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jamest22 · 08-03-2010, 12:29 PM

I currently have 11 gallons of Oktoberfest fermenting in a 13.5 gallon glass carboy. The carboy is in my fermentation fridge about 1 foot off the ground. I am trying to plan the best way to transfer to cornies post-fermentation. I have fermented ten gallons in this beast before and lifted the full carboy out of the fridge and onto a countertop to transfer via gravity. That was insane, I realize now that I was practically taking my life in my hands doing that and I don't plan to go that route again. I am looking into ways to transfer the beer out without moving the fermenter from the fridge.

So my options seem to be:

1) rig up a carboy cap and racking cane to transfer via CO2 pressure like I do with better bottles. I believe this is a bad idea as I should not be pumping pressure into a glass container.

2) March pump. Sanitize my march pump and hoses by pumping boiling water for 10 minutes, then pump the beer from fermenter to cornies. I have never used the pump on finished beer. Is there any oxidation or contamination risk?

Which of these methods sounds best? Any other solutions I'm overlooking?

Thanks

jamest22 · 08-03-2010, 12:40 PM

As i've read around I see that many people aren't recommending transferring finished beer using a March pump. Looks like CO2 push is the way to go. I guess I just have to watch the pressure really closely right? Or, perhaps the carboy cap would fly off before the carboy exploded.

**bull8042** · 08-03-2010, 01:49 PM

I would transfer via CO2 pressure. I have done this when fermenting in a Sanke and have found that the gauge hardly registers any pressure at all and the beer moves just fine.
Using the pump is a bad idea in my opinion because of the frothing it will create.

**shelly_belly** · 08-03-2010, 01:50 PM

I push with CO2 from a 6.5 gal glass carboy. I use the orange cap as it doesn't fit as tightly as the purple-ish colored one. It leaks the excess CO2. When I get too aggressive, the cap does pop off.

samc · 08-03-2010, 02:04 PM

You can pump with 2 psi of CO2, however sometimes looking at glass cross-eyed will cause it to break.

**Ohio-Ed** · 08-03-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samc

You can pump with 2 psi of CO2, however sometimes looking at glass cross-eyed will cause it to break.

I never look cross-eyed at my carboy for this very reason

I do however transfer with co2. I only have a 6 gallon carboy, so I am able to lift it, but use co2 to start the siphon. I use a rubber stopper with 2 holes in it, one for the racking cane, the other for a barbed fitting for co2. I just hold the barbed fitting until the beer starts flowing, then pull it out and stop the pressure. As other have said, takes maybe 2 psi to start the flow.

**SweetSounds** · 08-03-2010, 02:57 PM

I'd transfer with CO2 - It takes very little pressure. Close your regulator completely, and dial it up till the beer starts moving.

I highly recommend fermenting in a sanke if you need more than 5 gallons of room. A carboy cap fits a sanke pretty good, or you can buy the fermenter cap (It's freakin sweet

) and transfer under pressure with no issue.

Glass is ebil and I'll have nothing to do with it. It's just not worth the risk of losing my best friend!

jamest22 · 08-03-2010, 02:59 PM

10-4 on the Sanke fermenter. I actually have a Sanke I'm planning on using for just that purpose. I just haven't tried it yet as seeing 11 gallons ferment through the glass is just too damn cool.

jamest22 · 08-03-2010, 03:02 PM

Also I must admit that despite a two day PBW soak and rinse, i'm still worried about putting my wort into the great dark unseeable unknown that lies within that Sanke.

**SweetSounds** · 08-03-2010, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamest22

Also I must admit that despite a two day PBW soak and rinse, i'm still worried about putting my wort into the great dark unseeable unknown that lies within that Sanke.

I thought the same thing - One of my kegs was full of 6 year old Bud Light!
The aroma was indescribable

I filled it with about 13 gallons of water, a cup or 2 of OxyClean, and set it on the Bayou Classic till it hit 200 degrees, and scrubbed the inside with a carboy brush.
Problem solved
Now I use the carboy/corny cleaner ah-la sump pump to clean most everything in my rig.

They aren't that hard to clean, really. Although I'm considering figuring out how to hook a CIP ball to my pressure washer