Question about transfering from fermenter to keg.

[djcslip]

Been following the excellent tutorial (thanks by the way) over at http://www.18000feet.com/how/H2HB2.htm and all going very well indeed.

It mentions that "The transfer of the beer must be done as smoothly as possible to avoid aerating the wort".

Being your typical clumsy sort of chap, i managed to get - not only myself, but the garage floor covered in beer whilst syphoning. But more importantly i seemed to have aerated the wort.....

Is this the end? In the event of something horrible about to happen, are there any precautions i can take to minimize damage? Or should i just stop whining/ worrying??


Thanks for reading....

[PieOPah]

I find that the easiest way to transfer wort is by having a tap on your fermenter. With the syphon attached to the tap and placed on the bottom of your keg (in your priming sugar solution) you can open the tap and let it flow. This will result in a very simple and air free transfer.

Depending on how much you aerated your beer will depend on the damage. You may get away with it, you may not. It is likely that all you have done is shortened the lifespan of your beer meaning you'll just have to drink it quicker!

[djcslip]

It is likely that all you have done is shortened the lifespan of your beer meaning you'll just have to drink it quicker!

Oh Well!!

Have to give it another go then!!!

Thanks for replying.

[Jim]

As POP says, you won't have done any major damage. I also use a tube on the end of the fermenter tap that goes right to the bottom of the barrel. That also reduces foaming when tranferring, which used to be a problem in the days when I just used to open the fermenter tap and let it slosh in.

[djcslip]

Damn fine idea.

I have one of these.
http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item743.htm

and the bin is rounded, with no flattened part for a tap..

Is it possible to fit a tap with a good seal? If so, how far up the bin would you recommend?

[mysterio]

How much did you aerate the wort? If it was just a few splashes, don't worry. When you prime the keg, the yeast will scavenge the oxygen that was introduced to the beer while fermenting the sugars.

Oxidation can cause some cardboard-like flavours, apparently.

[djcslip]

Oxidation can cause some cardboard-like flavours, apparently.

It was very foamy by the time the bin was emptied, so i guess i'll just have to wait and see.

I'm off to eat some cardboard now - so i have some idea if the beer got over-oxidated....

[Garth]

Is it possible to fit a tap with a good seal? If so, how far up the bin would you recommend?

with the bin on a flat worktop, hold the tap up to the bin and touching the worktop with the bit that the beer comes out of, then move it up 5mm or so for clearance, mark it and cut the hole out, remember to put the rubber seal on the outside of the bin.

Bins with taps on are the way to go, no of this syphoning malarky.....

[davidson]

What tap would you recommend Garth? Or are they all pretty much the same.

[Garth]

I have these black types on three of my bucket fermenters and on my two sealed fermenters also, they have never mucked up, and have never leaked on me. When transferring beer, I get an airtight seal with one of those jubilee clips with a small turn handle built onto it




I have the drum type on my boiler, mash tun and HLT and these are constantly sticking, leaking and breaking, but it's probably to do with the heat, especially on the boiler.

[djcslip]

Thanks Very Much....

Just discovered there's home brew shop less than a mile from my house (oh .... happy days ) So shall be off there tomorrow a.m and getting the necessary tap fittings.

Again - thanks very much!