Here it is in all its glory... my first brew gets bottled. On this occasion, I decided to put the priming sugars in to the bottles. Next time I'll try adding the sugar to the bottling bucket then make a decision on the method of priming I prefer.
First the 45 bottles get a rinse with Chemipro OXI, a no rinse sanitiser. Bottles are left to drain whilst I prime the bottles and ready my bottling bucket. In antisipation, I cleaned the bottles yesterday with VWP. The bottles where stored in a clean box and with a sheet or two of cling film over the tops of the bottles to keep out the baddies.
Next, the bottling bucket. I wanted to purge the bucket with CO2. This is how I did it. The beer line attaches to the racking cane, then goes through the bucket lid at "A" all the way to the bottom of the bucket.
Open tap at "C" and give a good blast of CO2 to expel the air from the bucket, then shove the airlock in to the grommet, give another short blast of CO2 until the air lock "B" bubbles. Nip the beer line to stop the CO2 going up to the racking cane. One purged bucket ready for beer. (If only I had taken this much care of my children!
)
Automation in action
Fermenter to bottling bucket after 14 LOOOOOOOONG days.
Looking good... had to ease the airlock from the grommet from time to time just to ease the back pressure and speed the flow of beer. Slightly pressurised sealed environment has to be good for the beer.
No more than an egg cup full left behind
From bucket to bottle
A closer look
All that glistens... now I have to do is wait till Christmas Eve and pray.
