Home Brew Forum

Got home from a marvellous day at work, to find my first brew had stopped bubbling completely... time to get bottling.

I'd popped out yesterday and bought a second FV for racking off into (oo'er missus!), and before the bottling today I drilled the FV so that I could fit my Little Bottler - worked like a charm when the time came!

With everything sterilised and ready to go, I popped the lid off my brew for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by the aroma... being a beginner I went for the Muntons Mexican Cerveza... I started to siphon off the brew and was even more surprised by the taste... tasted just like flat Mexican lager I must admit though that it is rather cloudy... the missus took one look and laughed, tried to reassure her that it'll clear over the next couple of weeks... fingers crossed! Is there anything I could do if it doesn't clear? I really don't want lager that looks like Scrumpy!

I primed the whole 21 litre batch with 90 grams of sugar - I thought about using Coopers Carbonation drops but thought I'd stick to standard sugar for this first brew. Like I've already said, the little bottler worked like a charm! Didn't spill a drop during the whole bottling process, so I've now got 21 1 litre PET bottles stashed in a warm place for a couple of days. Can't wait for the proper tasting session when there is a bit of fizz!

Copper...

Time is the best clearer of beer(er). Give it at least three weeks in the bottle (as they're PETs you should see them clearing). Once they look clear (and I mean crystal) give them at least another week to fully mature. Keep them in the dark too so they don't get skunked (assuming the hops used weren't issomerised).

For that "authentic" crispness, refridgerate them for another week at about 6C - although this may throw a chill haze it should pass given enough time.

You could always add finings when you rack your beer if you can't wait...