Double bottle day

[GeordieBrewer]

Well, I reckon my Heather Imperial Pale Ale and Cumberland Ale are ready for bottling

The HIPA has been sitting in the secondary for 3 weeks, and the Cumberland for 2. - Looking forward to this one as I'll get the chance to use my new bench capper and bottle drainer - might post a few pics if the camera is charged up.

Maybe I should be leaving them in the secondary a bit longer, but want to free up bench space and the vessels to get some more brews on the go

[WishboneBrewery]

I think I'm getting a bottle drainer for Christmas Should make life that little easier.
I just need to get bottle all the same height, then bottling will be really easy

[GeordieBrewer]

Hi pdtnc,

I see what you mean about the bottle height! I love the bench capper now, but got really frustrated with keeping having to adjust the height - another thing to do... sort my empties in boxes by approx height, but that's all part of the fun!

Here's some photos.... a double bottle day was almost as challenging as a brewday, especially with over 50 bottles to prepare (it's a good job I'd already washed off the labels, and pre-sanitised them)


Priming sugar - 60g dissolved in 100ml boiling water and cooled to 25C - Normally use 70g but the brewlength was shorter at 15L instead of my normal 19L


Filling


Capping with the new bench capper - I mounted it on an old chopping board so it wouldn't slide about, and wouldn't damage my granite worktop (or I wouldn't be popular!)


Two batches, finished and labelled


Conditioning - the radiator is on in the en-suite bathroom - it's only used when we have guests, so it can sit in the shower tray for a week at 21C (In case I have any bottle bombs!)

[WishboneBrewery]

Is your kitchen from 'Magnet'...
Sorry, can't help looking as we have to choose a kitchen for our other house very soon, though I doubt we'll be splashing out on Granite.

Bottling is so much more closer to easy with the Bench capper

[GeordieBrewer]

Yep, even those bottles with the Awkward shaped neck (think it's Fullers) work perfectly, as it doesn't have to grip like to two handled capper does

Got the kitchen from "The Kitchen Works" at the Team Valley, Gateshead - although I project managed the installation myself, and did most of the design saved quite a few £££s that way - also sourced all the appliances online, saved a bit more, and even though the granite was expensive, saved again by sourcing it and getting it cut through a local stonemason.

The extra large sink, and filter tap make it perfect for brewing I can fit all my vessels into the sink, making cleaning up so much easier. The only other thing I'm thinking of doing is fitting a cold water supply under the sink to connect the wort chiller to.

[crookedeyeboy]

I know the Little Bottler thing drips, but why dont you put the bottling vessel over a glass and not the sink! You can drink the drips rather than them going down the drain!

[GeordieBrewer]

I know the Little Bottler thing drips, but why dont you put the bottling vessel over a glass and not the sink! You can drink the drips rather than them going down the drain!

Inspired!

[WishboneBrewery]

Our plan is to get a couple of Free designs, then our builder is going to get all the bits 'Trade' and fit it rather than some dodgy kitchen fitters doing the job.

[crookedeyeboy]

I know the Little Bottler thing drips, but why dont you put the bottling vessel over a glass and not the sink! You can drink the drips rather than them going down the drain!

Inspired!

Haha I know, I posted the same thing somewhere else and the guy said the same thing 'why hadnt I thought of that!'

[GeordieBrewer]

Our plan is to get a couple of Free designs, then our builder is going to get all the bits 'Trade' and fit it rather than some dodgy kitchen fitters doing the job.

You do right! I had two kitchen fitters as I almost came to blows with the first one! I don't wanna diss the entire trade, but in my experience kitchen fitters are the most frustrating people to work with! What with the extension and then the kitchen, was without the room for 6 months last year

Definately making up for it with the brews this year... Have a total of 120 bottles in rotation now, and might think about doing a polypin sometime so I can rig up my Angram beer engine

[Kristoff]

The only other thing I'm thinking of doing is fitting a cold water supply under the sink to connect the wort chiller to.

I disconnect the washing machine hose and fit a hozelock connector to the washing machine tap, saves trailing garden hose all through the house
Just remember to reconnect the washing machine afterwards tho

[Ingieuk]

Our kitchen is from magnet, something I find very handy is the tap has a hose inside it. Similar u shaped tap to yours geordiebrewer, except you pull on the end and a half meter hose comes out. Really handy for cleaning out fermenters, filling boilers etc.

Where abouts did you get all your empties, were they bought or collected?

Good bottling pics!

[GeordieBrewer]

Thanks Ingie!

In hindsight, one of thos extendable taps would have been really useful, but I couldn't find one with a filter tap built-in (I love kitchen gadgets!)

The bottle collection had been building over the past year.... a combination of personal consumption, and donations from friends/kind neighbours hoping for a couple of full ones in return Have a stock of around 120 bottles in rotation now - means I have around 4 batches on the go at any one time, which is handy an it gives them a chance to mature and not be drunk too early!