Bottling Bucket? Do I need it?

[trivtrav]

OK, hello all, I am very new to this and just have a few quick questions. First off, do I need a bottling bucket? When I bought my kit, the "Ale Pail" already had a spigot installed, and I wasnt really aware that I needed anything else. Should I still transfer to another bucket for bottling? Why? Am I going to see any unwanted results by bottling directly from the pail?

Thanks

 

[Revvy]

Yes, you really should use one, when you mix in your primary sugar you will kick up all the sediment you patiently waited to settle back into your beer...

The stuff you leave behind normally by racking carefully to your bottling bucket..

You can just go to a hardware store, get a bucket that is a bit over 5 gallons (where the five gallon makr is usually one of the bands on the top) and put a spigot on it.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

The bottling bucket is not actually essential, but it is extremely preferable for a cleaner, clearer bottling of your beer. I'd THOROUGHLY recomend that you use one

 

[shecky]

The bottling bucket is not actually essential, but it is extremely preferable for a cleaner, clearer bottling of your beer. I'd THOROUGHLY recomend that you use one

+1. They're cheap. It'll make your brewing life a lot easier.

 

[Revvy]

It's really a pita to bottle any other way, and that include trying to siphon off the top of the fermeter even if you could mix the sugar solution in without kicking up the trub..

Here's some great tips for bottling, btw...https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/revvys-tips-bottler-first-time-otherwise-94812/

 

[broadbill]

If I were you:

I would go buy another ale pale (or a glass carboy or better bottle) WITHOUT the spigot for a fermenter . Then, use the ale pale with the spigot for your bottling bucket.

 

[Revvy]

If I were you:

I would go buy another ale pale (or a glass carboy or better bottle) WITHOUT the spigot for a fermenter . Then, use the ale pale with the spigot for your bottling bucket.

I think his issue is that his beer is in the bucket with the spigot right now and he wants to bottle...

Otherwise...yeah, that would be a logical idea...

of course if he were going to secondary this is really moot...he buys a carboy or better bottle, racks to it for a couple weeks...and by then he would have cleaned out his bottling bucket (er I mean fermenter) and could use it as a bottling bucket...

Then the next time he ferments in the carboy (get the 6 gallon better bottle,) by then he will have learned about skipping the secondary, primary it for a month and bottle using what was his fermenter, then his bottling bucket and still is his bottling bucket...


it think I've confused myself.

 

[trivtrav]

Unfortunately Revvy is right, my beer is in the fermenter which has the spigot, which will be great for my next round now that I know this, but is not helping much now

One last question about this. Transferring from my carboy (which is an ale pail) to the bottling bucket...can I use the spigot for that? It is placed about an inch or so above the bottom of the bucket, so I dont think it would suck in any sediment, but who knows...

 

[shecky]

Unfortunately Revvy is right, my beer is in the fermenter which has the spigot, which will be great for my next round now that I know this, but is not helping much now

One last question about this. Transferring from my carboy (which is an ale pail) to the bottling bucket...can I use the spigot for that? It is placed about an inch or so above the bottom of the bucket, so I dont think it would suck in any sediment, but who knows...

You could do that if you attach tubing to the spigot to eliminate splashing. Get that tube all the way down into the your secondary vessel and transfer gently. You don't want to oxidize the beer.

If I were you, I'd invest the $14 or so in an autosiphon. They're easy and quiet.

 

[trivtrav]

Awesome...thanks again to all you guys for your help...Im really glad I found this forum...and its the only home brewers website I have found so far that is not blocked by my work's web filter

 

[McKBrew]

.and its the only home brewers website I have found so far that is not blocked by my work's web filter

Where do you work at?

just kidding, I wouldn't do that to you.

 

[mew]

I just use my brewpot as a bottling bucket. I siphon into the pot, mix up the sugar, and siphon into bottles. The pot is easier to clean than the bottling bucket, too.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I just use my brewpot as a bottling bucket. I siphon into the pot, mix up the sugar, and siphon into bottles. The pot is easier to clean than the bottling bucket, too.

Well, theres a good money and space saving option!

 

[Revvy]

I just use my brewpot as a bottling bucket. I siphon into the pot, mix up the sugar, and siphon into bottles. The pot is easier to clean than the bottling bucket, too.

Well I'm glad it works for you. But I'm sure a lot of people on here find using the spigot on the bucket a lot easier than trying to bottle and maintain a siphon at the same time.

Plus with the setup I linked to earlier,,,,I can sit at a table and bottle, not on the floor...

And as for cleaning I just either rinse the bucket throroughly and let it drain out the spigot. Or fill it wit oxyclean and hot water, and drain half off thorugh the spigot and half with my autosiphon to clean out both.

Pretty hassel free on both counts.

 

[StoutFan]

Gotta love firewalls. +1 for the bottling bucket. My dad still uses the one we made out of a Rubbermaid trashcan and some compression fittings. works like a charm.

 

[mew]

Well I'm glad it works for you. But I'm sure a lot of people on here find using the spigot on the bucket a lot easier than trying to bottle and maintain a siphon at the same time.

I must mention that an auto-siphon is key to my setup (in more than just bottling).

Plus with the setup I linked to earlier,,,,I can sit at a table and bottle, not on the floor...

I just pick up the pot and put it on the counter, but I guess everybody has different counter/table heights.

And as for cleaning I just either rinse the bucket throroughly and let it drain out the spigot. Or fill it wit oxyclean and hot water, and drain half off thorugh the spigot and half with my autosiphon to clean out both.

I always worry that I'll scratch the plastic, so I guess the pot isn't really easier to clean, it just gives me peace of mind because I'm confident that it will last without succumbing to bacteria.



In short, one person's easy and convenient is another's pointless and difficult.

 

[Homercidal]

Any cheap plastic bucket will work for bottling if it's clean. Just drill hole and add spigot. Doesn't need a lid if you only use for bottling. You could always find something to cover the top with if needed.

I'd consider buying a second Ale Pail though. Food grade and ready for spigot. THen you have your choice of two buckets for whatever you need them for.

I quit doing siphons a while back. Only when necessary (transfer from carboy, which is rare).

 

[trivtrav]

I think I am going to do the second ale pale...the local brew shop has them, so it saves me from going all the way to KC to get something else.

One quick question...I spoke earlier about transferring to my bottling bucket just using the spigot on the ale pale I already have...my only concern is I have been reading a lot about all the crap in the bottom coming into your bottling bucket...I would say this spigot is mounted about 1-2 inches above the bottom of the bucket. Is that going to be enough to avoid bringing all the junk into my bottling bucket?

 

[Yooper]

I think I am going to do the second ale pale...the local brew shop has them, so it saves me from going all the way to KC to get something else.

One quick question...I spoke earlier about transferring to my bottling bucket just using the spigot on the ale pale I already have...my only concern is I have been reading a lot about all the crap in the bottom coming into your bottling bucket...I would say this spigot is mounted about 1-2 inches above the bottom of the bucket. Is that going to be enough to avoid bringing all the junk into my bottling bucket?

I'd siphon it- and just keep the spigot closed. I've fermented in my bottling bucket, and the spigot has always been full of trub.

 

[Revvy]

I think I am going to do the second ale pale...the local brew shop has them, so it saves me from going all the way to KC to get something else.

One quick question...I spoke earlier about transferring to my bottling bucket just using the spigot on the ale pale I already have...my only concern is I have been reading a lot about all the crap in the bottom coming into your bottling bucket...I would say this spigot is mounted about 1-2 inches above the bottom of the bucket. Is that going to be enough to avoid bringing all the junk into my bottling bucket?

That will be an issue for you draining form the bottom with a spigot, more than likely you will get more goop from the primary coming through. Also you will be leaving beer behind in the bucket (unless you had a dip tube like the one I show in the tip thread I linked in my first post.)


Another issue with draining from your primary is spigot sanitization...unless you sealed it up with plastic and sanitiser ahead of time, your spigot is not snitized right now...you could try spraying it with sanitizer and maybe try to get some inside the spigot, but there's no gaurentee there's not some micro-particle jammed up there...(When I bottle from my nottling bucket spigot, I always drain sanitiser through the spigot for several minute to make sure it's sanitized.)

Honestly? I would ignore the primary spigot and rack with an auto siphon as if the spigot weren't there...I personally wouldn't risk it...


And if you do ignore my advice and do so anyway, at least attach a hose to the spigot, you don't want to risk oxydizing your beer by having it fall into your bottling bucket.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'd siphon it- and just keep the spigot closed. I've fermented in my bottling bucket, and the spigot has always been full of trub.

But you throw it all in the primary. I've noticed that when i leave the trub behind when racking to the primary that I would be able to bottle from my bottlking bucket (If I wanted to) This is something we really needs pics for, anyone got an underbeer camera?

 

[remilard]

If I were you:

I would go buy another ale pale (or a glass carboy or better bottle) WITHOUT the spigot for a fermenter . Then, use the ale pale with the spigot for your bottling bucket.

If I were anyone I wouldn't put spigots on anything. There is no reason to fear siphoning and hose and racking canes are easier to clean and sanitize than spigots.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

If I were anyone I wouldn't put spigots on anything. There is no reason to fear siphoning and hose and racking canes are easier to clean and sanitize than spigots.

I understand your reasons behind your thinking. However, Revvy's method, despite taking a very small amount of extra care regarding sanitisation totally rocks the ass off siphoning. It really is very relaxing and stress free. I also have a better idea for the dip tube than Revvy's version which I will post later

 

[remilard]

I understand your reasons behind your thinking. However, Revvy's method, despite taking a very small amount of extra care regarding sanitisation totally rocks the ass off siphoning. It really is very relaxing and stress free. I also have a better idea for the dip tube than Revvy's version which I will post later

I can't think of anything unrelaxing or stressful about siphoning.

If siphoning makes you tense or stressed and you want to be a homebrewer, practice siphoning until you can do it without clenching your sphincter or teeth.

 

[Revvy]

I also have a better idea for the dip tube than Revvy's version which I will post later

*sniff sniff* I remember when you were just a young whelp...playing through the psotwhore threads...now you're all brewing 10 gallon full boil batches and stuff...

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Good post your refinement in the bottling tip thread...I can't wait to see it...Brian P did one with just a plumbing part...