Can I leave beer in the bottling bucket?

[dsen31]

So I have finished my first brew and I want to transfer the beer from the carboy to the bottling bucket to I can start my next batch. If I can seal the bottling bucket completely, is it okay to leave the beer in that after I transfer it for a few days?

 

[Rockn_M]

My fermentation bucket is also my bottling bucket. As long as there's a lid and a way for any Co2 to escape your good to go.

 

[DocScott]

Why not just bottle it now if its finished?

 

[twistr25]

Why not just bottle it now if its finished?

^ +1, worst case you are effectively turning your bottling bucket into a secondary vessel. Biggest problem that can occur in that is the extra headspace that there is likely to be. You can get some oxygenation issues, but if it's only for a day or two to get bottles together or something you should be fine. On that same note, you would be better off waiting a day or two, bottle while you are brewing your next batch and have it ready once the brew is done. The less you transfer the better.

 

[BinghamtonEd]

My bottling bucket spigot leaks approximately one or two drops of beer per minute. Not around the seal, but through the spigot. Not any concern to me as I only use it for bottling, and empty the thing within 20 minutes of filling it, but if you don't know if yours leaks, check it, or at least put a towel under it.

 

[dsen31]

My bottling bucket spigot leaks approximately one or two drops of beer per minute. Not around the seal, but through the spigot. Not any concern to me as I only use it for bottling, and empty the thing within 20 minutes of filling it, but if you don't know if yours leaks, check it, or at least put a towel under it.

good insight. Thank you!

 

[dsen31]

^ +1, worst case you are effectively turning your bottling bucket into a secondary vessel. Biggest problem that can occur in that is the extra headspace that there is likely to be. You can get some oxygenation issues, but if it's only for a day or two to get bottles together or something you should be fine. On that same note, you would be better off waiting a day or two, bottle while you are brewing your next batch and have it ready once the brew is done. The less you transfer the better.

Yeah it is just going to be for a day or two. I appreciate the idea. Thank you.

 

[dsen31]

My fermentation bucket is also my bottling bucket. As long as there's a lid and a way for any Co2 to escape your good to go.

How do you deal with the sediment on the bottom then if you don't transfer?

 

[Rockn_M]

How do you deal with the sentiment on the bottom then if you don't transfer?

The spigot is an inch or two from the bottom of the bucket. This gives enough space for all of the sediment. Sometimes if I have a very active fermentation it gets close to the spigot hole and my first few ounces have extra sediment. It all settles out in the bottle after a few weeks and a couple of days in the fridge.

 

[tooblue02]

How much sediment should there be in the bottom of the primary? I just bottled mine and there was quite a bit of sludge at the bottom, it was in the primary for 3 weeks.

 

[twistr25]

How much sediment should there be in the bottom of the primary? I just bottled mine and there was quite a bit of sludge at the bottom, it was in the primary for 3 weeks.

Depends on how well you filter (or not) the wort before it goes into primary. If you are doing all grain, you could have quite a bit, same with extra additions like pumpkin. If you are careful about what you put into the primary it can be much less. There's not really a standard for how much should be in there, but less trub means more beer.

 

[tooblue02]

This was my first batch so I missed the part where I was supposed to filter the wort out while putting it in the primary! Thanks!

 

[twistr25]

This was my first batch so I missed the part where I was supposed to filter the wort out while putting it in the primary! Thanks!

For the record, I'm too lazy to filter mine, so I dump everything into the primary. Granted I get a nice little trub layer, but it's not a big deal. If you want to increase beer and to help clear your beer, filtering will certainly go a long way.

 

[Rockn_M]

I don't filter mine either and I end up with perfectly clear beer.

 

[Yooper]

I don't filter mine either and I end up with perfectly clear beer.

Yes, me too.

My process is: two weeks or so in the fermenter (bucket), rack to bottling bucket and then bottle. I think using a bottling bucket really helps to combine the priming sugar and beer, as well as gives a perfectly clear beer since you're racking above the trub to the bottling bucket. No reason to strain/filter or anything like that.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Yea, if your transferring it in how are you going to mix your priming sugar in properly?

By pouring in the sugar and then racking on top of it with the swirling around it keeps everything mixed up without having to possibly aerate by stirring it in after the fact with a spoon.