I HATE bottling!!

[Ragutis]

I also bottle and keg. A 10-11 gallon batch usually yields one corny keg and 2 cases + 6-10 extras.
Right now my kegerator is shut down for the Winter so my kegs are conditioning in anticipation of the Spring reopening. About the time my Winter bottles get scarce I'll have four taps open, hopefully around April. (I'm tired of Winter already)

 

[zman]

I still think that bottling is my least favorite part of the whole process but it is not something that I hate like I used to now that I have a process dialed in, some homebrew or something else to make it more relaxing, and some good tunes. Also a Vinnator is so worth the $16 bucks. No more filling a big Rubbermaid tub full of Star San/H20. I bottled just about 5 cases on Sat night in under 2 hrs. It was pretty cool seeing all that beer that I made:rockin:

 

[SFBEER]

I love bottling. Yah it takes some time and it can get a little messy at times with all the sanitizer and caps and things but I usually try to save the last bottle of a previous batch and open the first bottle of a new batch when bottling. Almost like drinking to the health of the new brew.

 

[apologeticus]

I use the dishwasher to sanitize. Can't imagine why anyone would do otherwise (unless they don't have a dishwasher). Then I just set the bottling bucket on the counter above the dishwasher, flip a bottle, fill it, move on to the next...

 

[Trevor57]

I do the dishwasher too. I just bottled a batch in about 30 minutes. It seems many people on this board feel they are being "more sanitary," or "better" if they use a longer, or more complicated process.

 

[Sol]

I use the dishwasher to sanitize. Can't imagine why anyone would do otherwise (unless they don't have a dishwasher). Then I just set the bottling bucket on the counter above the dishwasher, flip a bottle, fill it, move on to the next...

Can't figure out how to get the Jet Dry out of mine....

 

[apologeticus]

Can't figure out how to get the Jet Dry out of mine....

huh? with dishwasher sanitizing, you don't use any type of detergent. just hot water and the heated dry setting. super simple.

 

[pnj]

I used to hate bottling too. Then I got a bottle tree (my most favorite brewing item) and I don't mind it at all now. I don't have the option to keg now. I do own two party pigs but I like bottles better. I can throw one or two in the fridge when I want to...

I also bottle 22 ounce bottles. I usually do a sixer or two of 12 ouncers so I can sample early and give some out to friends. but using 22 ouncer cuts the bottles in half pretty much.

the part I don't like it sanitizing all my stuff because I have to use the bathroom and it's a pain in my back leaning over the tub.

 

[motobrewer]

sol.....nice rotary...lol....

 

[Sol]

huh? with dishwasher sanitizing, you don't use any type of detergent. just hot water and the heated dry setting. super simple.

I know. It's got a reservoir for Jet Dry that's been filled for years. I can't believe how long that stuff lasts but there's still some in there and no good way to get it out.

sol.....nice rotary...lol....

Thanks!

 

[apologeticus]

I know. It's got a reservoir for Jet Dry that's been filled for years. I can't believe how long that stuff lasts but there's still some in there and no good way to get it out.

oh ok. that makes sense. figured there was something I was missing there.

 

[Loudog]

I just went stright to kegging, I like the Idea of bottling but come on kegging is awesome! you can force carb and in a few Hours you and nice cold carbonated beer. Yes it dose get better with time but who wants to wait! If I want a bottle of something I'll just pick one up, you just can't beat having your own keg of homemade brew, even if it comes out as ****y as mine

 

[NAVET]

I only bottled one batch so take it for what it's worth. SWMBO got tired of the "frathouse" look and told me I was switchin to kegs. BUT the 1 time I did bottle, it wasn't any big deal. Threw em in the dishwasher and pulled them out after cool down and bottled away. Fill 6 and cap 6. Repeat.
The worst part about bottling, IMO, is having the empties taking up space. Filling and capping is just another part of brewing.

 

[AnOldUR]

the part I don't like it sanitizing all my stuff because I have to use the bathroom and it's a pain in my back leaning over the tub.

The kitchen counter and a wall paper tray handle the long stuff and will save your back.

 

[mojotele]

I'm lucky enough to have two good friends who come over at bottling time. We just set up an assembly line. One sanitizes the bottles, one fills them, the last caps them. Takes 30 minutes or less.

I'd love to get in to kegging, but I figure I should get better at making consistently good beer first.

 

[zman]

The kitchen counter and a wall paper tray handle the long stuff and will save your back.

that is a great idea!! I was at HD and I saw the trays for plaster but they were too short.

 

[mattmcl]

Bombers. The time it takes to fill one is exactly how long it takes to cap one and get a new bottle ready. I can bottle a 5.75 batch in 30 minutes, including dragging all the stuff out and cleaning up.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Bring it over my place, I'll bottle for you.

I don't mind bottling at all. Sure kegging is faster, but I can't share a keg as much as I can a few bottles.

I have over 10 - 5 liter minikegs, over 20 cornies and over 20 cases of 0,5 liter bottles from Germany...my biggest decision is which one do I use for which brew?

I just pick one and go for it.

Every bottle I cap is not a chore, but a success story...:rockin:

 

[Revvy]

Every bottle I cap is not a chore, but a success story...:rockin:

I love this, my friend.

I hope you don't mind but you just became the "preface" of my bottling thread.

 

[Spaceball1]

I bottled for the first time last night. Took a little over two hours, but other than my 3 year old daughter that insisted on helping (and loved it) I was doing it alone.

More than half the time was spent cleaning & sanitizing bottles. I had saved up bottles for a while now, rinsing them and then storing them in the garage. They've been gathering dust out there for several weeks so I rinsed & brushed them with tap water. Then rinsed & brushed them with no-rinse sanitizer. Then set them upside down on the (sanitized) counter top to drain. I was very careful because I knew that all of those upside down bottles might fall, but I still knocked them over once. Fortunately only one broke.

I just now found out about Revvy's method, and will see what I can implement..

Lessons -
1) Get a bottle tree or some other device to hold the bottles while they drain.

2) Rinse saved bottles better. (There was some mildew in a few of them. Fortunately, I noticed and cleaned them all)

3) Store saved bottles upside down

4) Get more big bottles (I did buy some flip top 22's and I had a flip top 24, so that cut me down to about 35 12's.

Question:
I do have some big 5 pint flip top growlers from a brewery in Austin. These are a cool size because 5 pints makes for a good amount between my wife & I. However - somewhere, I read or heard that large containers like this tend to over carb. Is this true? I'm also a little concerned about the seal. Will it be tight enough to carb the beer?

 

[shunt1317]

I think a bottle tree is a good investment...I wouldn't give mine up.

 

[dracus]

Bottle tree and vintator are a must.

Seriously though rinse out empty with hot water and squirt with starsan no mold. I've found oxy, one step in "no rinse" mix don't protect from mold. I've accidently lift starsan in vintator for weeks(don't ask) and no critters. That was not true for the things I left in the oxy bucket.

 

[Runyanka]

22oz bottles are what you need.

 

[stevedasleeve]

I think folks that don't master something and then b1tch about it are wussies...so I dare you to be a Jedi of Bottling.

Yeah you are a focking hero. I still hate bottling - just finished a few minutes ago. Yeuch!

I did have a slightly different perspective having read this thread but I hate fakining bottling anyway.

I am now considering buying a bottling babe. You know, a person who bottles for you, smiles and looks cute and then thank you for the privilege of bottling you brilliant beer. I think one of those might make this easier for me. What do you think?

Steve da sleeve

 

[pinkfloyd4ever]

One of my brew buddies saves a bunch of 12 ounce plastic soda bottles with labels, and has some for just about every hue of beer; Vernors for lighter ales, Pepsi for darker, and some different ice tea ones for odder color beers. He bottles a few of each of his batches in these for those times/places where you can't bring in your own beer. There's boat races in the summer a couple blocks down from his street, and they close off the whole downtown. And they want you to of course buy crappy BMC at THEIR tents, but of course they are selling those same sodas at all the vendors, so noone looks twice at the soda bottles we're bring in or carrying around.

ooohhh baby, that's genius

 

[el_bandito]

Last time I bottled I had 4 shots of tequila, watched an episode of "It's always sunny in philadelphia" to let it soak in, and then got to bottling. Overall it was an enjoyable experience. Took twice as long as normal but who cares?

Awesome! Love that show!

stevedasleeve ... try to get some help and it'll cut your time in half!

 

[dracus]

Its easy.

1. Read revvy thread.

2. Offer a free 6er to whomever helps you bottle. Make it an exclusive honor to be the "one" who helps.

 

[Kirbster]

Yes, it is important to read Revvy's thread on bottling. That is a must for any brewer. I do not mind bottling. I treat it as a brew day, just as important. The night before I move my carboy to the transfer spot and let it settle overnight. The night before or morning of I prep the dishwasher, run it on a cycle w/o anything in it to remove any foodstuff left over. Then I load my bottles, run the dishwasher on a clean cycle while I do other chores. Then when the bottles are sanitized I begin my process. I fill around 20-24 before I cap. Since I spend the day attending to it, my actually bottling only takes 30 mins.