Bottling beer from a Barrel

[Big Al]

I have recently made up a batch of Coopers Bitter and put it in my beer Barrel. Now I had forgotten to bottle a couple of pints to store and potentially send to a friend from the south.

If I wanted to bottle a few, should I add extra priming sugar to the bottles or will the beer hold onto its carbonation if I transfer it to bottle and cap it fairly quickly

[crafty john]

If the beer in the keg has finished secondary fermentation it won't hold its fizz very well if you put it into bottles you will just have a flat beer, if you have only just put it in the keg you could bottle some and it will finish carbonating in the bottles. you could try priming a couple of bottles and see how it goes. I allways bottle 6 pints and keg the rest so I have allways got a few bottle for giving to mates or taking on holiday.

[Lillywhite]

The great danger in bottling at this stage, if it's been in the keg for some time, is that you'll introduce oxygen into the beer so it won't stay fresh very long.

[Normski]

I have recently made up a batch of Coopers Bitter and put it in my beer Barrel. Now I had forgotten to bottle a couple of pints to store and potentially send to a friend from the south.

If I wanted to bottle a few, should I add extra priming sugar to the bottles or will the beer hold onto its carbonation if I transfer it to bottle and cap it fairly quickly

Hi Al
I've been experimenting with doing this myself. As the guys say. If it's only been in the keg a short while you may be ok to just gently transfer to bottles being careful not to splash it about so you don’t oxygenate it. If it’s not very carbonated you may be able to add a bit of priming sugar, put it somewhere warm and just maybe it'll also be OK. My tip is to try some in Pet bottles. Add a bit of sugar and give it a shake and you will be able to feel the pressure, if it increases over a few days jobs a good un. If it stays soft your going to need to drink it soon after opening and it won’t be very carbonated either. Give it a try, and let us know how it goes. Some have worked a treat for me. Others have been rubbish.

[Big Al]

Normally I do bottle a good few to keep a side but got side tracked

I cant remember off hand how long it has been in the keg but it must be between 7 & 14 days, do i may well have been too long now.

I'll give one a shot and keep it warm and see if the bottle stays flimsy or gets harder

[crafty john]

Normally I do bottle a good few to keep a side but got side tracked

I cant remember off hand how long it has been in the keg but it must be between 7 & 14 days, do i may well have been too long now.

I'll give one a shot and keep it warm and see if the bottle stays flimsy or gets harder

My Mrs prefers it to get harder