Counter Pressure Filler?

[stevenrl]

Hi folks,

I'm after a counter-pressure filler for bottling my brew. (please don't suggest using a BeerGun - I've got one, it foams everywhere even when the stuff is cold, and it's vented to the atmosphere, so it's impossible to keep all the oxygen out). Needs to be of reasonable quality (similar quality to BeerGun, preferably), and made of stainless steel.

Does anyone know where to get one in the UK? I appreciate this has been asked on several forums over the years, but I've not seen a satisfactory answer yet. I've searched quite a bit for one, and am rapidly reaching the conclusion that I'm going to have to make one! Here's hoping someone can save me the effort...


Cheers

Steve

[aamcle]

Steve.

I think you will have to make one but there are plenty of instructions on the net.

I bottled a batch of lager with a beer gun just a few days ago it was carbonated to 2.5 vol and I did not suffer from a lot of foaming.

However the beer was at 0°C and I used Coopers bottles because they have very low thermal mass and few internal imperfections were bubbles could start.

I have used glass bottles but keeping them cold enough is a challenge, I had a crate at a time in the freezer but at this time of year the freezer is too full for that.

I'm going to try a Chinese Pegas type tap which is an alternative way of filling.


Good luck. aamcle

[stevenrl]

Wow - 200-something views, only one reply so far (many thanks).

I guess that says it all really - there are no decent CP fillers.

No choice left, I'm making one.

Maybe some folks could help with the criteria. Here's what I have so far:

Made from 316 stainless steel, with soft silver soldered joints (food safe silver/tin solder)
Uses John Guest fittings (replaceable, readily available, connects to existing setup easily)
Comes apart easily for cleaning


Anything else?


Thanks!


Steve

[T1mjv]

Have you looked at the pegas ecotap?
Re the beer gun try using 3/16 beer line on it rather than the supplied pipe and chilling the bottles flush with co2 the foam you will get will exclude most of the oxygen!
I assume you are not pasteurizing your beer so the yeast will take up any oxygen. Even with a counterpressure filler you will not exclude all the oxygen from the bottle.
The only way to do so is fill the bottle with water and expel the water with gas pressure. Very time consuming!
I hope this helps
Cheers
Tim

[chris2012]

Regarding the beer gun, this may not help, but I simply siphon the beer into a keg and add powdered sugar for priming that has been dissolved in a small amount of water to it and attach to my regulator set to a bit less than 10psi and I don't seem to have foaming issues (I don't even chill it really).

[T1mjv]

I think the op was enquiring about carbonated beer,what you are describing is using the beer gun to bottle primed un carbonated beer.
Cheers
Tim

[aamcle]

here you go

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/894-c ... c%2520here last post in thread

and

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/74451 ... le-filler/

I made the Tight Arse filler it worked well but it was fiddly I even managed to use it off a plastic pressure barrel.

I have one of these on order https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-des ... 0.0.RMIhwS

it may well be cheaper than buying a load of SS fittings.


aamcle

[stevenrl]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I think my point is being missed here - I don't want anything Chinese, cheap, or alternative options. I want a counter-pressure filler made from stainless steel, as per original post, and not from bits of plumbing fittings cobbled together either.

I've ordered the materials I need, will post details & pics here in a few days when I've made one.


Steve

[Wonkydonkey]

here you go.

I have one of these on order https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-des ... 0.0.RMIhwS



aamcle

I have one very simular, it's for plastic bottles, but thanks to a few threads, and barneey. The ss washer and the correct bottles (the necks are different), it works, but I will say it's slow, as by the time you've filled co2 and flush the O2 out, then slowly filled with beer, then equalise the pressure slowly then cap the bottle. The time soon adds up as I said to do a few bottles,
But I only really want to bottle a few here and there, so it works for me bottling from a cornie


Well. stevenri, I just read your last post, I hope and look forward to see your new CPBF made from the parts you have ordered,
All the best
Wonky

[jaroporter]

i'm sure some people would have been looking at the thread title and hoping you were going to tell them where to find one!

i've actually got a load of spare parts kicking around that i'm fairly soon intending to hack together into some kinda CP filler too. don't seem to be much to them, but here's some thoughts..

you can either have both gas then liquid entering from the same tube (for more effective purging of air, though i'm doubtful about the neccessity?), or keep them totally separated (only have to worry about cleaning beer side). either way you need a separate exit for the gas.

i'm thinking of using corny disconnects so i can easily hook the keg up to the bottle filler, then the filler to the cleaning line, 'cause i think i'm going to mount it to the keezer so wont be able to dunk it in a bucket of PBW to clean. i also don't intend to dismantle it once built.

sourcing a decent pressure relief valve for a reasonable price has been a bit difficult, i'd be very interested to know what you (and other people) have come up with

[Matt in Birdham]

To be honest - although I doubt this will be a popular suggestion on this thread - the simple carbonation caps work pretty well for CP filling. The downside of course is that you need to swap gas/beer onto the fitting for every fill, but this isn't really a big hassle. Untwisting the lid gives surprisingly good control over escaping gas and the net result is that this solution is as functional as any CP filler could be.

[jaroporter]

i've got one of those and yep it'll do that extremely well for screwtop bottles, but obviously wont work on your standard glass swingtops or cappable bottles..

[barneey]

I would make your own.

[Matt in Birdham]

i've got one of those and yep it'll do that extremely well for screwtop bottles, but obviously wont work on your standard glass swingtops or cappable bottles..

True enough. Mind you, I'm not sure I would want to be CP filling glass bottles anyway..

[aamcle]

stainless steel,

Mmmm shiny fever, at a huge price Pegas do a filler that will take glass bottles but I think you would have to import it.

As for quality the beer gun is nothing more than bits of SS tube cobbled together with a few fittings you can work to that standard yourself.

It seems to me a real Pegas tap might be the way forward for you. http://www.pegas.lt/en/7-taps


aamcle