brewing with the intention to bottle ...

[Roberts7]

Hello All

Am about to brew a small batch of IPA with the intention of bottling it. I will brew in the usual way and condition it in a pressure keg for a month before bottling it.

My question is: do I prime the pressure barrel? Or is this unnecessary being that I'll be priming the bottle?

[jimmiec]

I would imagine you would need to pressurize it some to seal the keg so no oxygen gets to the beer. Why do you want to do this?

[oz11]

I often do this. It's the method proposed by Graham Wheeler and it's worked for me with good results. I prime the pressure keg and vent it over the first 24-36 hours, working on the principle that this will push the majority of oxygen out the keg. Depending on the OG I keep it kegged for anything from one week to a month or more. I then bottle from the keg, chilling it the day before and venting to release the pressure. First time I tried it I had concerns that the bottles might not carbonate but that has never been the case and I've always ended up with a decent amount of fizz, though I am happy with low levels of carbonation and have never tried to get the levels of carbonation that would suit a lager.

For me, it gets the beer out of my fermenter ready for the next brew.

[Roberts7]

I have used up my two pressure barrels which have a dark ale in one and an IPA in the other ready for a beer taster session with friends in September. But I do have a bunch of bottles spare and thought I'd brew up a stash for my own personal enjoyment.

So, you prime the barrel but not the bottles? Or both?

[Roberts7]

A further question: what are your thoughts in conditioning a demijon for a month before bottling rather than a pressure barrel?

[oz11]

Using this method I haven't bothered priming the bottles, only the barrel. Graham Wheeler does say it shouldn't be necessary unless you need to drink it young.

Can't help with the demijohn query I'm afraid, never owned or used one.

[Fil]

a demijon will not take any pressure safely..

i would be tempted to add a small amount of sugars to each bottle 1gm?

[Roberts7]

Ok, cheers for the advice guys.

[Beer O'Clock]

Why not just bottle condition ?

[steamedbeech]

+1 It does seem a bit of a work up .

[oz11]

For me it's a case of convenience. I tend to brew twice in fairly quick succession, top cropping the first brew and pitching that into the second. I don't always have enough bottles to bottle the first one so it goes into a keg and frees up my FV for brew number 2. It means I can get it out of the FV and if it hasn't quite fermented out I'm not worrying about bottle bombs or having to delay the second brew. I could buy another FV I suppose, but then I'd only brew twice as much .

It is a little more faffing around but it doesn't take very long to starsan a clean pressure barrel and syphon and get it in there. Once it's running it doesn't need constant attention.

According to Graham Wheeler this method is preferable as it vents off "volatiles" which would otherwise be trapped in the bottles. I haven't noticed any particular difference between beers bottled this way and those that are bottled directly from the FV. If/when GW's new book comes out it will be interesting to see whether he still recommends this procedure.

[Beer O'Clock]

I don't know of, nor have I noticed any "volatiles", and I bottle everything. I transfer to a primed, bottling bucket after fermentation and bottle. Leave them to condition in the bottle for a few weeks and you have great beer.

Pre-conditioning seems like a good way to waste time and energy.

Oz11 - I take your point but the OP doesn't have or hasn't mentioned a shortage of bottles as motivation. I don't understand why he would need to bother.

So just bottle condition and get on with the next brew.

[louiscowdroy]

I don't know of, nor have I noticed any "volatiles", and I bottle everything. I transfer to a primed, bottling bucket after fermentation and bottle. Leave them to condition in the bottle for a few weeks and you have great beer.

Pre-conditioning seems like a good way to waste time and energy.

Oz11 - I take your point but the OP doesn't have or hasn't mentioned a shortage of bottles as motivation. I don't understand why he would need to bother.

So just bottle condition and get on with the next brew.

I tend to agree; i've always primed very slightly....few grains....straight from FV, bottle conditioned in house for 2 weeks, then move boxes into garage - result, amazingly tasty, bright clear beer......mind you, it took me 6 months to collect 600 bottles....lol

Louis