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07-30-2012, 03:48 AM
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#1
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Audio Engineer/Instructor
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chandler, AZ
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Simple bottling process.
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First I look through my bottles to see if they need scrubbed out or if a simple rinsing will do. Most of the time all that's needed is a rinse since I rinse out my bottles as soon as I pour out the beer. Today I'm bottling two 5 gallon batches, so I got 4.5 cases of bottles ready.
I make sure to sanitize both my bottling bucket and the bottling wand and I run the sanitizer through the bottling wand into the bucket I store my Starsan in.
I use my dishwasher as a drainage rack/filling station. I make sure to sanitize the top rack before I start putting sanitized bottles onto it so they can drain.
I use a vinator filled with Starsan to sanitize the inside of my bottles. Three quick pumps and the inside of the bottle is thoroughly coated with Starsan.
Once I sanitize the bottles they go into the top of the dishwasher to drain.

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07-30-2012, 03:48 AM
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#2
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Audio Engineer/Instructor
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chandler, AZ
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I make sure to measure out the amount of dextrose I need and bring it to a boil with a few ounces of water.
I get the bottle caps ready and submerge them in Starsan until they're ready to go onto the bottles.
I also make sure to sanitize anything that will come in contact with the beer. That includes my mash paddle. I use this to mix the priming sugar with the beer. Some people will tell you there is no need to stir after racking your beer onto the priming sugar. I didn't use to, but I had problems with uneven carbonation. Stirring your beer gently is fine and shouldn't oxidize your beer as long as you don't splash. Once I added this step I no longer had uneven carbonation.
I place my bottling bucket slightly over the side of the counter so when I get to the last 8-10 beers I can tip it.

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07-30-2012, 03:49 AM
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#3
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Audio Engineer/Instructor
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chandler, AZ
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I place 10 sanitized and empty bottles on the open door of my dishwasher. This batch is a Newcastle clone so I wanted to bottle a six pack in Newcastle bottles
Once the bottles are on my dishwasher lid I fill one at a time and move my bottling wand to the next bottle once the current bottle is filled. When the next bottle is filling I pull a cap from the Starsan and cover the top of the filled bottle.
Once I get 10 bottles filled I use my capper to seal them.
Repeat until finished and clean up!
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07-30-2012, 04:43 AM
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#4
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 725
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Nice Pics. Man how I DON'T miss bottling.
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Drunken Tortoise Brewery
Primary - Indian Brittish Ale, Belgian Pale, American BarleyWine, Partigyle from BarleyWine.
Secondary - Hibiscus Mead.
Kegged- Slightly Smoked APA,
Dry Irish stout.
Bottled - Rum Oaked Porter.
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07-30-2012, 04:53 AM
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#5
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: katy, texas
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Very.... very... nice! As has been said already, great pictures and cool narration.
I actually enjoy bottling day. But.... I usually fill about 12-15 (32oz) bottles and the rest are 22,24, and 12 oz bottles, so I normally go through about 20 caps only. Beats the heck out of capping 50 of em!
I mean... who really only drinks 1 beer? A 32 oz, basically 2 pints, gets the job done for me 
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07-30-2012, 06:46 AM
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#6
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 283
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I have no idea why it never hit me to use my dishwasher as a drying rack. Lightbulb!
Thanks!
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Primary #1: Empty
Keg #1: Apfelwein
Keg #2: Graff
Keg #3: Denny Conn's Bourbon Vanilla Porter
Keg #4: Simtennial Pale Ale
Bottled: Scottish 60/-, House Stout, Chocolate Oatmeal Porter
On Deck: Oatmeal Stout
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07-30-2012, 09:22 AM
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#7
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Audio Engineer/Instructor
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chandler, AZ
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I'm definitely moving into kegging, but I still like bottling. I have two kegs, but only room for one to be chilled at the moment. Therefore I do still have to bottle most of the time. I also like to bottle in 22oz. bottles, but I just used up a few cases on a 9.9% Imperial stout. The bombers just seem appropriate for that beer.
I do like the 12oz. bottles though. I like to mix and match when I have a few beers. If I have 4 different types on hand it won't be uncommon for me to drink 2, 3 or 4 different types some nights.
Thanks for the compliments, guys. Hopefully this helps a few people who are new to bottling.
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07-30-2012, 10:47 AM
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#8
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Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
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Location: "Detroitish" Michigan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Challenger440
I have no idea why it never hit me to use my dishwasher as a drying rack. Lightbulb!
Thanks!
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Uh, you mean you've been on here 4 years and never looked at the bottling stickey?
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07-30-2012, 12:13 PM
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#9
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Johnston, Ia
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Revvy
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*gasp*
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07-30-2012, 01:09 PM
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#10
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: collingswood, nj
Posts: 3,095
Liked 190 Times on 165 Posts Likes Given: 47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Revvy
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Lots of good stuff in that thread. I like the short tube to connectthe bottling wand and just bottle over the dishwasher door. To clean up the drips.......just close the door.
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