Bottling stick - bubbles
- Andy
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Bottling stick - bubbles
OK so last night I racked my latest brew into cornie from KingKeg conditioning tank. I used a syphon system with the cornie end fitted with a valved bottling stick ( http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1071.htm ). The intention being to fill some bottles at the same time.
However as soon as I started the flow the beer in the syphon tube had a very gassy appearance and a large amount of bubbles were forming in the cornie. I guess this was either air getting into the system (not sure how) or possibly conditioning CO2 coming out of solution (doubt it as the KK wasn't under much pressure when conditioning). The gassy effect seemed to take place about half way along the syphon tube (it has no leak!).
I stopped the syphon and removed the stick pretty sharpish and hope that the "gas" introduced initially isn't detrimental to the rest of the brew....
Any ideas what was going on ?
However as soon as I started the flow the beer in the syphon tube had a very gassy appearance and a large amount of bubbles were forming in the cornie. I guess this was either air getting into the system (not sure how) or possibly conditioning CO2 coming out of solution (doubt it as the KK wasn't under much pressure when conditioning). The gassy effect seemed to take place about half way along the syphon tube (it has no leak!).
I stopped the syphon and removed the stick pretty sharpish and hope that the "gas" introduced initially isn't detrimental to the rest of the brew....
Any ideas what was going on ?
Last edited by Andy on Wed Sep 13, 2006 2:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I use this bottle filler from the home brew shop in Farnham. I actually use it with 3/8" tubing and use the red fermenter taps (so you should have no problems PoP
).
I don't have any problems with it and like you planned to do Andy, fill a few bottles and a cornie from each batch.
As long as the seal between the tap and tubing and the bottler and tubing is good and the tip is below the level of the beer you will not be sucking in air. I usually press the valve sideways against the inside of the neck of the bottle or side of the cornie so the beer dribbles out down the side until there is enough in the bottom to submerge the tip. I also vary the drop to control the pressure when filling the more fiddly bottles. I do sometimes get bubbles in the tubing and the occasional burst of bubbles in the cornie. I think PoPs explanation is probably correct. The added pressure causing more bubbles to come out of solution when using the bottler.

I don't have any problems with it and like you planned to do Andy, fill a few bottles and a cornie from each batch.
As long as the seal between the tap and tubing and the bottler and tubing is good and the tip is below the level of the beer you will not be sucking in air. I usually press the valve sideways against the inside of the neck of the bottle or side of the cornie so the beer dribbles out down the side until there is enough in the bottom to submerge the tip. I also vary the drop to control the pressure when filling the more fiddly bottles. I do sometimes get bubbles in the tubing and the occasional burst of bubbles in the cornie. I think PoPs explanation is probably correct. The added pressure causing more bubbles to come out of solution when using the bottler.
I might invest in a bottle filler. I have already planned on using a bottling bucket so that my priming is easier.tribs wrote:I use this bottle filler from the home brew shop in Farnham. I actually use it with 3/8" tubing and use the red fermenter taps (so you should have no problems PoP).
Currently I put sugar in each bottle and add boiling water and mix it up but this takes me so long and I hate that process. Thought that if I was to use a bottling bucket it would be fairly quick and easy.
Don't count on it. Bottling is just one of those labours of lovePieOPah wrote:Currently I put sugar in each bottle and add boiling water and mix it up but this takes me so long and I hate that process. Thought that if I was to use a bottling bucket it would be fairly quick and easy.

It is easier with a bottling bucket and bottle filler though. I've got the process quite well nailed down now, but I've not bottled a whole batch for quite some time

I think that my biggest problem is turning the tap off in time to avoid spillages. Am I correct in thinking that with the bottle filler, this automatically stops the flowwhen lifted off the bottom of the bottle? That alone would make bottling easier!
In fact I think that he worst part would be the cleaning!!!
In fact I think that he worst part would be the cleaning!!!
[quote="DaaB"]PoP...the bottling stick has a little needle valve that opens when pushed against the bottom of the bottle, it shuts again when released. Very handy
[/quote]
Hi,
I'm new to the forum but have been brewing kits for a couple of years - mostly good results but have to agree that using sugar instead of spraymalt is not good. I've got 2 barrels but occasionally I bottle up a Brewferm Belgian beer - so how does this bottling stick thingy work? (apart from the little valve). How does it attach to the fermenting bin - can't seem to find any clear pictures on the web. Hopefully it will stop me sucking on the siphon tube and then sticking my finger over the end to stop the flow!.
Thanks,
Dave
[/quote]
Hi,
I'm new to the forum but have been brewing kits for a couple of years - mostly good results but have to agree that using sugar instead of spraymalt is not good. I've got 2 barrels but occasionally I bottle up a Brewferm Belgian beer - so how does this bottling stick thingy work? (apart from the little valve). How does it attach to the fermenting bin - can't seem to find any clear pictures on the web. Hopefully it will stop me sucking on the siphon tube and then sticking my finger over the end to stop the flow!.
Thanks,
Dave
Firstly, as you should be aware, sucking on the syphon tube is a big nono.
Instead, fill with a sanitized solution (eg boiled water) and stopper the end. You finger is good enough as long as clean and sanitized. Personally I have a tap which I put on my syphon tube.
When you syphon, the filled tube will automatically start drawing your beer for you instead of you needing to suck.
Next, the bottling stick would go onto the syphon tube. Some people have taps on their fermenter and put the tube on the tap and the stick on the tube. Some people may be even luckier and the bottling stick will fir their tap.
Instead, fill with a sanitized solution (eg boiled water) and stopper the end. You finger is good enough as long as clean and sanitized. Personally I have a tap which I put on my syphon tube.
When you syphon, the filled tube will automatically start drawing your beer for you instead of you needing to suck.
Next, the bottling stick would go onto the syphon tube. Some people have taps on their fermenter and put the tube on the tap and the stick on the tube. Some people may be even luckier and the bottling stick will fir their tap.