Bottling and Kegging Question

[wfowlks]

So long story short, I have decided that with my 5 gallon batches, I want to bottle about 10 bottles of each and then keg the remainder. I wasn't sure of the best way to go, because I don't have a counter filler so I cant fill it from the keg to the bottle and have it be preserved a long time. I figured the easiest way would be to mix a small solution of corn sugar and water for the bottles, then keg and force carb the rest.

Is there an easier solution without investing a whole ton of money into some blichmann beer gun, or some counter filler?

If not, how much corn sugar should I add to how much water for each bottle? Lets say 12 bottles, or whatever denomination is easiest.

Thanks

 

[zachattack]

I'd recommend Coopers carbonation tabs, or something similar. You can't dial in an exact carbonation level, but I think lots of people that want to keg most of a batch and bottle a few go this route.

 

[res291que]

Or just carb it all with sugar both bottles and keg.

 

[OHIOSTEVE]

Or look up BIERMUNCHERS beer gun thread. .... but the carb drops would be the best bet I think.

 

[geer537]

I've had fairly good success with just turning off my CO2, bleeding the keg, then filling bottles slowly. You may let out too much CO2 but then just turn it back on for a second. The issue I have with this method is that your head space in the bottles is hard to maintain because you need to slightly overfill the bottle then let the cap rest on the head for a moment to make sure you have all of the air out. If you just fill at full pressure, you lose a lot of the carb.

I've entered a few competitions this way and the carb levels hold pretty well. I've even won a few ribbons.This is all imperical so take it at face value and experiment at your own pace. I haven't tested this longer than 2 months though. And now- let everyone flame me for filling bottles like this...

 

[ArcticBear]

party tap, racking cane cut on an angle, #2 stopper = profit.

like someone else mentioned look up the thread and you'll find a lot of people have had great success with it. you likely have all the parts minus the stopper on hand...

i believe the name of the thread is something like "we dont need no stinking beer gun"

goodluck

 

[tre9er]

party tap, racking cane cut on an angle, #2 stopper = profit.

like someone else mentioned look up the thread and you'll find a lot of people have had great success with it. you likely have all the parts minus the stopper on hand...

i believe the name of the thread is something like "we dont need no stinking beer gun"

goodluck

The stopper cost me $0.50 from LBHS, FWIW. I had a piece of racking cane that was broken off at an angle anyway. Copper pipe can be used, too. Friend has one like this.

 

[Kaleco]

I've used the carb drops and a sanitized turkey baster to bottle a 6-pack out of a secondary carboy. Didn't want to pull the whole thing off of the oak that was in there yet, but wanted some bottles in the meantime. They turned out fine and I made sure to squeeze the beer very gently from the baster.

 

[wfowlks]

Thanks guys,
I think I will stop at the LHBS on the way home and get the #2 stopper and the cane.

 

[ArcticBear]

Thanks guys,
I think I will stop at the LHBS on the way home and get the #2 stopper and the cane.

Let us know how it works out for you

 

[kwingert]

Look up the thread "we don't need no stinking beer gun." I think that's what its called.