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Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:55 pm
by Togorok
These 6 lbks i brewed a few weeks are back to haunt me.... Just bottled 2 batches and have 4 more to go..... Need to try this batch priming stuff got sugar all over the place... Kitchens roach heaven..... Sink is dish heaven...... Honey i love you a lil help yo.....lol
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:58 pm
by Yankeedag
get yourself a slimline from wally world. they work great.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:05 pm
by philm00x
Lot of folks use a slimline, like Nong said. I used a bucket I converted with a spigot on it, but you could even use another LBK to batch prime and bottle with. Get a siphon to transfer, or you can hook up the bottling wand to the spigot and then just fill into whatever you've got your priming sugar solution into, then hook the bottling wand up to that and fill your bottles.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:41 pm
by Brewbirds
not bad mouthing the batch primers 'cause I've done the same and have 2 slimlines for that purpose but it looks like you are struggling with your first frustration.
We have been using a mini sugar cube to bottle prime most of our beers and it is quite easy. If you are just starting out you might want to try that and then go to batch priming for style.
Until you get to brewing software and beer styles and details about carbing it might help.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 7:45 pm
by mtsoxfan
Don't fear the batch.... pretty easy, consistant...... Get comfortable with whatever you do....
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:37 pm
by SelfFueled
+1 Do not fear the batch.
One thing i will say, the slimline sucks.
You either have to transfer it back to the LBK or get an extra LBK
The easiest is to use 1/2 cup or so of water, dump in 1/3 cup (or correct for you style/batch size) of corn sugar (or your fav sugar)
bring to boil and let cool (at least somewhat)
Then dump in empty LBK
Take your LBK of wort and hook up your tubing to the spout.
Drain it into the LBK with sugar.
Then you can hook up that tubing to the LBK with wort.
Using a bottling wand is perfect on the tubing.
Fill your bots and such.
I fill 6 or so then bench cap em...repeat.
WHen I used the slimline, you cannot hook up a bot wand, so if you try to tap from it, you get lots of air and liquid coming out.
Luckily I had a slimline for a couple years to try one time (last time I use) rather than buying a new to try.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:42 pm
by gwcr
Experiences vary. I never had issues with my slimline. Fit a short length of tubing into the spigot, and attached the bottling wand to that with about a 2 inch piece of tubing. Worked like a charm. YMMV
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:46 pm
by RickBeer
Slimline works fine with bottling wand inside the spigot.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:48 pm
by Yankeedag
actually, the bottling wand works better when inserted into the bottle to be filled...
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:28 pm
by FrozenInTime
Eff bottling... just order some 2.5 gallon tailgate kegs and start keg'n. I don't miss bottling, won't go/look back. Lost atleast half the mess on bottling day, er, keg'n day! Now I enjoy it again.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:21 am
by philm00x
they're pretty expensive though, and difficult to find used ones. i've thought about using those 5 liter mini kegs that you can pop into those beertender machines, but I understand they are pretty easy to overpressurize and then break.
Re: Bottle rockets
Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:27 am
by RickBeer
Batch priming with a slimline is an easy step up and will help with your 6 LBKs - assuming you don't want to keg your beer. A bottling wand is invaluable in this endeavor. Transfer the wort from your LBK to a slimline with tubing, then from your slimline to the bottle with the wand. Hint - the wand fits into the slimline's nozzle. If yours won't fit, get a drill bit and with your hand turn it gently a few turns in the nozzle. Then try the wand. Of course after dryfitting you'll want to sanitize the nozzle.
When you do multiple batches, test each by tasting the hydrometer sample. If it tastes ok (i.e. no infection), use the slimline. You can, but don't have to sanitize the slimline between batches. I don't when I have two LBKs with the same brew in them (splitting a 5 gallon batch), but I do if I'm bottling two different batches.
Regardless, doing 6 on one day is a lot of work. I do 2, and that's enough for me. You may want to stagger your brewing so you do two or three at a time, then a week later do two or three, ... Or do three, then bottle all three and brew the next day, etc.