Auto-Siphon choice

[frenchbrewer]

Hi!

Soon to be new brewer. I was preparing my equipment purchase.

For various reasons I would like to stay on the small batch of 1G.

Someone told me to avoid the "mini" 5/16 and go directly to the 1/2in. Sounds overkill to move 1 Gal but what is your experience?

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

1/2" is WAY faster than 3/8". For one gallon I can't see it making much of a difference. 5 gallons with a 1/2' takes about exactly one minute to transfer. So for one gallon thats a 12 second transfer compared to maybe a minute...not a big deal either way


One gallon is about as close to no beer as possible. I would strongly consider 5 gallons brews if your buying equipment and have a blank slate. All recipes are 5 gallons and all ingredient kits are for 5 gallons. Even the yeast packages are for 5 gallons.If you find you like brewing youll be buying twice. Better off buying once and being done with it

 

[frenchbrewer]

But do you think it would be a handicap for small batch? Cause I see it as keeping a potential to grow later.

But I'm afraid it would be too much for example for bottle filling of 12oz

 

[govner1]

I’d consider a separate bottling bucket for just one gallon (where I started). You’re only filling 10 bottles at best.
Save the auto siphon for later because you’ll discover as I did that 1 gallon is an awful lot of work for 10 bottles!
I actually went to 3 gallons with the help of my LHBS. Eventually realized that 6 gallons is essentially the same amount of work!
I originally did all gravity feed but have upgraded over 8 years.
I also started by kegging using 3 gallon kegs since being one armed bottling is a challenge!

 

[frenchbrewer]

I don't want to open the discussion around 1 Gal vs 5 Gal... cause I know it's pretty controversial.

But regarding the bottling bucket (I'm afraid it will be controversial also...) don't you think it's an extra source of potential oxidation ?

 

[kh54s10]

I don't want to open the discussion around 1 Gal vs 5 Gal... cause I know it's pretty controversial.

But regarding the bottling bucket (I'm afraid it will be controversial also...) don't you think it's an extra source of potential oxidation ?

It is a small concern for oxidation, but should not be a concern if you do it without splashing.

Personally, I can't imagine trying to bottle with an autosiphon. I guess it would work, but the bottling bucket seems so much easier. Especially if you batch prime.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Use the 5/16 mini auto siphon.

There's nothing wrong with 1 gal batches.

+1
I find using a second vessel for bottling to be easiest. If you gently transfer, oxidation is not a concern.
You need a bottling wand too, either way.

 

[frenchbrewer]

Use the 5/16 mini auto siphon.

There's nothing wrong with 1 gal batches.

+1
I find using a second vessel for bottling to be easiest. If you gently transfer, oxidation is not a concern.
You need a bottling wand too, either way.

Yes I guess there is nothing wrong with the 5/16 mini my question was more as soon as I will not buy a kit maybe I should secure the possibility to upgrade later.

 

[RPh_Guy]

as soon as I will not buy a kit maybe I should secure the possibility to upgrade later.

Sorry, what?

 

[Kee]

Yes I guess there is nothing wrong with the 5/16 mini my question was more as soon as I will not buy a kit maybe I should secure the possibility to upgrade later.

Get the 5/16" that is 23 inches long if you think you might upgrade to bigger batches later. It will work fine. And yes, you can use the auto siphon to bottle, just attach a bottle filler to the end of the tubing. If you use the auto siphon while bottling, any appropriate-sized food safe container will do as a "bottling bucket".

 

[govner1]

^^^This should work well. Using a bottling wand on the end of your tubing will give you better control while filling bottles.
Good luck!

 

[shoengine]

It is a small concern for oxidation, but should not be a concern if you do it without splashing.

Personally, I can't imagine trying to bottle with an autosiphon. I guess it would work, but the bottling bucket seems so much easier. Especially if you batch prime.

I used to autosiphon bottle fill from a carboy. It sucked, a lot.

One thing to note about oxidation, siphons don't save you much from oxidizing. Your siphon is full of air and it doesn't necessarily purge from the lines immediately, and you can watch as the bubles detach and enter your bottling line. You'll still have a flexible line to purge but it is faster and easier.

Bottom line is that drawing from the bottom of a bucket with a spigot into your bottles is a lot more efficient and convenient.

 

[TechFanMD]

Maybe I missed what you're using for a fermenter, but when I've done 1G batches I've used glass jugs, and the larger siphon doesn't fit in the opening of the jug.

 

[Immocles]

I found myself brewing 1 G batches more often. I have a mini siphon on order because it was just really unwieldy to bottling from the jug with the bigger siphon. It worked well, but in my tight kitchen, I felt like I needed a third (sometimes fourth) arm to prime and hold everything without launching beer everywhere or taking out a window with the cane. It was also a battle to keep the siphon from being too high or too low in the jug. Clamps, or even a bag clip helped immensely. Its tricky, but once you make a mistake or two, you can get the process down quickly. So I would cast my vote for the mini, at least I am hopeful that it will be a bit less of a battle.

 

[Druman07]

I use the mini, have been using it for a year, with no issues. Seems like the bigger one would be overkill. I am pretty good now doing the one hand priming, hold the bottling wand steady in a bottle, while priming the pump 2 - 3 times.

 

[kh54s10]

Take a look at this when deciding what equipment to use for bottling. I find it much easier to mix priming sugar into a bottling bucket. Then attach the bottling wand to the spigot, raise the bottles to the wand rather than sticking the wand on a siphon and then into each bottle.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/bottling-tips-for-the-homebrewer.94812/