Growler filler

[Beer-lord]

While I've filled and capped a few bottles with my growler filler, I've never tried bottling this way and letting it sit for a few weeks and then checking to see how fresh it was.
With lower pressure and it being somewhat similar to a beer gun (without the co2 being pushed in first) so I would think this would be fine for a few weeks.
Anyone tried this for long periods of time?
I'm going to bottle a few this weekend and let sit a bit and try them in 3-4 weeks and find out for myself. I love the beer gun but for me, taking the keg out the kegerator, preparing the beer gun, star san, etc. etc, this just seems much quicker and easier to this old man.

[Inkleg]

Similar to the simple bottling wand I use to fill bottles. Purge the keg, lower the pressure and fill away. I think it will be fine.

[Beer-lord]

As a guess, good for 2-3 weeks?

[Inkleg]

Done right, 6+ months I'd say.

[Beer-lord]

Finally remembered to try this so I bottled one beer last night that I'm going to let sit 2 weeks then try to see how it works. It was a bit messy and I wonder about the lack of purging and not use any gas to clear the bottles first but I would think that for quickees and beer that will be drunk in a few weeks, this should work.

[RayF]

I use the simple bottling wand mentioned above. I just opened a bottle of a 2 year old pumpkin beer and it was still carbonated and tasted even better than it was 2 years ago.

I have been thinking about purchasing the growler filler and attaching the simple bottling wand to it to make it even easier to bottle.

[Beer-lord]

I have been thinking about purchasing the growler filler and attaching the simple bottling wand to it to make it even easier to bottle.

Now there's an idea I may try!
My thoughts are that if I only want to bottle 2-3 beers, why get out the beer gun (which is a great device), the CO2, sanitize the gun and line just to bottle 3 beers? I wouldn't expect these to sit unopened longer than a few weeks but I would feel better if I could purge them first though that's just my OCD rearing it's head again.

[RayF]

The simple bottling wand method essentially purges the bottle. I use oxygen absorbing caps just in case.

[Beer-lord]

I've never used those caps but I've read that you DON'T want to sanitize them or get them wet before using them because they aren't activated until they get wet.

[BlackDuck]

Not sure how true that is Paul. When I bottled my beer, I used those caps and always dipped them in iodophor to sanitize. I never did a comparison with unsanitized so I really can't say if there was a difference. But I know it never hurt any of my beers.


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[Beer-lord]

I know I read someone mentioning this a while back (not that it means its true, of course) and did a quick google and found some on HBT as well as Beer Advocate and the AHA forum that have said the same thing.
Of course on those same forums, there are those that argue those caps do nothing at all and aren't worth it.
I have no way of testing it and don't have any but they don't look very expensive really though I rarely bottle.

[RayF]

I've never used those caps but I've read that you DON'T want to sanitize them or get them wet before using them because they aren't activated until they get wet.

Never heard or read that. I guess I have never really looked into it either. The idea of using the caps was suggested On the link Inkleg posted I believe. The idea of using them for this case sounded good to me, so I do. I haven't had a problem with them but I'll be sure to look into it.

[Beer-lord]

Here's one that I found: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=89570

[BlackDuck]

I remember reading that thread Paul. I know there is an opinion on both sides, sanitize them or don't sanitize them. I'm just speaking from experience, sanitizing them never hurt my beers. Hell, every bottle I've sent to you has had them on, and you never complained that my beers were shitty!!!

[mashani]

Not sanitizing stuff would just be silly here.