First 1 gallon batch

[mygar]

I know..I'm starting small...

I am brewing my first ever beer (extract)... so small and not complicated.

The kit I got included primer caps to be placed into bottle. Since this is a small batch I'm trying to lessen oxidation as much as possible. So no secondary.. and I was planning on bottling directly from primary via a mini siphon and bottling wand.

Anything wrong with bottling from primary with this 1 gallon batch? I would use a bottling bucket for higher volumes but it seems like too much transfer of such low volume is just asking for oxidation.

 

[RM-MN]

Your "primer caps" will work better without using a bottling bucket. Your biggest challenge might be keeping the siphon going. With a larger batch you might decide to use corn sugar for priming and would then want to use the bottling bucket for bulk priming and to make it easier to keep trub out of the bottles.

 

[Leezer]

I did several one gallon extract kits when starting out and bottled right from primary using a mini autosiphon and just the tubing without a bottling wand. It was a little tricky but I worked out a way with a clamp that kept the siphon in place on the edge of the fermenter and another type of clamp on the tubing that could start and stop the flow as I moved the tubing from bottle to bottle. Was hard to keep the first bottle steady with the tubing inside as I got the siphon going so I wrapped a small damp towel around the bottom to keep it from tipping. I used a domino dot sugar cube in each bottle for carbonation(and still do). So, a little tricky but very possible. Now I use a bottling bucket since most of my batches are 2 ish gallons. Good luck on your first batch!

 

[IslandLizard]

I think you should do a bottling "dry run" with water or Starsan to get the hang of it. You don't have much beer to waste any of it.

• Keep the siphon off the bottom, using a siphon clip or so.
• Use an inverter tippy on the bottom of the siphon/cane to redirect the flow so it comes from above, not sucking up from the bottom. This is to prevent disturbing the trub layer the least as possible, and get clearer transfers.
• Toward the end of the transfer, tip your fermenter toward the siphon to keep the well you're siphoning from as deep as possible. Use a rolled up towel, wedged underneath the high end.
• Putting your fermenter on a damp cloth or towel prevents sliding and related mishaps.
• Have an extra set of hands available. Probably the best tool.

Good luck!

 

[mygar]

I did several one gallon extract kits when starting out and bottled right from primary using a mini autosiphon and just the tubing without a bottling wand. It was a little tricky but I worked out a way with a clamp that kept the siphon in place on the edge of the fermenter and another type of clamp on the tubing that could start and stop the flow as I moved the tubing from bottle to bottle. Was hard to keep the first bottle steady with the tubing inside as I got the siphon going so I wrapped a small damp towel around the bottom to keep it from tipping. I used a domino dot sugar cube in each bottle for carbonation(and still do). So, a little tricky but very possible. Now I use a bottling bucket since most of my batches are 2 ish gallons. Good luck on your first batch!

Sounds like I am on the same path as you! Thanks

 

[mygar]

I think you should do a bottling "dry run" with water or Starsan to get the hang of it. You don't have much beer to waste any of it.

• Keep the siphon off the bottom, using a siphon clip or so.
• Use an inverter tippy on the bottom of the siphon/cane to redirect the flow so it comes from above, not sucking up from the bottom. This is to prevent disturbing the trub layer the least as possible, and get clearer transfers.
• Toward the end of the transfer, tip your fermenter toward the siphon to keep the well you're siphoning from as deep as possible. Use a rolled up towel, wedged underneath the high end.
• Putting your fermenter on a damp cloth or towel prevents sliding and related mishaps.
• Have an extra set of hands available. Probably the best tool.

Good luck!

Great points. Yes I was planning on doing a bottling test before hand... as you are right ... not much beer to waste!

I did order a red racking cane tip Racking Cane Tip - 1/2 in. | MoreBeer that I can use... it looks like its an inverter tip as it draws from the top and not from the bottom.

Great suggestion using damp towel to prevent slipping. I plan on having my wife on hand to help... and using wedge towel to create a well. Also, was going to have her keep the cane mid point and lower as beer is drawn down. Keep the tip as far from trub as possible until then last bit.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

...
Long time ago
in a galaxy forum
far, far away
...


a couple of dedicated bottlers
set out on a journey to
built "tilted tables"
to hold the fermenter while they bottled
...

​

 

[IslandLizard]

Also, was going to have her keep the cane mid point and lower as beer is drawn down. Keep the tip as far from trub as possible until then last bit.

I don't know what kind of fermenter you have, and what would work best to suspend the siphon/cane midway. I use a bucket clip, on buckets and a carboy cap (those with the 2 teats) on carboys. But something that clips onto your siphon to hold it in place or prevent it from sinking too deep would work. Hence the "dry" run.

The extra set of hands is invaluable! Team efforts like that will make your beer better.
My wife always helped when we were bottling, and still occasionally helps when transferring into kegs, especially when it gets tricky. I'm working on closed transfers from a (6.5 gallon) bucket, it's somewhat testing.

 

[mygar]

...
Long time ago
in a galaxy forum
far, far away
...


a couple of dedicated bottlers
set out on a journey to
built "tilted tables"
to hold the fermenter while they bottled
...

​

haha that's great!

 

[mygar]

I don't know what kind of fermenter you have, and what would work best to suspend the siphon/cane midway. I use a bucket clip, on buckets and a carboy cap (those with the 2 teats) on carboys. But something that clips onto your siphon to hold it in place or prevent it from sinking too deep would work. Hence the "dry" run.

The extra set of hands is invaluable! Team efforts like that will make your beer better.
My wife always helped when we were bottling, and still occasionally helps when transferring into kegs, especially when it gets tricky. I'm working on closed transfers from a (6.5 gallon) bucket, it's somewhat testing.

Im just using a 1 gallon glass carboy for now. I dont have a ranking cane clip ... so I figured she can hold the cane and help steady the carboy on the towel. I dont even have a bottling wand yet or a hose clamp if not using a wand. So, will have to get one of those

 

[IslandLizard]

Im just using a 1 gallon glass carboy for now. I dont have a ranking cane clip ... so I figured she can hold the cane and help steady the carboy on the towel. I dont even have a bottling wand yet or a hose clamp if not using a wand. So, will have to get one of those

A 1 gallon batch in a 1 gallon jug? How much headspace did you allow? That's bound to be either very tight, or an even smaller (net) batch.
To reduce chances of possible blow offs, we generally aim for leaving at least 20% (~1/5) of a batch's volume for fermenter headspace. So around 1 gallon headspace for a 5-5.5 gallon batch, in a 6-6.5 gallon fermenter. With some yeasts (e.g., German Wheat) more headspace is recommended.
Counting on some trub losses (~10%) left behind in the fermenter that yields 4.5-5 gallons net in the bottling bucket or keg.

 

[mygar]

A 1 gallon batch in a 1 gallon jug? How much headspace did you allow? That's bound to be either very tight, or an even smaller (net) batch.
To reduce chances of possible blow offs, we generally aim for leaving at least 20% (~1/5) of a batch's volume for fermenter headspace. So around 1 gallon headspace for a 5-5.5 gallon batch, in a 6-6.5 gallon fermenter. With some yeasts (e.g., German Wheat) more headspace is recommended.
Counting on some trub losses (~10%) left behind in the fermenter that yields 4.5-5 gallons net in the bottling bucket or keg.

well a ton of 1 gallon brewers use the 1 gallon carboys. the 1 gallon carboy is actually 1.25 gallons or something like that. But yea I wont be netting 1 gallon of beer I know that. I will set up a blow off hose for first 3-4 days. So, will see how it goes!!

I bottled a 5 gal batch last weekend so will have enough on hand as im the only one who will be drinking it pretty much.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

well a ton of 1 gallon brewers use the 1 gallon carboys. the 1 gallon carboy is actually 1.25 gallons or something like that. But yea I wont be netting 1 gallon of beer I know that. I will set up a blow off hose for first 3-4 days. So, will see how it goes!!

1-Gallon Brewers UNITE! is an interesting resource. The year 2020 starts at about page 170.

 

[mygar]

1-Gallon Brewers UNITE! is an interesting resource. The year 2020 starts at about page 170.

Good to know what page number to start at thanks!

 

[jimdkc]

Here's another tip for small-volume bottling:

Go to your grocery or liquor store and look for Fever Tree brand mixers. Most Target's with grocery or liquor departments carry them. My local Hy-Vee store also carries them in the liquor department. Buy some.

Drink it (Ginger and Rye anybody???) Or pour it out (you mainly want the empty bottles!) This will give you 4 refillable, re-cappable 6.8 oz. (200ml) bottles that you can use to bottle the last bit of beer that won't quite fill a 12 oz. bottle!

Keep in mind that these are clear bottles. I put mine in a paper bag while they're conditioning to protect them from light. They're great "sampler" bottles and they're also great to check on the carbonation progress without opening a 12 oz. bottle.

 

[mygar]

Here's another tip for small-volume bottling:

Go to your grocery or liquor store and look for Fever Tree brand mixers. Most Target's with grocery or liquor departments carry them. My local Hy-Vee store also carries them in the liquor department. Buy some.

Drink it (Ginger and Rye anybody???) Or pour it out (you mainly want the empty bottles!) This will give you 4 refillable, re-cappable 6.8 oz. (200ml) bottles that you can use to bottle the last bit of beer that won't quite fill a 12 oz. bottle!

Keep in mind that these are clear bottles. I put mine in a paper bag while they're conditioning to protect them from light. They're great "sampler" bottles and they're also great to check on the carbonation progress without opening a 12 oz. bottle.

That's a good idea. I will be bottling using used 16oz grolsch bottles. Only thing is my kit came with priming tabs. But a could look up how much sugar needed for 7 and 12oz

 

[IslandLizard]

You can put the remainder in a small (plastic) soda bottle of the right size. I always keep a few of those around for odds and ends.

 

[mygar]

You can put the remainder in a small (plastic) soda bottle of the right size. I always keep a few of those around for odds and ends.

I think I have one around house somewhere