First Brew Problem?

[wanus]

It sounds ok to me after the time that's passed.

[newtohomebrewuk]

So the gravity looks settled at about 1.010, i dont have time to bottle it until the weekend. My problem is I only have 24 .5l PET bottles. Are bottled sparkling water bottles ok to use? Can they be flavoured water or will that smell/flavour go into the beer?

[Exiled Bradfordian]

Hi.

Sparking water bottles will be fine. As I understand it, air can eventually permeate plastic so it won't last forever, but as long as they've had something carbonated in them before you'll be fine. Wash em well and sterilise and you shouldn't get any of the previous flavour.

[newtohomebrewuk]

In terms of the bottling process, the homebrew shop recommend plastic tubing with a plastic tap on the end. Whats the best way to avoid oxygenating the beer when im filling the bottles? Is this something to be worried about?

[Exiled Bradfordian]

The tap helps avoid spillage. My siphon just has a kind of 'clip' that you can shut off between bottles to avoid losing your brew, but any old bit of food grade flexible tubing should do.

[WalesAles]

In terms of the bottling process, the homebrew shop recommend plastic tubing with a plastic tap on the end. Whats the best way to avoid oxygenating the beer when im filling the bottles? Is this something to be worried about?

nthbuk,
Keep the plastic tubing at the bottom of the bottle, open the tap, fill to approx 10mm from bottle top.

WA

[newtohomebrewuk]

Thanks for all the help so far.

I was given one of these today http://www.brewuk.co.uk/equipment/bottl ... stick.html, apparently it will help with bottling. However im stumped as to how I keep the pressure and the beer flowing through the tubing. If i stop the flow after each beer surely ill have to suck the end to start the flow again? The only other piece of equipment I have is a tap that goes on the end of the plastic tubing.

[WalesAles]

Thanks for all the help so far.

I was given one of these today http://www.brewuk.co.uk/equipment/bottl ... stick.html, apparently it will help with bottling. However im stumped as to how I keep the pressure and the beer flowing through the tubing. If i stop the flow after each beer surely ill have to suck the end to start the flow again? The only other piece of equipment I have is a tap that goes on the end of the plastic tubing.

nthbuk
When you lift the stick off the bottle bottom, the flow stops. When the stick touches the next bottle bottom, the flow starts again.

WA

[newtohomebrewuk]

Thanks for this. One more problem, I dont have a secondary fermenter to put the beer in, should I use carbonation drops? Or just add the sugar to the primary?

[newtohomebrewuk]

Thanks for all the great help in this thead. The beer tasted fine, slightly bitter but still very nice. Its all bottled now and Ill have to resist the urge to crack one up before the two week time frame!