Bottle for Competition

[rwh]

I am entering my first competition with bottle that I filled from a keg. I am using Biermunchers beer wand. The bottles fill great with very little foam. I splash the bottles before I cap to remove all the oxygen. The bottles end up quite full, only leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of head space. Should I try to have more head space like a bottle you would buy off the shelf, or is this a non issue?

 

[brewshki]

I am entering my first competition with bottle that I filled from a keg. I am using Biermunchers beer wand. The bottles fill great with very little foam. I splash the bottles before I cap to remove all the oxygen. The bottles end up quite full, only leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of head space. Should I try to have more head space like a bottle you would buy off the shelf, or is this a non issue?

I don't think it's a huge issue. I try to get them as full as possible and have yet to have any judges network it being too full.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Speaking as a judge, if it's a significant overfill (which is far more common than underfilling), most judges (myself included) will note it on the scoresheet, and while it might lead some initial bias (say, expecting undercarbonation as is a very common problem with beer bottled off the keg), but won't deduct for it unless there's an actual problem. Now, if the beer were to be undercarbonated and overfilled, or oxidized and overfilled, that might adjust my feedback to process for bottling off of the keg as that's what the evidence would suggest.

But to answer your question, no it's not implicitly an issue. If capping on foam requires you to fill the bottles quite high, and filling to a "normal" level results in undercarbonation and/or oxidation, I'd rather see the high fill.

 

[brewshki]

Speaking as a judge, if it's a significant overfill (which is far more common than underfilling), most judges (myself included) will note it on the scoresheet, and while it might lead some initial bias (say, expecting undercarbonation as is a very common problem with beer bottled off the keg), but won't deduct for it unless there's an actual problem. Now, if the beer were to be undercarbonated and overfilled, or oxidized and overfilled, that might adjust my feedback to process for bottling off of the keg as that's what the evidence would suggest.

But to answer your question, no it's not implicitly an issue. If capping on foam requires you to fill the bottles quite high, and filling to a "normal" level results in undercarbonation and/or oxidation, I'd rather see the high fill.

Good to know! I'm thinking about really getting into the competition scene and may invest in some sort of bottle filling device to fill from my kegs. Any thoughts on the different products?

 

[Gavin C]

I am entering my first competition with bottle that I filled from a keg. I am using Biermunchers beer wand. The bottles fill great with very little foam. I splash the bottles before I cap to remove all the oxygen. The bottles end up quite full, only leaving about 1/4 to 1/2 inch of head space. Should I try to have more head space like a bottle you would buy off the shelf, or is this a non issue?

I bottle off the keg using the BMBF too. My question is this. Why is there not more headspace? Why are you trying to eliminate it?

• Fill till beer flows out around the bung.
  
• Turn off flow
  
• Remove racking can leaving the correct amount of headspace.
  
• Cap

Trying to do it so that there is little to no headspace is more likely to result in you losing carbonation. There's just more mucking around involved to needlessly overfill it.

I try to present my beers to the judge in as pristine a manner as possible. Spotless bottle with no commercial markings, silver cap devoid of any markings and a fill level comparable to a commercial beer.

Plant the bias seeds in the judges mind so to speak, that this beer is going to be a good one. Every little may help you edge out a competitor to a medal.

• I'm not a judge
  
• I don't shake the bottle when capping
  
• I have enjoyed some success with the BMBF
  
• Beers bottled this way remain as intended indefinitely it seems.

Best of luck in the competition BTW

 

[rwh]

I can fill the bottles without too much foam, but what I fear is oxidation so I fill them and then splash the top and cap on the foam. When I do this they end up fuller than a professional beer. I guess I need to practice filling to the correct amount and then letting them sit for a while and check carbonation levels and if any oxidation occurred.