bottling/hydrometer questions

Steiner · 10-21-2007, 08:11 AM

I brewed with a "real" 6.5 plastic fermenter with a spigot for the first time. It's a robust porter and it has spent 12 days in the primary. I had some questionable yeast, which so far appears to have worked out fine. Either way, I gave it some extra time since it started a little late in the cycle.

SG: 1.063.
Final gravity readings have been stable the last few days- around 1.019. I was having a little difficulty reading the hydrometer since it always rests on the side of the testing tube and the measurement marks are so small I have trouble distinguishing to the .001 place. Is this significant enough for concern or am I just too paranoid? Otherwise, tastes good and gravity seems to be where it should be, I think.

More importantly, I am not quite sure how to go about the bottling process. Earlier I used to make regular 5 gal batches and use my old Mr. Beer fermenters and from there bottle from the spigot, but it wasn't consistent and I had mixed results, hence the new fermenter.

I have a spigot and a bottling bucket. I was not planning on using a secondary, but let me know what you think. Either way, my LHBS told me to use the spigot to empty into the bottling bucket. I have plastic tubing and a bottle filler to which I would use. However, I'm concerned- will this remove the beer from the trub? While taking hydrometer readings, I have noticed what looks like a decent amount of trub coming through the spigot into the glass. Is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

mrkristofo · 10-21-2007, 08:25 AM

With those numbers you're at 68.7% attenuation. I'd go ahead and bottle. If you want to be sure, watch the SG over the next three days. If it doesn't change, then you're good to bottle.

Cheers.

ohiobrewtus · 10-21-2007, 02:34 PM

So you fermented in your bottling bucket? If so, I'd recommend racking your beer to a different bucket, cleaning and sanitizing your bottling bucket, then racking it back into your botgtling bucket on top of your cooled priming sugar mixture. I don't think you'd have much success going to bottles right from your primary with a spigot.

I would recommed using a secondary to clear out the beer, but that's up to you.

You also mentioned using the spigot to empty into your bottling bucket. That's fine as long as you attach a piece of sanitized hose to the spigot so that the beer will gently flow to your bottling bucket. You don't want to just open up uthe spigot and have the beer pour into your bottling bucket. This will oxidize your beer and could resultt in off flavors.

mrkristofo · 10-21-2007, 03:22 PM

I think he fermented in a 6.5gal plastic conical.

malkore · 10-21-2007, 06:49 PM

you don't wanna use the bottling bucket as a secondary either. secondary in a 5gal carboy, then rack to the bottling bucket on bottling day.

this should eliminate trub.

Steiner · 10-21-2007, 07:01 PM

Ok, thanks guys. Just to clear things up. I'm not fermenting in my bottling bucket- it's still in my primary- a 6.5 gal plastic bucket. My main concern is transfering my beer from my fermenter to the bottling bucket and from there, bottling it from the spigot.

This concern is a result of the sediment I've noticed that is coming out with my beer. I was not sure if the spigot has some sort of filtering assembly or is it just pouring all the contents out together. Because if not, then what's the point of the bottling bucket if you still got all the curd, which not because of mixing would be mixed in with your beer rather than concentrated at the bottom? Just curious.

I just wanted to know if this sediment that comes out through the spigot with the rest of the beer is ok...?

I have a plastic hose to hook up with my spigot, so I know not to pour it right into the bottling bucket. Thanks for the help.