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Main
Date: 25 Oct 2006 20:14:18
From: Brian Foster
Subject: Bottling options from a keg
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If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
are the bottling options (if any) I have?
Ale has already been force carbonated.
Thanks
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Date: 25 Oct 2006 20:22:21
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com > wrote:
> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go with
a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill a
bottle straight from the tap.
John.
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Date: 25 Oct 2006 23:38:59
From: Steve/Aus
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
"John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net > wrote in message
news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a
>> 6
>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go
> with
> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill
> a
> bottle straight from the tap.
>
>
> John.
Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
atronomical.
I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre batch
(6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
Steve W (in Aus)
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 00:46:08
From: stephen
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
Steve/Aus wrote:
> "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
> news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a
>>> 6
>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go
>> with
>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill
>> a
>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>
>>
>> John.
>
> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
> atronomical.
> I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre batch
> (6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
> Steve W (in Aus)
>
>
Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but I
have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
The idea is simple: bring the pressure in the bottle up to the pressure
of the feed co2, so the beer doesn't go gushing in, then slowly let the
pressure escape from the bottle so it fills at a reasonable rate.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 11:21:56
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
stephen wrote:
> Steve/Aus wrote:
>
>> "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
>> news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
>>
>>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to
>>>> give a 6
>>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months)
>>>> what
>>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>>>
>>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to
>>> go with
>>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can
>>> fill a
>>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>>
>>>
>>> John.
>>
>>
>> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
>> atronomical.
>> I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre
>> batch (6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
>> Steve W (in Aus)
>>
> Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
> can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but I
> have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
> would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
I was walking thru my LHBS and saw this
http://www.beer-wine.com/product.asp?sectionID=1&CategoryID=6&productID=930
for $58. I would suggest the Berr Gun for ease of use, though I've never
used one.. people who have say it works well.
I am thinking about getting one for this..
--
Dan
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Date: 27 Oct 2006 16:38:52
From: stephen
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
Dan Logcher wrote:
> stephen wrote:
>
>> Steve/Aus wrote:
>>
>>> "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
>>> news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
>>>
>>>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to
>>>>> give a 6
>>>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few
>>>>> months) what
>>>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>>>>
>>>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to
>>>> go with
>>>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can
>>>> fill a
>>>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> John.
>>>
>>>
>>> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
>>> atronomical.
>>> I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre
>>> batch (6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
>>> Steve W (in Aus)
>>>
>> Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
>> can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but
>> I have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
>> would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
>
> I was walking thru my LHBS and saw this
> http://www.beer-wine.com/product.asp?sectionID=1&CategoryID=6&productID=930
> for $58. I would suggest the Berr Gun for ease of use, though I've never
> used one.. people who have say it works well.
>
> I am thinking about getting one for this..
>
I wish they had pictures :P.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 14:53:30
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
: Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
: can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but I
: have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
: would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
I made one for about $3 with a few scraps of copper tubing, a Schrader valve
from an old bicycle inner tube, a rubber stopper, and some (lead-free plumbing)
solder.
: The idea is simple: bring the pressure in the bottle up to the pressure
: of the feed co2, so the beer doesn't go gushing in, then slowly let the
: pressure escape from the bottle so it fills at a reasonable rate.
Works like a charm, albeit a little tedious. I will say, however, that it
might be necessary to slightly *over*-carbonate it in the keg. Between the inevitable
loss of a bit of CO2 during the filling process and the desire to "cap on foam" to
remove and O2 from the bottles, the bottles will end up a little less carbonated than
the keg from which they were filled.
I can post pictures of my franken-filler online if desired.
-Cory
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
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Date: 27 Oct 2006 16:39:33
From: stephen
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
papenfussDIESPAM@juneauDOTmeDOTvt.edu wrote:
> : Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
> : can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but I
> : have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
> : would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
>
> I made one for about $3 with a few scraps of copper tubing, a Schrader valve
> from an old bicycle inner tube, a rubber stopper, and some (lead-free plumbing)
> solder.
>
> : The idea is simple: bring the pressure in the bottle up to the pressure
> : of the feed co2, so the beer doesn't go gushing in, then slowly let the
> : pressure escape from the bottle so it fills at a reasonable rate.
>
> Works like a charm, albeit a little tedious. I will say, however, that it
> might be necessary to slightly *over*-carbonate it in the keg. Between the inevitable
> loss of a bit of CO2 during the filling process and the desire to "cap on foam" to
> remove and O2 from the bottles, the bottles will end up a little less carbonated than
> the keg from which they were filled.
>
> I can post pictures of my franken-filler online if desired.
>
> -Cory
>
I'd love to see pics.
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Date: 28 Oct 2006 16:12:49
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
: > I can post pictures of my franken-filler online if desired.
: >
: > -Cory
: >
: I'd love to see pics.
Found a few pics and some webspace:
http://www.ee.vt.edu/~mythtv/homebrew/
-Cory
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 17:44:39
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Thu, 26 2006 00:46:08 GMT, <newsteve@shaw.ca > wrote:
> Commercial counter pressure fillers are fairly expensive (I think you
> can get some as cheap as $1000-1200, for a single bottle filler), but I
> have seen homemade one's done on the cheap. I'm sure a quick google
> would turn up some designs (I checked some out about a year ago).
I think mine was around $50. I hardly ever use it though.
John.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 10:21:42
From: Mark R
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
"Steve/Aus" <adlab@bigponddotnetdotau.trashthisbit > wrote in message
news:nAS%
>
> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
> atronomical.
> I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre batch
> (6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
> Steve W (in Aus)
Maybe they're harder to get hold of in Aus but the price isn't completely
out of reach here.
http://www.listermann.com/Store/Details.asp?ID=933
Maybe you should try making a few and see if your LHBS will put them on the
shelf.
Mark R
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 17:43:41
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Wed, 25 2006 23:38:59 GMT, <adlab@bigponddotnetdotau.trashthisbit > wrote:
>
> "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
> news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a
>>> 6
>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>>
>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go
>> with
>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill
>> a
>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>
>>
>> John.
>
> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
> atronomical.
> I pre-plan on doing a keg and bottle batch and make a 25-30 litre batch
> (6-7gal?) and prime with sugar in the bottles.
Yeah, if you can plan it out ahead of time, that's the way to go.
John.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 09:37:23
From: Jim
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote on 10/25/2006 4:22 PM:
> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go with
> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill a
> bottle straight from the tap.
>
>
> John.
Why do you say a day or two to fill from tap?
Jim
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 17:46:28
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Thu, 26 2006 09:37:23 -0400, <Jim@no.com > wrote:
> John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote on 10/25/2006 4:22 PM:
>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>>
>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go with
>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill a
>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>
>>
>> John.
> Why do you say a day or two to fill from tap?
I meant that if you're going to drink the bottles within a day or two, you
can just fill them straight from the tap. The actual filling from the
tap only takes a couple minutes. ;)
John.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 14:43:54
From: Jim
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote on 10/26/2006 1:46 PM:
> On Thu, 26 2006 09:37:23 -0400, <Jim@no.com> wrote:
>> John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote on 10/25/2006 4:22 PM:
>>> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
>>>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
>>>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
>>>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>>> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go with
>>> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill a
>>> bottle straight from the tap.
>>>
>>>
>>> John.
>> Why do you say a day or two to fill from tap?
>
> I meant that if you're going to drink the bottles within a day or two, you
> can just fill them straight from the tap. The actual filling from the
> tap only takes a couple minutes. ;)
>
>
> John.
Why do you have to drink them in a day or two? Why cant you bottle from
a tap and leave it on the shelf for months?
Thanks,
Jim
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 19:19:11
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Thu, 26 2006 14:43:54 -0400, <Jim@no.com > wrote:
>>> Why do you say a day or two to fill from tap?
>>
>> I meant that if you're going to drink the bottles within a day or two, you
>> can just fill them straight from the tap. The actual filling from the
>> tap only takes a couple minutes. ;)
>>
>>
>> John.
> Why do you have to drink them in a day or two? Why cant you bottle from
> a tap and leave it on the shelf for months?
You lose too much carbonation bottling from the tap and you are not doing
it under pressure so the headspace in the bottle is not pressurized. It works
alright if you drink it within a couple days, but after that the beer will
start to go flat as CO2 comes out of the beer to fill the headspace in
the bottle.
If I wanted to fill a couple bottles or a growler for taking over to a party
and drinking that night, I'd do it from the tap. If I wanted to fill
bottles for a competition, or for sharing with someone who will be drinking
it weeks later, I'd use a counter pressure filler.
John.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 14:55:44
From: K Buck
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
"John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net > wrote in message
news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> > If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give
a 6
> > pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months)
what
> > are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
> For something that will last a couple months you'd probably want to go
with
> a counter pressure bottle filler. If it's just a day or two you can fill
a
> bottle straight from the tap.
>
>
> John.
I've never used a CPBF but I do fill bottles from the tap and they do remain
carbonated for at least a month. I attach my spring loaded bottle filler to
a cobra tap and fill the bottles from the bottom. I only do this to the few
bottles I bring somewhere. I found I have to drop the pressure in the keg
to about 5 psi to avoid foaming. The beer does lose a little bit of
carbonation, but not enough to feel flat. There's also a bit of air trapped
under the cap, but I don't worry as long as the beer is not shaken much.
The longest I've kept a bottle of beer like this was one month & it was
still as carbonated as it was after two days. I'd like to see how this
stacks up against the average CPBF after one month in the bottle. I suspect
the gadget is better, but is it worth the extra cost?
When I bottle a whole 5 gallons I use my keg as a bottling bucket. Add beer
& priming sugar to the keg & instead of using gravity I use CO2 to push the
beer.
Kevin
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 19:20:54
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Thu, 26 2006 14:55:44 -0400, <kevinbuck@REMOVEpsouth.net > wrote:
> I've never used a CPBF but I do fill bottles from the tap and they do remain
> carbonated for at least a month.
You're pretty lucky then. I've never gotten them to last anywhere near that
long when filling from the tap.
John.
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 15:53:56
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> On Thu, 26 2006 14:55:44 -0400, <kevinbuck@REMOVEpsouth.net> wrote:
>
>>I've never used a CPBF but I do fill bottles from the tap and they do remain
>>carbonated for at least a month.
>
>
> You're pretty lucky then. I've never gotten them to last anywhere near that
> long when filling from the tap.
Can't you bump up the cabonation knowing that some will come out when
filling the bottle?
--
Dan
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Date: 26 Oct 2006 20:13:31
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
On Thu, 26 2006 15:53:56 -0400, <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net > wrote:
> John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 26 2006 14:55:44 -0400, <kevinbuck@REMOVEpsouth.net> wrote:
>>
>>>I've never used a CPBF but I do fill bottles from the tap and they do remain
>>>carbonated for at least a month.
>>
>>
>> You're pretty lucky then. I've never gotten them to last anywhere near that
>> long when filling from the tap.
>
> Can't you bump up the cabonation knowing that some will come out when
> filling the bottle?
You can, but it'll be somewhat of a guessing game if you want to end up
with a certain amount of carbonation. Also, if you bump up the carbonation
you may have to re-balance your dispensing system (longer tubing) in
order to compensate (depends on how much you bump it up). Otherwise you may
just make it worse by causing a lot of foaming during the pour. I think a
counter pressure filler would be a lot more reliable for longer term storage.
The fillers are not that expensive compared to other brewing gadgets,
especially if you're a DIY'er and build one yourself. My only complaint
is that I rarely use it, so don't feel that I'm really getting my money's
worth out of it. For someone that fills bottles from their keg a lot more
often, I wouldn't think twice about buying one.
John.
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| |
Date: 26 Oct 2006 08:44:39
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
> I was walking thru my LHBS and saw this
> http://www.beer-wine.com/product.asp?sectionID=1&CategoryID=6&productID=930
> for $58. I would suggest the Berr Gun for ease of use, though I've never
> used one.. people who have say it works well.
>
> I am thinking about getting one for this..
>
> --
> Dan
I have this filler and it works well. It is a two handed operation as
opposed to the beer gun which I believe you can fill with one hand. I
guess that leaves the other hand free to scratch your ass or drink a
beer though.
|
| |
Date: 26 Oct 2006 08:12:10
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
Steve/Aus wrote:
> Great idea but, the price of counter pressure bottler fillers is
> atronomical.
For a cheapo idea check out #4 here:
http://www.strangebrew.ca/Drew/cheap.html
|
| | |
Date: 27 Oct 2006 13:35:46
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
: For a cheapo idea check out #4 here:
: http://www.strangebrew.ca/Drew/cheap.html
The way mine works, I can have it "revert" to this approach if I don't bother
to pre-pressurize the bottle before turning on the beer. It actually works OK, but
the keg/bottle really do need to be cold. Otherwise it'll be 1/3 foam when you cap
it.
-Cory
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
|
| |
Date: 26 Oct 2006 06:25:12
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
stephen wrote:
> Steve/Aus wrote:
> > "John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net> wrote in message
> > news:slrnejvi41.69d.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
> >> On Wed, 25 2006 20:14:18 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com> wrote:
> >>> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a
> >>> 6
> >>> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
> >>> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
I have heard people suggest to fill bottles from the tap and then add
a half of a cooper's carbonation tablet and cap.
I never tried this so I can't say if I agree one way or an other, but
friends say this is how they prepare bottles for competitions.
Ryan
|
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Date: 27 Oct 2006 08:42:28
From: Mark Sparge
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
Brian Foster wrote:
> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
> Ale has already been force carbonated.
>
> Thanks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are a lot of different ways to do a build-it-yourself Counter
Pressure Bottle Filler, but I l built a verison of the one on Mike
Dixon's page. Check it here:
<http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/Homebrew/CounterPressureFiller.htm >
HTH,
Mark Sparge
|
| | |
Date: 27 Oct 2006 18:40:01
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
: There are a lot of different ways to do a build-it-yourself Counter
: Pressure Bottle Filler, but I l built a verison of the one on Mike
: Dixon's page. Check it here:
: <http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/Homebrew/CounterPressureFiller.htm >
Mine is a variation on this idea, with a bit less purchasing and bit more
soldering. I'll try to get pictures of it online in the next couple of days.
http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/Homebrew/PMCPBF.jpg
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
|
| |
Date: 27 Oct 2006 08:34:25
From: Steven
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
|
While I will be the first to admit that it is not the least expensive
solution, my Beer Gun is one of the slickest pieces of equipment that I
own.
When you are filling bottles (including growlers), you first flush the
empty & chilled container with CO2, so there you don't get any
oxidation. Then you use the "trigger" to start a steady flow of beer
into the container from the bottom up.
CO2 breaks out of beer for several reasons; change of pressure,
turbulance and change of temperature being the most prevelant. With
the Beer Gun I use 3-5 pounds of pressure to push out the beer, through
about 10' of line, so there is not a lot of turbulance.
Steven
papenfussDIESPAM@juneauDOTmeDOTvt.edu wrote:
> : For a cheapo idea check out #4 here:
> : http://www.strangebrew.ca/Drew/cheap.html
>
> The way mine works, I can have it "revert" to this approach if I don't bother
> to pre-pressurize the bottle before turning on the beer. It actually works OK, but
> the keg/bottle really do need to be cold. Otherwise it'll be 1/3 foam when you cap
> it.
>
> -Cory
>
> --
>
> *************************************************************************
> * Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
> * Electrical Engineering *
> * Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
> *************************************************************************
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Date: 27 Oct 2006 16:56:40
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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: When you are filling bottles (including growlers), you first flush the
: empty & chilled container with CO2, so there you don't get any
: oxidation. Then you use the "trigger" to start a steady flow of beer
: into the container from the bottom up.
If you "fill on foam," there won't be any oxygen in the bottle either. I
find that no matter how hard you try, it's impossible to have *no* foam even with a
CPBF. The amount of foam is about as much space as I need in the neck.
-Cory
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
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Date: 28 Oct 2006 12:54:19
From: Brian Foster
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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"Steven" <steve661@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161963265.648721.28620@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> While I will be the first to admit that it is not the least expensive
> solution, my Beer Gun is one of the slickest pieces of equipment that I
> own.
>
> When you are filling bottles (including growlers), you first flush the
> empty & chilled container with CO2, so there you don't get any
> oxidation. Then you use the "trigger" to start a steady flow of beer
> into the container from the bottom up.
>
> CO2 breaks out of beer for several reasons; change of pressure,
> turbulance and change of temperature being the most prevelant. With
> the Beer Gun I use 3-5 pounds of pressure to push out the beer, through
> about 10' of line, so there is not a lot of turbulance.
>
> Steven
Did you need the kit that is sold with the beer gun to set it up?
Thanks
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Date: 27 Oct 2006 10:51:42
From: GeoffT
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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I bottle from the tap (or rather, pour into a jug then pour into
bottles so it doesn't foam up) and I lose negligible carbonation over
time. Grolsch bottles make this easy. It's probably best to cap the
bottles while they're foamed up to the rim, so as very little oxygen is
bottled with the beer.
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Date: 29 Oct 2006 16:02:24
From: Dr. Hardcrab
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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"GeoffT" <sonic_death_monkey@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161971502.042045.67110@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>I bottle from the tap (or rather, pour into a jug then pour into
> bottles so it doesn't foam up) and I lose negligible carbonation over
> time. Grolsch bottles make this easy. It's probably best to cap the
> bottles while they're foamed up to the rim, so as very little oxygen is
> bottled with the beer.
Same procedure I use with one more tip: Make sure you chill the bottles
before you fill them. They foam up less if you do...
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Date: 29 Oct 2006 17:17:44
From: Norm J
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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>"GeoffT" <sonic_death_monkey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1161971502.042045.67110@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>I bottle from the tap (or rather, pour into a jug then pour into
>> bottles so it doesn't foam up) and I lose negligible carbonation over
>> time.
While I bought a beer gun to make this easy I found out afterwards
that Denny had a "cheap and easy" for this as well. Cobra tap with a
length of tubing. The tubing goes through a bung big enough for the
bottles being filled. With the bung held tight you open the tap till
it slows from pressure building up. Then you just crack open and
closed the bung to fill the bottle under pressure and prevent too much
foaming. From all reports it works like a charm. I think it would be
easier to use a scrap of copper tubing through the bung rather than
the tubing and connect the tubing to that
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Date: 29 Oct 2006 11:24:35
From: The Artist Formerly Known as Kap'n Salty
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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Norm J wrote:
>> "GeoffT" <sonic_death_monkey@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1161971502.042045.67110@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>> I bottle from the tap (or rather, pour into a jug then pour into
>>> bottles so it doesn't foam up) and I lose negligible carbonation over
>>> time.
>
> While I bought a beer gun to make this easy I found out afterwards
> that Denny had a "cheap and easy" for this as well. Cobra tap with a
> length of tubing. The tubing goes through a bung big enough for the
> bottles being filled. With the bung held tight you open the tap till
> it slows from pressure building up. Then you just crack open and
> closed the bung to fill the bottle under pressure and prevent too much
> foaming. From all reports it works like a charm. I think it would be
> easier to use a scrap of copper tubing through the bung rather than
> the tubing and connect the tubing to that
I use both methods for this. Actually, I just use a length of tubing
jammed over the picnic faucet for fills that are going to be consumed
shortly.
I think the beer gun is better for long term storage though. It allows
purging the bottle with CO2 and filling with one hand. It's reasonably
fast and easy -- I find that it works really well when doing a lot of
bottles. Of course, it ain't cheap either.
--
(Replies: cleanse my address of the Mark of the Beast!)
Teleoperate a roving mobile robot from the web:
http://www.swampgas.com/robotics/rover.html
Coauthor with Dennis Clark of "Building Robot Drive Trains".
Buy several copies today!
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Date: 29 Oct 2006 22:07:21
From:
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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: While I bought a beer gun to make this easy I found out afterwards
: that Denny had a "cheap and easy" for this as well. Cobra tap with a
: length of tubing. The tubing goes through a bung big enough for the
: bottles being filled. With the bung held tight you open the tap till
: it slows from pressure building up. Then you just crack open and
: closed the bung to fill the bottle under pressure and prevent too much
: foaming. From all reports it works like a charm. I think it would be
: easier to use a scrap of copper tubing through the bung rather than
: the tubing and connect the tubing to that
Look at my previous post in this thread... It's got links to photos of my homebrew CPBF that looks almost
exactly like that.
-Cory
--
*************************************************************************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
*************************************************************************
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Date: 28 Oct 2006 08:40:16
From: Steve Kranz
Subject: Re: Bottling options from a keg
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Brian Foster wrote:
> If I take a new batch and put it in a keg, then decide I'd like to give a 6
> pack to someone or even save a six pack for later (say a few months) what
> are the bottling options (if any) I have?
>
> Ale has already been force carbonated.
>
> Thanks
There is a bench-style counterpressure filler available sold as Wensel's
Counterpressure Filler, which I have, and it works great. This filler
was used to help bottle a commercial batch of a prize-winning homebrew
recipe (mine ;-D ). Our club hand-bottled the batch at the local
microbrewery (Clay Pipe) using the brewery's Melvico and the Wensel
filler. The brewery bought the Wensel model so we would have two
fillers going simultaneously and be able to bottle the whole batch in
one day. Afterwards, I bought it from the brewery so it is now m-i-n-e.
The Wensel CP filler costs $250 plus shipping, and as far as I know it
is only available directly from the manufacturer, Bill Wensel, from this
web site (he also has a book publishing business):
http://www.backyardpublisher.com/sub20.htm
I have posted an extensive review of the filler (with pix) on our club's
web site. There are some quirks in the filler's design, but overall it
is a good performer, and the results are as good IMHO as the Melvico
filler which is no longer made. As you will read, we made some simple
and easy modifications to the filler's original configuration, primarily
to add a purge valve which makes it simpler and faster to purge air from
the bottle:
http://users.adelphia.net/~smkranz/wensel's_cp_filler.htm
I have used the Wensel filler at home about 6 times since acquiring it.
It is no more of a hassle to set up, sanitize before and clean
afterwards, than any other handheld CP filler. I have the filler
mounted on a large plastic cutting board, alongside my bench capper,
which makes my filling operation a really easy one-person job. I most
recently used the filler a few weeks ago to bottle two cases of 22-oz.
bottles from a nearly full keg. The beer was well-carbonated on 12 lbs.
of pressure. At bottling, the pressure is upped to about 25-28 lbs. to
get a good flow rate. After the first bottle, and adjustments to the
bleed valve to get the fill rate where I wanted it, I had absolutely no
foaming issues using room-temperature bottles.
--
Steve Kranz
Homebrewer extraordinaire, banjo player mediocaire
Visit the Midnight Homebrewers' League on the web at:
http://users.adelphia.net/~smkranz
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