbonated after 2 weeks, plus a day or two. Tits mcgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators BarManBean Posted February 14, 2014 Moderators Share Posted February 14, 2014 Tapped our first keg on wednesday night, falconer's flight IPA--beer on tap is great Need to get another batch started... "Bullet-proof" your OEM TMIC! <<Buy your kit here>> Not currently in stock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaNu1142 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 The first time you tap a keg in your own kegerator is bliss. I can't even imagine tapping your own beer in your own kegerator. I'd probably have to change my pants. Tits mcgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Users seabass07 Posted February 14, 2014 Mega Users Share Posted February 14, 2014 Took advantage of the snow day yesterday to brew a batch. Made Northern Brewer's Caribou Slobber: http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/caribou-slobber-extract-kit.html?gclid=CPyLpf3hy7wCFUYOOgod3G4AhA Also had my first 2 bottles of the Belgian Strong Dark ale I bottled two Sundays ago. It tasted good, and after 2 of those (~8%) and an American Pale Ale homebrew (~5%) I had a little buzz, but there was pretty much zero carbonation in the Belgian I've seen recommendations for minimum 3 weeks of bottle conditioning for bigger beers, but I've tried my other brews after just 1 week and they were at least partially carbonated already. It all depends on the yeast you're using. I've found that since many Belgian strains like higher temps and many of them will stall in the lower 60's, you will need to bottle condition them at higher temps. Try keeping it over 70 for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stm25rs Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 It all depends on the yeast you're using. I've found that since many Belgian strains like higher temps and many of them will stall in the lower 60's, you will need to bottle condition them at higher temps. Try keeping it over 70 for a while. Will do, thanks. The bottles have probably been around 60-64. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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