Just a few questions.

[Preid]

Well this will be my second brew and I want to try bottling it this time.

Ive already got one starter kit which consists of;

* 25 Litre brewing bin
* paddle
* Syphon
* Steriliser
* Hydrometer
* Woodfordes Wherry beer kit
* 40 pint barrel

Ontop of that I also have a plastic settling keg.

My plan's to order another one of these kits, two of the 'little bottler' tap systems that were on the recent BIY newsletter and two bottling buckets. Ive got the usual after market yeast, sterilizer and bottles all looked out.

Now its the steps from the fv to the bottling bucket that puzzles me.

Is filling the bottling bucket before filling with CO2 nessesary? Im happy to invest in a sodastream bottle of CO2. Also, what is this priming solution I keep reading about?

Any help is welcomed.

[PMH0810]

I can't comment on the bottling bucket as I am lazy and bottle straight from the FV.

The priming solution will be the sugars that are added to the keg, bottling bucket or bottles where you'd like secondary fermentation to take place. eg I
1) Put 1/2 tsp of sugar in each 500ml bottle before crown capping if using bottles
2) Dissolve 100g of sugar into 250ml of boiled and cooled water and pour this in the bottom of the keg before adding the beer; if using a keg.

[Dill]

Is filling the bottling bucket before filling with CO2 nessesary? Im happy to invest in a sodastream bottle of CO2.
Any help is welcomed.

No. No need to add co2 to bottling bucket at all.
No need for little bottlers either, just syphon straight from F.V. If after you've tried bottling and find that you like it, I'd then suggest getting the little bottlers. Bottling is a bit of a chore sometimes so if I were you I'd just try it with the equipment that you have first and then fork out for the extra bits like little botlers etc. Don't forget if you are planning on using glass bottles you'll also need crown caps and a capper

[mickhew]

Also, what is this priming solution I keep reading about?

Any help is welcomed.

Hello. The priming solution is added to the bottling bucket, to save you putting priming sugar/spraymalt into each bottle, which is a real chore. Put the solution into the bucket, add the beer from the primary f.v, then bottle from the second bucket ( I use a bottler). Theory is, the priming solution mixes whilst the beer pours into the bottling bucket, so "pre-primed" beer goes into the bottle.