Bottling it! (with pictures)

[MickyD]

Thanks for the replies Anom and Crown, I thought thats what you had done, but just wanted to check.

Like I said before, top post.

[Vossy1]

Great work CC

[StrangeBrew]

Excellent post CrownCap, I really enjoyed the photos

I can see the benefit of using a bottle tree and I'd like to get one but am a little worried...how stable are they?

Is there more than one type of bottling stick? My LHBS doesn't stock them so it looks like a phone or internet purchase.

[anomalous_result]

Is there more than one type of bottling stick?

The type that seems most common (and may be the only one, not sure) can be seen here.

DaaB provides info on fitting the stick on his site.

Edit: Beertech offers two sizes of stick - linky

[StrangeBrew]

Thanks for the links AR.

I noticed on Hop Shop that the bottling stick is Canadian made, I'm going to Toronto to visit family in two weeks and planned to visit a homebrew shop or two so might wait and see if I can pick a couple up then.

[mysterio]

Good stuff, very careful brewing practice.

StrangeBrew, you should pay a visit to the SteamWhistle brewery next to the skydome when you're in Toronto. Great tour and they're very generous with giving away their beer.

[J_P]

It might also (having never done this) provide for another place to lose some sediment. My wherry's plagued with the stuff because I'm still new and a bit hasty

I found that using Safale S04 it was dropping really bright really quickly and the bottles were perfectly clear yet they took an absolute age to carbonate, some yeast in the bottom of your bottles is a good thing.

[CrownCap]

can see the benefit of using a bottle tree and I'd like to get one but am a little worried...how stable are they?

The base is quite wide so they are pretty stable. However, like any plastic construction I wouldn't abuse it too much, just in case

[anomalous_result]

It might also (having never done this) provide for another place to lose some sediment. My wherry's plagued with the stuff because I'm still new and a bit hasty

I found that using Safale S04 it was dropping really bright really quickly and the bottles were perfectly clear yet they took an absolute age to carbonate, some yeast in the bottom of your bottles is a good thing.

That's why I've just put some S04 on order =)

Also I know a bit of yeast isn't bad but when I opened the bottle all the gas seemed to come out of solution on the crusty yeast bed thus making it lighter so it lifted it all up off the bottom of the bottle, then it did a cartesian diver trick of going up and down in the bottle whit me watching, what was a clear bottle was now as bad as the day it was bottled - not a happy bunny. My racking technique will improve no doubt.

[J_P]

It might also (having never done this) provide for another place to lose some sediment. My wherry's plagued with the stuff because I'm still new and a bit hasty

I found that using Safale S04 it was dropping really bright really quickly and the bottles were perfectly clear yet they took an absolute age to carbonate, some yeast in the bottom of your bottles is a good thing.

That's why I've just put some S04 on order =)

Also I know a bit of yeast isn't bad but when I opened the bottle all the gas seemed to come out of solution on the crusty yeast bed thus making it lighter so it lifted it all up off the bottom of the bottle, then it did a cartesian diver trick of going up and down in the bottle whit me watching, what was a clear bottle was now as bad as the day it was bottled - not a happy bunny. My racking technique will improve no doubt.

Through extensive research my Da has discovered that if you chill the ale sufficiently then the yeast will stick to the bottom of the bottle. I have tried this technique and can say that S04 sticks to the bottom of the bottle like the proverbial to a blanket!

[StrangeBrew]

visit to the SteamWhistle brewery

Will do mysterio, cheers.

[Chris The Fish]

Also I know a bit of yeast isn't bad but when I opened the bottle all the gas seemed to come out of solution on the crusty yeast bed thus making it lighter so it lifted it all up off the bottom of the bottle, then it did a cartesian diver trick of going up and down in the bottle whit me watching, what was a clear bottle was now as bad as the day it was bottled - not a happy bunny. My racking technique will improve no doubt.

Ive had this happen only once or twice, and a friend had it happen to him when he opened a 2l bottle!

not sure what causes it, but it wasnt batch wide when it happened to me, only 1 in every 150 bottles

[anomalous_result]

and a friend had it happen to him when he opened a 2l bottle!

Funny that's exactly the same size my bottle was, I decant it into a jug.

[brew mountain]

Great post CrownCap

As someone only on their 4th brew it's good to get some tips & as they say a picture's worth a thousand words!!

Yet another accessory to buy with the bottle tree plus another kit as my stock of Wordforde's Norfolk Nog is decreasing rapidly

Anyone tried Springhead Bitter?

[itmustbemagic]

If your going for the bottle tree (which I have) go the whole hog and get the spray bottle washer by the same manufacturer. I put starsan solution in that, you invert the bottle and push the bottle down on the spout and it sprays the no rinse solution into the bottle. You then place the bottle onto the waiting bottle tree and hey presto its done! Allow to all drip dry and get on with your bottling. Could not be easier.