OMG

[Doug]

As a noob it's suprising what happens when you do something different.

Ok so I have only the white budget barrels. However instead of the gas release only tops I invested in some brass gas injection tops for each of th barrel.

Ok untill now I was happy with my ale as although flat and very little lasting head it tasted nice and was more than drinkable.

Until I purchased an injector thingy with 10 bulbs. I used it last night on one brew last night.

And to say it made a difference is an understatement. A nice creamy white head and for some reason a smoother ride down altogether.

Never go back always forward. The down side is it adds an exrta 10p to the pint over the next 120 pints. then drops down to 4p for the next 120 pint batch will be worth it though.

As a noob a deff investment..

[MickyD]

Yep a bit of a fizz in the beer makes it sooooo much nicer.

Hehe I also bought a valve lid for my beers.........but haven't barreled my beer since the Wherry went bad. I have no way of chilling it....although winter appears to be upon us, so its gonna be cold in the shed, and larger likes the cold...hmm

[Doug]

I was afraid of doing lager kits for the fact that flat lager aint good but now I may go for it. Or a Kriek cherry type thing for SWMBO.

[dan_olo]

The trouble is bottling 40 pts in one go can be a bit of a bind.

It only takes a couple of hours!

[Andy]

I think I'm in the minority on this forum by preferring a flat beer without a head

[anomalous_result]

The trouble is bottling 40 pts in one go can be a bit of a bind.

It only takes a couple of hours!

Get a bottling stick! They're awesome. Halved the time it takes me to bottle.

[dan_olo]

The trouble is bottling 40 pts in one go can be a bit of a bind.

It only takes a couple of hours!

Get a bottling stick! They're awesome. Halved the time it takes me to bottle.

Two hours with bottling stick...

It was my first attempt though, hopefully next time I'll have the technique so it won't take so long

[booldawg]

The backs of my legs have ached for the past few days - squatting on a childs plastic chair that I used as an impromptu 'milking stool' whilst bottling. I'll need to raise the FV several feet next time.

[anomalous_result]

Two hours with bottling stick...

Maybe it does me too, never noticed as tend to be drinking but I don't think I get through 4 pints when I'm bottling.

[dan_olo]

I suppose I did have a couple of interruptions and I got quicker as I went along, getting used to using the bottling stick / crown capper etc. I guess about 90 minutes next time, perhaps shave 10 mins off each time after that...

It's still not a nice job though. Just hope it's worth all the effort!

[anomalous_result]

crown capper

ah ha! I use swingtop bottles so there's some more time saved.

[dan_olo]

crown capper

ah ha! I use swingtop bottles so there's some more time saved.

Nice one!

[ambler]

2L pet bottles save alot of time. Lift fermenter onto bench with a saucer under 1 end and have 11 pop bottles on a long ikea stool/table so you can syphon with a nice straight back

[prodigal2]

OK all you bottlers out there what you need to do with your bottling bucket, with bottling stick on, is to put it on a FV with the lid on, ontop of the kitchen counter.
The bottling stick should be just above the counter so, unless you are a real short arse, it will be a comfortable affair. Put the radio on or stick the TV on and the time will fly. I always find the cleaning and sterilising the bottles the chore, but yet again if you find a surface to put your washing up bowl on, no back ache.

The thing with bottling is to make it as comfortable as possible, and as near a production line as possible, 10 minutes of prep will save loads on your day, and always remember those hours spent bottling pay hand over fist in the enjoyment stakes

[booldawg]

The bottles seemed to take longer to fill the more you did. Must've been the lack of pressure forcing the beer through the stick at the FV got emptier.