Blichman Beer Gun / Last Straw Bottle Filler

[Rob2010SS]

Looking for a better way to fill bottles. I've currently been doing it from my kegerator. I turn the PSI in the keg down to 2-3 PSI and fill right from the tap.

I've been looking at the above options and they sound nice. However, they have a fair share of bad reviews in regards to how well they work.

Anyone have one? How well do they work? Recommendations?

Thanks.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Anyone?

 

[shoengine]

I use the Cadillac of fillers, the WilliamsWarn CP bottle filler. I wrote a review but it hasn't been posted. If you force carb, I definitely suggest counter-pressure fillers because you can fill at the same pressure you kegged at, which leaves your stored CO2 relatively intact. If you are refermenting in the bottle, it shouldn't really matter what method you use.

 

[verboten]

I've been helping bottle (from the keg) at the local brewery quite a bit lately. We use a Blichman V2, purge bottle with gas, fill, then tap the trigger for a bit of foam on the top and cap right away. I drank a bottle about a moth back that was still perfect at 6 months old.

 

[Rob2010SS]

I use the Cadillac of fillers, the WilliamsWarn CP bottle filler. I wrote a review but it hasn't been posted. If you force carb, I definitely suggest counter-pressure fillers because you can fill at the same pressure you kegged at, which leaves your stored CO2 relatively intact. If you are refermenting in the bottle, it shouldn't really matter what method you use.

That's a fancy bottler! Pricey, but nice.

I've been helping bottle (from the keg) at the local brewery quite a bit lately. We use a Blichman V2, purge bottle with gas, fill, then tap the trigger for a bit of foam on the top and cap right away. I drank a bottle about a moth back that was still perfect at 6 months old.

I was thinking this one at first, but it got some really bad reviews on Amazon so I nixed it... I was leaning towards the last straw but I'd rather buy a Blichmann product than a NB product.

I just need to hear from someone who has a last straw filler to hear their experience as well. My wife actually already bought this one so if it'll do the trick, I'll just keep it but if not, I'll return it and go with the Blichmann.

 

[tmendick]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/we-no-need-no-stinking-beer-gun.24678/

Cough, Cough... I've used this for lots of comps and never had carb issues.

 

[verboten]

I have done about 300 Bombers with the blichman, i think my wrist still hurts

I just need to hear from someone who has a last straw filler to hear their experience as well. My wife actually already bought this one so if it'll do the trick, I'll just keep it but if not, I'll return it and go with the Blichmann.

 

[shoengine]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/we-no-need-no-stinking-beer-gun.24678/

Cough, Cough... I've used this for lots of comps and never had carb issues.

I tried that for a batch and couldn't get the hang of it, and really was the experience that led me to get the WW. I just ended up making a huge mess and carb levels were inconsistent.

 

[CWood]

My Blichmann v2 works great. Bottle beer straight from keg all the time. The key is low co2 pressure.

 

[Wagon_6]

I hate the last straw and foamless finish. Just too much going on, takes forever to fill multiple bottles, and that foamless finish never worked for me. I think the spring loaded tip is detrimental to the design. I’ll be going back to the diy beirmuncher filler.

 

[Rob2010SS]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/we-no-need-no-stinking-beer-gun.24678/

Cough, Cough... I've used this for lots of comps and never had carb issues.

I've tried that. It doesn't work well for me. I got frustrated enough with it where I gave up. It always foamed up in the lines for me.

 

[Rob2010SS]

My Blichmann v2 works great. Bottle beer straight from keg all the time. The key is low co2 pressure.

Good to know. Thanks!

 

[CWood]

Sorry, double post.

 

[Lynchy217]

I'm a huge fan of this guy from more beer:

https://www.morebeer.com/products/counter-pressure-bottle-filler.html

It's a good bit cheaper than a Blichman, and, having used both, is at least as good in my experience.

 

[tmendick]

I've tried that. It doesn't work well for me. I got frustrated enough with it where I gave up. It always foamed up in the lines for me.

Weird, I've never had issues. I do have a bit of a change to the original, I use a BetterBottle style stopper upside down so it wraps over the rim of the bottle. That seemed to make it easier to make a seal for counter pressure as well as to release the pressure when the flow stops. With this I don't change the CO2 pressure, my bottle filler line is roughly 5ft and I carb at 11PSI.

 

[Rob2010SS]

My Blichmann v2 works great. Bottle beer straight from keg all the time. The key is low co2 pressure.

Does this one require a dual regulator?

 

[jmcquesten]

I have a Beergun that I don't use anymore. I'd let it go for $55 plus shipping. The beergun is a little tricky to get dialed in, but adding a 20' coil of (3/16)beerline and keeping the pressure set to serving pressure (and not releasing keg pressure) will do the trick.

I put this counterpressure filler together and it works great.

 

[shoengine]

Heh, out of a LB fitting. That's pretty awesome!

 

[Maylar]

I have a Last Straw and only used it once. It just seemed like a whole lot of work with little benefit. I make cider, not beer, and don't get much foam. I can bottle from the keg using just a bottling wand stuck into a picnic tap. Keep the pressure just a couple pounds and no foam. My method does leave air space in the bottle though, so if I was going to keep bottles around for a long time I'd go back to the L.S. My impression of it's quality is very good.

 

[CWood]

Does this one require a dual regulator?

Not necessarily. I have 2 Co2 tanks, each with their own regulator. I also have a manifold with multiple valves in my kegerator that I can draw from (if one is open). You can also get a wye splitter with shutoff valve for a single regulator. I use 10 ft. of bev hose and pretty low Co2 pressure.